By MIKE ROBERTS
Over the weekend, the Atlanta Braves won their series coming out of the All-Star break, taking two of three from the Texas Rangers. It’s the 25th series win of the season — matching the total number of series the Braves won in 2025. Atlanta remains in first place in the National League East, holding a three-game lead over the second-place Philadelphia Phillies.
While some teams will be sellers at the upcoming August 3 MLB trade deadline, the Braves will certainly be buyers. Let’s take a look at two trade targets and three key players for the second half of the season.
Trade Target: Pitcher Tarik Skubal
The Detroit Tigers’ Tarik Skubal (6-5, 2.83 ERA, 0.93 WHIP) is surely one of the best players who could be available at the trade deadline, and CBS Sports lists the Braves at one of the top suitors for his services if Detroit puts Skubal on the trade block. The two-time Cy Young Award winner would be the perfect pickup for Atlanta. Although he missed time earlier this season due to injury, he has looked great since returning to the field.
To acquire Skubal, the Braves would likely have to part with a haul of players that includes at least one top prospect. But it would be worth it, as he would team with Chris Sale (10-6, 2.06 ERA, 1.06 WHIP) to give the team an outstanding starting pitching duo.
Trade Target: Pitcher Sonny Gray
If Atlanta doesn’t land Skubal, Sonny Gray (12-1, 2.48 ERA, 1.12 WHIP) would be quite the consolation prize. The Boston Red Sox pitcher is having an amazing season and has playoff experience, pitching in three postseason games throughout his career.
It remains to be seen whether the Red Sox would actually make Gray available, seeing that he’s one of the league’s best pitchers and Boston had won 13 in a row going into Monday night’s games. But if he is placed on the trade block, the Braves should do whatever it takes to get him.
Key Player 1: Chris Sale
Sale was huge in the Braves’ 15-1 blowout win over Texas on Friday night, pitching seven shutout innings. He allowed only two hits with no walks, and recorded six strikeouts. He also threw 62 strikes on 89 pitches. This also marked the 11th quality start of the season for Sale. A quality start is defined as pitching at least six innings and allowing three or fewer earned runs.
With Friday’s performance, Sale became just the 27th player in Major League history to reach 2,700 career strikeouts, joining Hall of Famers like Nolan Ryan, Randy Johnson, and Braves legend Greg Maddux.
Key Player 2: Drake Baldwin
Baldwin (.276 AVG., .844 OPS, 18 HR, 54 RBI, 2 SB) has put together a spectacular career thus far in Atlanta. The talented catcher went from being the 2025 National League Rookie of the Year to an All-Star this season.
Baldwin missed 23 games earlier this year with an oblique injury. After hitting a home run in his first at-bat after returning from the injured list on June 16, he went into a slump. However, Baldwin was impressive this past weekend during the Rangers series. He was 3-for-4 with a walk, a three-run homer, and a whopping five RBIs in Friday’s victory. He followed that two hits and an RBI on Saturday before recording a career-high five hits and two homers on Sunday. The Braves need him to stay healthy and continue to produce.
Key Player 3: Ronald Acuña, Jr.
It has been a really tough season for Ronald Acuña, Jr. (.251 AVG., .793 OPS., 7 HR, 22 RBI, 15 SB), the 2005 National League MVP who is currently on the injured list for the second time this season.
The good news? Acuña is currently on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Gwinnett and could return to the Braves’ lineup this week. When healthy, he’s still one of the sport’s most dangerous hitters. Getting him back into the lineup will be key if the Braves want to get back to the World Series.
Looking Ahead
The Braves remain at home to play a four-game series against the San Diego Padres, beginning tonight, before hitting the road for a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles, starting on Friday. Here’s a look at the upcoming schedule, including TV information and probable pitchers:
Monday, 7/20: 7:15 PM, BravesVision/Gray TV/MLB.TV, JP Sears (SD) (2-2, 5.03 ERA, 1.42 WHIP) vs. Bryce Elder (ATL) 5-6, 4.12 ERA, 1.25 WHIP)
Tuesday, 7/21: 7:15 PM, BravesVision/Gray TV/MLB.TV, Walker Buehler (SD) (5-5, 5.36 ERA, 1.44 WHIP) vs. Reynaldo Lopez (ATL) (4-2, 3.50 ERA, 1.26 WHIP)
Wednesday, 7/22: 7:15 PM, BravesVision/MLB.TV, Michael King (SD) (6-7, 3.34 ERA, 1.16 WHIP) vs. TBD (ATL)
Thursday, 7/23: 12:15 PM, BravesVision/MLB.TV, TBD (SD) vs. Chris Sale (ATL) (10-6, 2.06 ERA, 1.06 WHIP)
Friday, 7/24: 7:05 PM, BravesVision/MLB.TV, TBD (ATL) vs. TBD (BAL)
Saturday, 7/25: 7:05PM, BravesVision/MLB.TV, TBD (ATL) vs. TBD (BAL)
Sunday, 7/26: 1:35 PM, BravesVision/MLB.TV, TBD (ATL) vs. TBD (BAL)