ATLANTA (AP) The Atlanta Braves don’t wish to hear they’re working out of time to show they will nonetheless compete for a playoff spot.

Continued offensive woes are making a case Atlanta could possibly be sellers as a substitute of consumers on the commerce deadline.

Atlanta got here inside two outs of its second shutout loss in dropping two of three video games to the Los Angeles Angels. The Braves dodged what would have been their fourth shutout loss of their final seven video games when Jurickson Profar hit a ninth-inning homer, but it surely was far too little to save lots of the listless offense Thursday night time in a 5-1 loss to the Angels.

The Braves had been shut out by the Angels 4-0 on Tuesday night time within the sequence opener.

The Braves (39-47) are fourth place within the NL East.

Supervisor Brian Snitker hoped the return of Profar from an 80-game drug suspension would spark the struggling offense, and Profar hit homers in back-to-back video games. That wasn’t sufficient to save lots of Atlanta from its first dwelling sequence loss to the Angels since 2005.

So hopefully that will likely be an added factor for us, Snitker stated of Profar’s return because the beginning left fielder and No. 5 hitter. If we get some guys going round him.

The Braves had been restricted to a few hits, all singles, in seven innings by Angels right-hander José Soriano, who didn’t enable a baserunner to succeed in second base. Matt Olson had one of many hits, a first-inning single to proper subject that prolonged his streak of reaching base safely to 33 video games.

Whereas Olson has boosted his batting common from .234 on Could 27 to .267, others proceed to battle. Michael Harris is hitting .215 and Ozzie Albies is at .224 after every was held with no hit.

These struggles add to hypothesis it might be time for the Braves to shake up the lineup on the commerce deadline.

No one desires to listen to that, Olson stated. Had been in right here competing day by day. We nonetheless have playoffs on our thoughts and I perceive theres going to be some outdoors noise when you’ve got a report like we do however we nonetheless really feel like weve acquired an excellent unit in right here. Had been simply not taking part in in addition to we wish to.

The Braves are also burdened by a depleted rotation.

Bryce Elder (2-6) gave up 4 runs on eight hits and three walks in 5 innings for his third consecutive loss. The Braves trailed 3-0 after two innings.

That’s on me, Elder stated.

It’s robust to get the offense on a roll if you’re at all times coming from behind.”

Elder’s poor outing got here someday after right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach landed on the 15-day injured checklist with a fractured proper elbow on Wednesday. The rotation beforehand misplaced Chris Sale (damaged rib), AJ Smith-Shawver (Tommy John surgical procedure) and Reynaldo López (shoulder surgical procedure) to accidents.

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