Atlanta Braves Trade Deadline: Starting Pitching Help with Max Fried Injury

well it's a new lineup with some new faces but it's the same results for the Atlanta brazers they take another bad loss on Monday we'll discuss that and also we'll get into the trade discussion with Max freed now on the iil what starting pitcher should the Atlanta Braves Target we'll discuss all that on today's episode of Locked on Braves so let's get into it you are locked on Braves your daily Atlanta Braves podcast part of the locked on podcast Network your team every day hey and welcome back to lockon Braves part of the lockon podcast and networks part of lockon sports Atlanta where we cover your favorite Atlanta sports teams each and every day as always I'm your host Jake mastriani and you can follow me follow me on social media at shortstop ball make sure you follow the podcast there as well at locked onore Braves subscribe to us on YouTube if you're new hit that thumbs Button as well to help support the show here at lockon Braves leave me a festar review if you're listening on the audio version whether it be Spotify Apple wherever you get your podcast if you're in everyday or let me know down in the comment section below and thank you so much for all your support here at lockdown Braves making us your first listen go check out another locked on podcast for your second listen of the day with all the great podcasts that we have here on the network today's podcast we're going to get into Monday's loss just another bad loss I mean it's just and we've talked about it a lot lot this year but it's another game that you feel like probably should win against a team that's been struggling as well and just not a lot of life even with the with the Call of Nacho Alvarez which you thought might have sparked some life into this team not the case this is another dull performance from the offense and things kind of got away from them on defense as well we'll discuss all that though but then we'll get into our trade discussion I'll take some of your ideas for who could the Braves Target at the deadline with Max freed now on the injured list again even if it's a short time I feel like you have to go out and at least get some more depth for the starting rotation at this point and then we'll set you up for Tuesday's game where Chris Sale hoping to stop another losing streak this episode of lockdown Braves is brought to you by booking.com booking the right stay can make you a fan of any City even your Rivals check out booking.com for your stay today well let's get into Monday's game and like I said at the top just another really bad loss and look you're going up against hunter green who's a good pitcher don't get me wrong he is an All-Star but you had Ronaldo Lopez starting for you who is also an All-Star and pitched really well this year and I'll talk about it more in a minute I thought he threw the ball well in this game made a couple of mistakes but defense kind of let him down as well in that third inning but just a another bad loss against a team you feel like you should beat and the offense was just uninspiring you you call up nacho Alvarez and look I'm not expecting Alvarez to set the world on fire as much as I love him as much as I've hyped him up over the years you I don't think he's an Allstar huge impact type player but anytime you call up a new prospect it's exciting it's exciting for fans you hope it's exciting for players in the clubhouse just to get a fresh face in there maybe shake things up you certainly they're bummed that their their friend and ozie alz is is down and out for you know pretty much the rest of the regular season but you were hoping maybe nacho could spark a couple of things and you got to get something done on the field for that to happen but just wasn't much spark there was another uninspiring performance by this offense and just continues what we saw over the weekend for the most part in that Cardinal Series so just again another frustrating game I've said that a lot this year I'm saying it way too much things just continue to be frustrating but let's get into Ronaldo Lopez because a l you were probably going to think I'm crazy but if you watch this game like I did I thought he threw the ball really well especially early on where he was just dotting up 95 to 96 on the edges continuing to do what he's done all season long which is just spotting up that fast ball wherever he wants it and then throwing that slider off of it threw some really good change UPS early on made a mistake with one to Benson but for the most part in this game I thought it was I thought it was a good version of Ronaldo Lopez I thought he threw the ball really really well 30 32% called stre called strike plus whip percentage is is good not great but certainly good he got hurt by his defense a little bit I'll talk about that more in a second he got hurt by the speed of Ellie De La Cruz he also made I thought two mistakes in this game which tells you how good I thought he was despite giving up four runs he hung that change up to will Benson again after he' thrown some really good ones but it just shows you with that change up throwing it to left-handed hitters which is who he's going to throw it against the the margin of error that is so small because you get it down in away you know either the bottom of the zone or just below the Zone it's a great pitch but you leave it up middle the plate away and that's right in the left-handed hitter's happy Zone and a big left-handed hitter like will Benson's gonna be able to pull that out as he did so made a mistake there and his other big mistake was hitting the number eight hitter in a two- strike count just cannot make that mistake and it leads to another run so again I thought Lopez threw the ball really well he was really efficient in this one made two mistakes I thought the change up to Benson hitting Fairchild he got hurt by his defense he got hurt by the speed of Ellie De La Cruz and some bad