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Top Atlanta Braves Storylines To Watch Before The Trade Deadline

By Savannah McCoy

TORONTO, ON - JUNE 19: Johan Camargo #17 of the Atlanta Braves is congratulated by Kurt Suzuki #24 and Charlie Culberson #16 after hitting a grand slam home run in the second inning during MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on June 19, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - JUNE 19: Johan Camargo #17 of the Atlanta Braves is congratulated by Kurt Suzuki #24 and Charlie Culberson #16 after hitting a grand slam home run in the second inning during MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on June 19, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – MAY 20: Ronald Acuna, Jr #13 of the Atlanta Braves hits a two-run single in the seventh inning during the game against the Miami Marlins at SunTrust Park on May 20, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – MAY 20: Ronald Acuna, Jr #13 of the Atlanta Braves hits a two-run single in the seventh inning during the game against the Miami Marlins at SunTrust Park on May 20, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images) /

The Atlanta Braves currently lead the the NL East Division, and have for a while. With just over a month until the MLB Trade Deadline, here are a few of the emerging storylines.

The most hyped Braves rookie season since Jason Heyward arrived in Atlanta hit a snag in May. Acuna hurt his leg and back in a game against the Boston Red Sox. A subsequent stint on the DL has cooled the excitement just a bit, but it will ramp up when he returns later this month.

Acuna hasn’t wowed fans the way he did in spring training, but we’ve seen the potential. He has the potential to be a multi-base hit machine, especially when he gets hot. His speed and instinct makes for fun defense.

Several analysts predicted Acuna would be the NL Rookie of the Year. He’ll have some ground to make up against the Dodgers’ Walter Buehler and the Marlins’ Brian Anderson who have played phenomenally this season.

But isn’t that the fun of baseball? If Acuna goes on tear after his return, he’s right back in the Rookie of the Year conversation.

The Braves don’t need that though. Just watching him make strides forward over the next couple of months should be good enough to continue the team’s playoff push.

The biggest concern for Atlanta is his strikeouts. He’s had 37 in 29 games as major leaguer. If he’s able to turn some of those strike outs into contact, he should see his number of hits and home runs increase.

The adjustments Acuna makes mid-season could drastically impact the Braves come September and October.

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