The Atlanta Braves were relatively quiet when compared with some of the other contenders at the trade deadline, a surprising approach considering the uncertainty surrounding their starting rotation. Atlanta had a clear need for additional pitching depth, yet the front office ultimately made only a handful of significant moves before the deadline.
Still, the Braves managed to address some of the areas they believed needed attention.
One of those areas was the outfield. Atlanta acquired veteran outfielder Lane Thomas from the Kansas City Royals, bringing in a right-handed bat who was expected to provide a useful platoon option alongside Mike Yastrzemski.
The move made sense for the Braves because Thomas offered experience, versatility and a track record of hitting left-handed pitching. Atlanta envisioned him taking on a meaningful role in left field, particularly when the team faced left-handed starters.
Thomas arrived in Atlanta after hitting .232/.326/.393 across 97 games with Kansas City. Although those overall numbers were not eye-popping, his history against left-handed pitching made him an intriguing addition for a Braves roster preparing for a postseason run.
MLB reported that Thomas, who had primarily played center field with the Royals, was expected to shift to left field with Atlanta. The plan was for him to share the position with Yastrzemski, giving the Braves another way to create favorable matchups throughout the season and potentially into October.
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That plan, however, has been disrupted by an unfortunate injury.
Thomas suffered a strained left intercostal muscle while taking batting practice before Atlanta’s September 10 game against the Tampa Bay Rays. He initially tried to continue swinging, but the discomfort was enough for the Braves to remove him from the lineup shortly before first pitch.
Atlanta subsequently placed Thomas on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to September 8. The team initially indicated that he would likely miss at least a month, although there was some hope that his recovery could progress quickly enough for him to potentially contribute during the postseason. (MLB.com)
The timing could hardly be more important.
The Braves have now completed the most important part of their regular-season objective. Atlanta clinched a postseason berth on September 18 before securing the National League East title on September 20. The division championship was Atlanta’s seventh in nine seasons and ensured that the Braves could spend the final portion of the regular season concentrating heavily on postseason preparation. (MLB.com)
That makes the health of every potential postseason contributor especially important.
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Unfortunately for Thomas, the latest information suggests that he will not be ready when Atlanta opens its postseason schedule.
MLB’s Mark Bowman recently projected Atlanta’s Wild Card Series roster and listed Brewer Hicklen as the team’s backup outfielder. According to Bowman’s projection, Thomas is expected to miss the Wild Card Series while recovering from his intercostal injury. (MLB.com)
That would represent a significant change from the role Atlanta envisioned when it acquired him.
The Braves did not bring Thomas in simply to fill a roster spot. They wanted a right-handed hitter who could complement Yastrzemski and give the lineup another option against left-handed pitching. His career numbers against southpaws were a major part of the appeal.
Without him, Atlanta will have to find other ways to construct its lineup depending on the opposing starting pitcher.
One possibility is Mauricio Dubón.
The versatile veteran has already become an important piece for the Braves because of his ability to move around the diamond. With Thomas unavailable, MLB noted that Dubón could play left field against left-handed starters. That would create an opportunity for Ha-Seong Kim to take over at shortstop in those matchups. (MLB.com)
That type of flexibility could become extremely valuable in a short playoff series.
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The Wild Card Series is scheduled to begin September 29, and the Braves are currently projected to enter the postseason as the National League’s No. 3 seed. That means Atlanta would host the No. 6 seed at Truist Park in a best-of-three series. (MLB.com)
In a three-game series, every roster decision becomes magnified.
There is very little room for players who are not fully healthy, and managers have to prepare for multiple scenarios in a short period. Atlanta therefore cannot afford to wait indefinitely for Thomas if there is uncertainty about his availability.
Instead, the Braves have to move forward with the players who are healthy.
That is where Brewer Hicklen could become particularly important.
Hicklen has not entered the season with the same profile or expectations as some of Atlanta’s more established players, but he has consistently taken advantage of opportunities when they have come his way. His potential postseason role could become much more significant if Thomas remains unavailable.
Rather than viewing the injury solely as a loss, Atlanta will need to rely on its depth and make sure the roster can absorb Thomas’ absence.
The Braves have already demonstrated throughout the season that they can get contributions from unexpected sources.