luck on some balls put in play but I thought Lopez threw the ball fine so certainly no worry there for me it's the offense I mean it's just another game where it's you can solely put this on the offense I mean four runs not great but shouldn't be a shouldn't be a result where you just feel like the game is over like early on when the Reds go up four nothing I'm sure many of you thought okay this game's over this offense can't overcome this and it's just unfortunate that that's where we are right now with this offense like I said early on hunter green is really good he's an All-Star he's having somewhat of a breakout season but you get two hits off him in seven Innings you can't muster more than two hits off hunter green in seven Innings as good as he is I don't care who it is you only get two hits in seven Innings you're not going to win and you had chances you had the leadoff runner on in five innings including four straight Innings you had a leadoff hitter on in the second third fourth and fifth inning and none of those came around to score and it is the same problem that I've been talking about for a long time now they continue to get these Runners on and they just stay there and it's a it's a it's a product of the lineup which we can't do anything about that is dependent on that Runner getting on but then the guy after him hitting a two-run home run look home runs are up around the league that's not an excuse anymore the balls are traveling again you saw it with some of the balls the Reds hit tonight the balls are traveling that's no longer an excuse just not getting it done and you have to be able when you have four straight Innings when the leadoff Runner gets on base and you fail to score in each of those innings in that's just bad offense you have to find a way to make something happen but again this lineup is so Station to Station there's just not any speed in the middle of this lineup that's going to be able to make things happen one bright spot Marcel Ozuna he just continues to be great and have great at bats did a fantastic job early in this game laid off a tough slider to go make the count full laid off another one on a 3-2 pitch to get a lead off walk he was on base three times in the game had two hits and that walk Murphy walked three times in this game and the lone ball he put in play an absolute rocket 112. six miles per hour off the bat I'm thinking that's gone three-run home run Big Two Out RBI there I'm thinking at least it's off the wall but nope of course it's caught at the wall a 910 expected batting average and I'm sure he'll be out of the lineup tomorrow and that's nothing against Travis Dar know has been swinging the bat well lately but Shawn Murphy was swinging the bat really well until you went into this every other day thing and again three good at bats by him tonight four really you count the line out at 113 miles per hour so three walks in a 113 mile per hour line out for Shawn Murphy so I thought he had a good night I thought ARA had some good at bats until that final one where you got a pitcher on the ropes you come up swing first pitch which was a good pitch to hit but you gotta square that up if you're G to go there and try to Ambush and I get it a guy is is struggling so you're thinking okay maybe you're just he's gonna throw one down the middle here try to get a strike over on you want to try to Ambush it okay first of all you better make sure that's middle middle and it was second you better square that up and he didn't one through three in the order was over 12 in this game Riley had a rough night at the plate he's been on fire lately he perhaps had some other things on his mind as he had to leave the game later I believe I haven't seen it reported yet just Brandon got in on the broadcast talking about his wife was due any moment so I did see him kind of wave goodbye to everybody in the Dugout as he went out so I'm assuming that's what it is but it was a rough night at the plate for Riley who again may have had some other things on his mind Olsen another ofer at the plate did get hit on the ankle that looked pretty bad I'd be out for a long time if that were me um but you know another o over Knight for him and hasn't doesn't have a hit after the allar break they're just missing too many mistake pitches and again I don't I don't want to harp on Austin Riley who you know his wife's going into the labor he's been really great he got a hanging slider with a runner on base tonight and just missed it he got another hanging slider later in the game and missed it and I understand hunter green you're sitting there gearing up for 97 98 it's not easy but there's just you know dubal missing fast balls right down the middle Aria taking a 2-1 slider right down the middle it's just too many too many cases this year where the Braves are missing mistake pitches and look will Benson did not miss a mistake pitch from Ronaldo Lopez Lopez didn't make many mistakes when he did the other team took advantage and the Braves just aren't doing that they're not taking advantage of those mistake pitches nacho did get the start didn't get a hit he got robbed in a ball hit 100 miles per hour great play by the third baseman hey welcome to the 2024 Braves that's just what happens here this year and I thought he got outside of himself a little bit in that last at bat he got aead 20-0 and then with everybody chanting his name which I thought was fantastic and you know a game that was essentially decided at that point the fans still there giving nacho some love that was really good H but maybe geared him up a little bit too much because he went outside of the Zone on a 20-0 pitch and hit a weak ground ball to the right side trying to get that first hit not something you normally see nacho do there expanding The Zone in a 20-0 count key moments in this game bottom of the second you got two on nobody out after Ozuna walks Olson gets hit by the pitch a terrible unproductive at bat by Adam Duval who misses