DENVER, CO – JUNE 3: Max Fried #54 of the Atlanta Braves looks on while he pitches against the Colorado Rockies during a game at Coors Field on June 3, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
To repeat as World Series champions, the Atlanta Braves will need these three upgrades.
The Atlanta Braves have won 14 games in a row and are now within a few games of catching the New York Mets at the top of the National League East. Their mission isn’t just to catch their division foes. They’ve won plenty of National League East titles over the years. A championship is what alluded them plenty.
This wasn’t the case last year when the Braves came roaring through the division late in 2021. Momentum built up in the regular season carried into the postseason with their first championship since 1995.
In order to repeat as champions, the Braves will once again need to use the trade deadline to their advantage. These three upgrades could go a long way toward helping them run it back.
1) The Braves need a starting pitcher upgrade
The Braves can’t hold onto hope that Mike Soroka returns and is effective for them this year. It would be great if he does come back and helps them. Depending on him could become a fatal mistake.
The team has gotten solid performances from Max Fried and Kyle Wright throughout the 2022 season. Spencer Strider has stepped up and helped give them an answer behind those two.
Unfortunately, Ian Anderson and Charlie Morton have been mostly mediocre if not worse. Knowing a single injury could have them scratching and clawing for some answers in the rotation, it’s important the Braves look to add another starter at the deadline.
Who should it be that the Braves target? They could go after a veteran like Martin Perez whose left arm with the Texas Rangers has been superb in 2022. Because he is merely a rental, the Braves wouldn’t have to worry about a roster crunch in the future. His presence would knock someone back to the bullpen. Strider could be an option later on this year to save him from reaching any innings limit the organization may have on him.
Whether it’s Perez or someone with a stronger pedigree, the team does need to target a more reliable third starter for the rotation. It’s hard to win a championship without at least three starters you can count on. Right now, the Braves have three and a rookie who will need to make more than four starts to be fully trusted.