Their division-winning campaign has included several players stepping into important roles at different points. Martin Pérez, for example, was originally a non-roster invitee and was designated for assignment early in the season, yet he became an important part of Atlanta’s rotation and helped the club secure the NL East. (MLB.com)
Tyler Mahle is another example.
Atlanta acquired Mahle from the San Francisco Giants at the trade deadline, and the right-hander quickly became one of the biggest stories of the Braves’ rotation. After arriving with a 5.13 ERA, Mahle produced a 1.28 ERA across his first eight starts for Atlanta, becoming an important part of the team’s postseason pitching plans. (MLB.com)
Those developments illustrate why the Braves can reasonably believe they have enough depth to survive an injury to one player.
That does not mean Thomas’ absence is insignificant.
The Braves specifically targeted him because they wanted another right-handed bat capable of attacking left-handed pitching. His injury removes one of the more clearly defined platoon options from Atlanta’s lineup at precisely the time when matchup advantages become increasingly important.
Thomas also did not have much time to establish himself in Atlanta before the injury.
Since joining the Braves, he has struggled offensively, hitting .171 with a .578 OPS in 46 plate appearances. That is a small sample, and it does not erase the reason Atlanta acquired him in the first place. His previous production and career success against left-handed pitching remain part of the larger evaluation. (MLB.com)
But the injury means the Braves may have to make postseason plans without seeing whether Thomas could have eventually settled into his expected role.
For now, Atlanta’s options are centered around players already on the roster.
Yastrzemski is expected to remain part of the outfield picture, while Dubón could receive additional opportunities in left field. Hicklen provides another right-handed outfield option, and DaShawn Keirsey Jr. could offer late-game defense and speed.
Keirsey was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett after Thomas was placed on the injured list. He had been highly productive on the bases in the minors, successfully stealing 40 of 43 attempts for Gwinnett this season. MLB’s postseason projection identified him primarily as a potential pinch-runner and defensive replacement. (MLB.com)
That gives Atlanta several different ways to compensate for Thomas’ absence.
The Braves also have the benefit of entering the postseason with their division already secured. Instead of worrying about whether they can win the NL East, the organization can use the final days of the regular season to determine exactly how its roster should be constructed.
The pitching staff is obviously a major focus.
Chris Sale is lined up to start Game 1 of the Wild Card Series, while Mahle is currently expected to handle Game 2. Grant Holmes and Pérez are among the candidates for a potential Game 3. (MLB.com)
That pitching depth was one of the biggest questions surrounding Atlanta earlier in the season, making the team’s ability to find solutions especially notable.
The same principle will now apply to the outfield.
If Thomas cannot return, the Braves will not have the luxury of waiting for him to become healthy. They will have to trust the players available and construct their lineups according to the matchup.
For a team attempting to make a deep postseason run, that next-man-up mentality can be crucial.
Thomas’ injury is certainly not the way Atlanta wanted this situation to develop. The veteran was brought in to provide a specific offensive skill set and help balance the lineup. Losing him before the Wild Card Series potentially removes an important weapon from the team’s bench.
However, Atlanta has enough versatility to adjust.
Dubón can move into left field. Kim can take on additional responsibilities at shortstop. Hicklen can provide outfield depth, while Keirsey gives the Braves another option as a defensive replacement and pinch-runner.
And if Thomas’ recovery progresses faster than currently expected, Atlanta could still benefit from his return later in the postseason. MLB currently lists his potential return as possible during the playoffs, while the latest postseason projection has him unavailable for the Wild Card Series. (MLB.com)
For now, though, the Braves have to plan as if he will not be there.
Atlanta made the decision to acquire Thomas because the front office believed his right-handed bat could help the team in October. His absence changes that plan, but it does not necessarily change the Braves’ overall postseason strategy.
The organization has already shown that it can overcome unexpected setbacks.
Now, the challenge is to do it again.
The Braves will enter October with the NL East title secured, a postseason berth guaranteed and a roster that has several players capable of filling different roles. Thomas’ injury is another test of that depth.
Whenever he is healthy enough to return, Atlanta will undoubtedly welcome him back.
Until then, the Braves will have to rely on the players who are available.
And with the Wild Card Series approaching quickly, those players could have an opportunity to turn a disappointing injury situation into another example of Atlanta’s ability to find contributions throughout its roster.
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