several pitches out over the plate that you should just be able to drive he strikes out so doesn't do anything Runners don't Advance Rosario comes up he at least puts the ball in play and you set up Runners at the corner with the force out but now there's two outs you know if Deval does that you score a run out of this on Murphy's you know tough line out that again I thought was gone out the bat so just that was an inning where you felt like you had a chance and typically when that happens what happens in the other half of the inning the other team scores and that's exactly what happened in the top of the third you had olssen unable to scoop the throw from Riley Ellie De La Cruz is able to reach and then a ball gets by olssen first of all I don't know how that ball was fair I don't know why we don't have camera angles Right Down the Line I can't can't believe that that ball was fair but again just thing way the things are going for the Braves and then how it gets by Olsen I don't know bend over big fella and then Adam Duval you know the speed of Ellie De La Cruz why would you even think of going to second base there you know when that ball cams Ellie De La Cruz is thinking of scoring and dval thinks to go to second with it instead of going home to cut down the run with two outs and so that leads to another run right there and it's just little things like that in this game you know Murphy having a chance to throw a guy out and he drops the ball Murphy having a chance to throw the guy out at third and Riley can't put the tag on him he gets a swim move around him it's just little things like that that really bugs me with this Braves team that they're not doing correctly that is costing them games and you know even if they do all that correctly they score one run which was pretty much gifted because you had a runner's indifference that allow auna to move up a base to later score on a sack fly it's it's frustrating I'm right there with you I'm watching this team I got luckily I have two screens up so I'm able to watch Bobby Wht and just how fun it is to watch him I'm having zero hero fund watching this Braves team and this was the most excited I've been to watch a Braves game in a while because I wanted to see nacho was hoping maybe it would you know bring some life to this team but no it's more of the same just some uninspiring ADV bats uninspiring performance by the offense not doing the little things right on offense or on defense and a bad loss to a team that you should be able to beat but maybe I have to stop saying that because maybe these are no longer teams that the Braves should be able to beat this is just where they are at this point so sorry for the negative energy that I'm bringing here I just we do this night after night and it's the same thing with this team right now so I look I want to believe I still do believe but it's going to take a lot to really turn things around with this Braves team and you know some of that could be helped at the trade deadline and that's where we're going to go next and with Max freed injury Atlanta Braves are going to need some help in the starting rotation we'll get to some of your trade thoughts and who you think the Braves should go after here next this episode of lockdown Braves is brought to you by booking.com booking.log you might just find your perfect stay even in your baseball Rivals City and look you got some big Road trips coming up this second half in Philadelphia in New York make your trips to go support your Braves in those cities on booking.com maybe knock those stadiums off your bucket list the right State can make you a fan of any US city even your Rivals book today on booking.com or the site or in the booking.com app I love sports and I love them so much I never want them to stop thankfully I'm a huge baseball fan so it doesn't stop for me in the summertime especially now that we're past the All-Star break it's baseball on every single day and you can get in on all the action at fanduel.com 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already make the switch to lockon sports today a free 24/7 Sports streaming Channel program for you every day with the biggest stories from all the major sports part of the lockdown podcast Network your team every day got a lot more trade stuff coming your way this week obviously we're gearing up for the trade deadline things should heat up over the next week so we'll talk more about that on Wednesday's episode get you caught up what's happening around the league and we'll have our week mailbag podcast as well but I asked you for some trade ideas what were what who would you trade for who were some of your top targets I'm sorry gonna PA stop for just a second as we did get an update on Austin Riley David O'Brien of the Athletics saying that he left the game during the ninth inning because his wife went into labor the Braves had someone waiting for the call and got word to him during the top of the nth when he came out so it was Riley leaving for his wife being in the labor which go praternity leave a you know maximum of three days there that you could be without Austin Riley a guy that's been one of your best hitters here lately and now you could be out could be without him uh for the rest of this series so happy for Austin Riley I'm sure I'm I'm sorry my mind should not go there to think about what the Braves are going to have to deal with it without him now certainly congratulations to Austin Riley and his wife on the newborn they I believe they're second so congratulations to them and just prayers that everything is right there with child and mother as well but I asked you who would you trade for you're looking at some starting pitching targets with Max freed out who are the ideal trade candidates for you right now battery mates podcast says flarity is the ideal candidate could also see someone like quantrol I do like flarity I think everybody's going to like flarity which is going to drive up his price