The Atlanta Braves may have stumbled out of the gate in 2025, but they’ve managed to steady themselves and are now starting to resemble the powerhouse many expected them to be.
After a brutal start that saw them buried near the bottom of the standings, the Braves have clawed their way back to .500. They are sitting at 24-24 after Tuesday’s loss. With reinforcements arriving, momentum is quietly building in Atlanta.
The Worst of the Storm May Be Over
This team looked lost in April. Injuries, slumps, and underwhelming performances piled up, and the Braves found themselves in unfamiliar territory — as one of the worst teams in baseball during the opening month.
But slowly, things have shifted. Even in a less-than-dominant outing, Spencer Strider’s return to the rotation marked a turning point. Ronald Acuña Jr. is also close, and the steady play of the infield, combined with improved pitching and the emergence of young talent, has sparked a mid-season revival.
It’s still early, but the Braves are beginning to look like a playoff team again — and the front office knows it.
Braves’ Eyes on October and the Trade Market
If this team continues trending upward, don’t be surprised to see Alex Anthopoulos get aggressive at the trade deadline. Atlanta isn’t built for a rebuild. It’s built to contend — now. And even with a farm system that’s light on top-tier depth, the Braves have intriguing assets to work with.
According to Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report, JR Ritchie stands out as the club’s “most likely” trade chip. And that makes sense.
“They don’t have a ton of top prospect capital,” Miller writes, “but they sure could garner some interest by dangling JR Ritchie’s name out there.”
Ritchie, the 35th overall draft pick in 2022, has rebounded from Tommy John surgery in a big way.
He posted a 2.90 ERA across 49.2 innings in 2024. And this year at High-A Rome, he’s been lights-out: 1.30 ERA and 0.79 WHIP through seven starts. He’s since been promoted to Double-A, where scouts are watching him closely.
Why Ritchie Could Be on the Move
The Braves aren’t shy about moving prospects when the time is right, especially for pitching. And with a system loaded with arms, Ritchie is in a crowded class. If Atlanta wants to make a serious push, especially for an impact bat or frontline reliever, Ritchie could headline a trade package.
Pair that with other intriguing options like Raisel Iglesias or Rafael Montero — both on expiring contracts — or even Marcell Ozuna, who’s raking and could fetch a massive return as a rental, and the Braves suddenly have real trade leverage.
The Braves Are Back — and They’re Not Settling
This team still has holes, and they’ll need to be patched if a deep postseason run is the goal. But if Strider rounds into form, if Acuña comes back healthy, and if this offense keeps clicking, the Braves will be buyers. They won’t just try to sneak into the Wild Card — they’ll go all in.
And if that means saying goodbye to JR Ritchie, well, it might be a small price to pay to chase another title.
