Three storylines for the Braves second half of the season

Unfortunately, the second half of the season will likely be focused on moral victories for the Braves.

Currently sitting 11 games under .500 and 9.5 games back of a playoff spot, the World Series aspirations in Atlanta are all but dashed. Pretty soon, the club could look entirely different if Alex Anthopoulos does indeed decide to sell, meaning the focus of this year’s second half will be on things that could help the club in 2026 and beyond.

Ozzie Albies and Michael Harris II playing for their jobs

A slew of Braves have underperformed this season, but none more so than Ozzie Albies and Michael Harris II, both of whom should be playing for their jobs in the second half of the season.

Albies has a $7 million club option for 2026 that carries a buyout of $4 million. The Braves likely will just hang onto him, given the difference is only $3 million, but that doesn’t mean he’ll be handed the starting job going into next season.

Nacho Alvarez is already with the big-league club, filling in for Austin Riley at third base. But even when Riley returns, expect Alvarez to stick around and get some time at second base. The Braves need to find out if their second baseman for 2026 is already in the building, or if it is an area that must be addressed in the offseason.

Michael Harris’ situation is a little different, given he’s under contract through 2030 and under team control through 2032. The Braves really need him to find his way out of this funk, and in all likelihood, he’ll begin next season as the club’s starting centerfielder because of how much they’ve already committed to him. With that being said, competition will be brought in, and if Harris’ keeps performing like the worst offensive regular in baseball, the Braves will have a really difficult decision to make at some point next season.

Which prospects will emerge?

I already mentioned Nacho Alvarez above, but he’s just one of a slew of prospects that should get a chance over the final two months of the season. Hayden Harris and Jhancarlos Lara are two bullpen pieces that could establish themselves as staples in Atlanta. Additionally, we will likely see a bevy of new faces make starts for the Braves in the second half, including prospects like Hurston Waldrep, JR Ritchie, Blake Burkhalter, Brett Sears, and Ian Mejia. If even a couple of these young arms can prove to be major-league ready, it would be a terrific sign for the future of the Braves pitching staff.

Finding the old Spencer Strider

After a shaky first few outings, Spencer Strider has really started to settle in and look more like the pitcher he was before InternalBrace surgery, but there’s still plenty of room for improvement. This might be the most important second half development of them all. Because when Spencer Strider is right, he’s one of the most dominant pitchers in the game. The Braves need him to be at his best the rest of the way.

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Photo: David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire

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