to a point that I don't I don't think Alex is willing to pay because even though it is a rental deal with where the farm system is you'd have to give up J.R Richie Owen Murphy I think again just everybody likes flarity everybody's going after flarity so I think it's going to drop up his price to a point where it probably doesn't make sense for the Braves Andrew Campbell says Tyler Anderson and several of you said Tyler Anderson Hayden Harris as well said Tyler Anderson and Luis Reno I don't think re re Reno is as big of a need now with Whit Maryfield assuming that nacho handles the spot I mean obviously Reno is a little bit more proven so I wouldn't hate it but going out and getting with Maryfield which we'll talk about that news later I don't think Ren heo is as much of a need but Tyler Anderson somebody that a lot of people have mentioned I I need to look it up real quick I'm sorry didn't look this up beforehand but I'm pretty sure he's owed a good bit of money so you'd have to get the angels to pay some of that down he's having a a good season he actually has 4.2 War uh so far this season according to baseball reference with a 2.97 erra and a 1.69 whip but just a 6.2 K per9 so doing getting a lot of weak contact I would assume more of a contact type of pitcher but certainly having a really good year um but again a player that is due you know he's due 13 million this year so by the time you trade for him probably four or five million left this year and then another 133 million next year so it would give you some insurance for next year and 13 million for a you know what I think is probably a fourth fifth starter um ultimately I think is what Tyler Anderson will be that's not terrible so I don't hate the Tyler Anderson idea obviously depending on what you you give back in that trade so I'm fine with Tyler Anderson because it gives you some depth as somebody who you know pitching pitching like a two or a three this year I think he's probably more like I said a back rotation type of guy but I certainly wouldn't hate that one and Tyler Anderson says belly Roberts Jazz Rooker or rosarina pick one I don't think crochet or Topline starter is an option eelin makes sense to me maybe an effin a Ros Arena package could work who are you giving up like I get it I understand we want to look at some of these top names and and look effin's fine Hayden Harris says Zack effin as well and even gives me a trade scenario of Kade Keeler and Douglas glad is that an I guess that's an K Killer's you know Tommy John serger I don't I don't think the Tampa Bay Rays are going to go all in for that dougl Douglas gloud kind of a lottery ticket International sigy I don't think that's enough to get it done you know Ean AR Ro Arena especially with the way AR Ro Arena's been hitting the ball lately I I think that price tag should be pretty high um so I don't I don't mind the effin idea I think that potentially could work but you gotta keep in mind this Ray's farm system just isn't that good and they're counting on these guys Zach e makes 18 million next year U makes 11 million this year so again probably about four or five million left on his deal whenever a trade is made not terrible and again it gives you some more depth for next season as well so kind of similar to Tyler Anderson I wouldn't hate either of those moves because it gives you some more depth this year and next year as well um but again this farm system there's just not a lot to trade from especially because now you're counting on nacho who look the Braves were trying out at third base I believe to Showcase them in a potential trade otherwise I don't know why you move him to Third Base so now one of those trade chips is gone because you need him at the big lead level so there's just not a lot to trade with him you're having to use spincer schwelling boach you're GNA need AJ Smith Scher I doubt they're going to trade hen walri so who are you trading because you have a bunch of guys now that you really count on and there's not a lot left there's a Jr Richie who's rehabbing from Tommy John surgery there's Owen Murphy who's out right now with Tommy John's surgery there's Kate Keeler who's out right now with Tommy John's surgery you're not giving up Jose Pomo you're not giving up Luis guanipa I don't think so so who are the Braves really able to trade right now just not a lot to work with several more from Hayden Harris who says naate devaldi and Josh Smith Michael lenen for Adam mayor I think those are some good options Lorenzen and naldi with the Rangers looks like the Rangers could be out of it we'll see what happens in the next week or so Greg said if Reed was going to be out the rest of the year then yes want to want it to be a priority but not if he's only missing two weeks but here's the problem with that Greg you don't know we don't know and you don't know what's going to happen in those final two months you know what if something happens to Chris S Ronaldo Lopez you know even if freed comes back what if one of those guys gets hurt it's just the brains have been burned by it the last couple of years and look if that happens and I don't think the braids are going to get a top of the rotation arm at the deadline it's going to be a a Tyler Anderson you know a Zack effin a third fourth starter type and I don't really know how much you trust one of those guys in a game two three situation in the postseason which look the Braves got to get there and the Braves got to start winning some games to force Alex anthopoulos to pull the trigger on some of these moves but you don't know what's going to happen the rest of the way so I think you have to build in some depth just to help you get through the regular season and get to the postseason and then you kind of figure that out then but that's why you know again and I was one who said A week ago I don't think starting pitching is a priority I wouldn't mind it because it's always good to add some of that depth but now you got the scare