Atlanta Braves fans are happy to see their favorite team play as often as possible. However, that would be a lot to ask of professional baseball players. They deserve a break from games to recoup. The Braves endured a stretch before the All-Star break of 13-straight games without a day off. Not too big of a deal with the break for the All-Star Game festivities, and with how rough the end of the first half was, everyone was ready for it.
Unfortunately, the start of the second half is another brutal stretch for Atlanta. The team has to play 17-straight games before getting a day off. It feels like whoever made the schedule hates the Braves and wants them to suffer.
Braves' schedule after the All-Star break (and right before it for that matter) isn't make their life any easier
It's doubtful there's any actual conspiracy at play, but that doesn't change how costly a stretch like that can be. With how unfortunate Atlanta's luck has been with injuries, a stretch like that can be nerve-racking without breaks.
The second half started with a series against the first-place Rangers, followed by the pesky Padres. Atlanta handled the Rangers and won the series with relative ease. Their four-game set with the Padres was a hard-fought series, but the Braves took the series three games to one in the end. From there, they'll face the Orioles, Mets, and Nationals to finish out this long stint of games. This is a pretty favorable schedule on paper, as all three teams are at the bottom of their respective divisions.
However, we all know how games can go for Atlanta when facing their division rivals. Luckily, the team is playing much better in July, with an 11-8 record, compared to their 9-14 record in June. It's helped them keep their hold on the division lead, which is at 4.5 games right now.
Hopefully, they'll be able to continue to win games and lengthen that lead even more. Atlanta should get a boost soon, as Ronald Acuna Jr. is expected to return from the IL any moment. Then, the team will turn to the trade deadline to bolster their rotation and bullpen.
There are plenty of trade rumors circulating about potential fits for the Braves. Some are good, but there are a few that seem like mistakes. Surely Alex Anthopoulos and company will make the right decisions to help the team navigate the end of the season with relative ease.
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