with with Max freed and you just again even if he's only out the minimum it's still just really scary because after the trade deadline you can't make any big moves double A Alex says but I want crochet I asked people to eliminate crochet from the scenario I'm starting to think of Ros Arena's really good fit if I can't pick crochet as a pitching option then my choice is avaldi so there's another one for evaldi Ryan Hall thoughts on James Paxton worth a pickup I think think so um again at least just to give you some depth depending on what kind of deal you can get them on I think James Paxton's probably worth a flyer at this point um you know get him on a deal like you did with Maryfield just to add some some depth to your rotation and give you some more options so and James uh Paxton was released by the Dodgers who they've got a really rough go in their rotation right now and they're dropping James Paxton so uh maybe that speaks more to to James Paxton and why the Braves shouldn't get him Dylan Harper says Jameson tyion I think he could be a solid get from the Cubs Dylan Harper also says Frankie monos who the rates are gonna face on Wednesday so that would be pretty interesting Anthony G mapalo says Nathan avaldi as well so another one for that Craig saying Jack flarity so several Jack fles several Nathan avales and we got Jimmy brener saying call up Hackenberg and so I'm going to go ahead and take the time to mention here that Drew Hackenberg after I recorded miners Monday struck out 16 batters so uh he had some struggles in doua since getting called up but striking out 16 is certainly impressive and yeah with the with the way the Braves are and as aggressive as they are and the injuries they have you know you have a couple of good weeks in double A and you could be called up to the big leagues but a great performance from Drew Hackenberg thank you so much for submitting those in again we'll get into more of this conversation tomorrow I'll do a deeper dive on some of these names and who I think the Braves should go after and who makes the most sense we discuss that more tomorrow on tomorrow's podcast but next we'll get into some news of the day another injury you know Braves bring a player over and they immediately get injured that's just 2024 we'll talk about that and get you set up for Chris sales start here next passion drive and patience what brings home the winning trophy is also what keeps your ride or die alive eBay Motors has everything you need to make maintain your vehicle and level it up to Peak Performance from superchargers roof racks exhaust kits LED headlights and more whether into speed power or style eBay Motors has got you covered with over 122 million parts for your number one ride or die you'll always find exactly what you're looking for and with eBay guaranteed fit your part is guaranteed to fit your ride every time or your money back because with eBay Motors you're burning rubber not cash with all the parts you needed the prices you want it's easy to 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go wrong it will go wrong hopefully it's nothing major there and he could be available he was available to pinch run on Monday night so again you know nacho is going to play every day but I do like the Whit marfield pickup and I think he could play a big role somebody that can play in the Outfield can play all over the infield the type of guy that I've been wanting a veteran I know he's having a tough year H but can you know has some speed too can can steal some bases for you so I really do like what what maril can bring you from the bench so again hopefully nothing major there from him mentioned Riley already congratulations him and his wife prayers up uh for them that everything's okay but he could be out for the next few days on paternity leave it is Chris S on the mound Tuesday looking to stop another losing streak something he's done five times this year don't know who's pitching for the Reds yet but either way it's a start where you need Chris S to go out there do what he's done all year long give the Braves you know six seven Innings two earned or less but you need this offense to wake up nothing matters nothing matters if this offense doesn't wake up and we've seen Chris S you know come out after a tough loss pitch a one-run shut out I can't get this White Sox games off my mind this one's gonna bother me all year long and they still lose because the offense does nothing so again whoever TBD is for the Reds the Braves just have to take it to him and hopefully they get another good start from from Chris S sorry I had to laugh here Doug belly in the comment section why can't m Olson have a baby look you almost lost Matt Olsson tonight and then I don't even know who would play first base at that point Ozuna maybe have to play some first base maybe some some Matt ol or some Adam Duval over there like as bad as Matt olsson's been there's just really not any options at first base so appreciate that funny comment there Braves Thrills hope Maryfield is available tomorrow certainly do as well again think he avoided something major there thank you all for joining this episode of lockdown Braves Laro Bon Heath Johnson live sports odds the wild one as well Jeffrey humph as always thank you for joining the chat section today Reaper YT Miguel thank you all so much for being in here being in the chat section let's always keep it civil in there it's tough and frustrating as this Braves team is it is baseball let's try to enjoy it as best we can there'll be another game tomorrow another chance for a better day at the ballpark but that will do it for this episode of Locked on Braves again thank you so much for joining us follow us on social social media at shortstop ball at locked onore bra subscribe to us on YouTube if you're new hit that Thumbs Up Button make sure that you rate review And subscribe to the lockdown brace podcast wherever you get your podcast and we will talk to you next time