The Phillies routed the Braves 13-0 on June 28, 2025, as Trea Turner homered twice. Bryce Elder's rough start highlights Atlanta's deepening pitching crisis.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
After waiting through a two-hour rain delay at Truist Park, Braves fans were hoping for a spark. Instead, they witnessed a flood. The Philadelphia Phillies washed away the Braves in a brutal 13-0 rout, a game that felt less like a single loss and more like a symptom of a much larger problem plaguing Atlanta's season.
There is 'zero' chance that injured ace Chris Sale will be traded at the deadline.
The box score tells a grim story. Starter Bryce Elder was shelled for 10 runs (nine earned) in just over two innings, serving up three home runs in a performance that put the game out of reach before it truly began. The Phillies, led by two homers from Trea Turner, didn't let up, mashing five long balls in total and accumulating 17 hits. The 13 runs allowed marked a season-worst for the Braves, a lopsided defeat that left a stunned silence over the ballpark. The lone bright spot in the darkness was first baseman Matt Olson, who extended his MLB-leading on-base streak to 28 games with a fifth-inning single, a small personal victory on a night of collective failure.
Saturday's blowout wasn't just about one bad start; it was a painful illustration of Atlanta's biggest vulnerability. The starting rotation has been decimated. With Chris Sale (fractured ribs), Reynaldo López (shoulder surgery), and AJ Smith-Shawver (season-ending elbow surgery) all on the injured list, the Braves are running on fumes. The hope was that internal options like Elder could bridge the gap, but performances like this reveal the stark reality: the farm system currently lacks the MLB-ready arms to weather this storm. The depth that was once a hallmark of this organization is being tested like never before, and the results are becoming increasingly difficult to watch.
With the team struggling and its ace on the shelf, speculation has naturally swirled about the upcoming trade deadline. Could the Braves become sellers? President of Baseball Operations Alex Anthopoulos shut that talk down emphatically. When asked about the possibility of trading Chris Sale, Anthopoulos stated there is 'zero' chance of that happening. This declaration sends a clear message: despite the current turmoil and Sale's injury, the front office sees him as a critical part of the team's present and future. They are not waving the white flag on the season or on their core players.
The Braves are at a crossroads. The loss to the Phillies was more than just a blowout; it was a distress signal. While Matt Olson's consistency is admirable and the front office's commitment to Chris Sale is reassuring, neither solves the immediate crisis on the mound. The path forward is uncertain and challenging. Atlanta desperately needs to find reliable starting pitching, and with the farm system thin on immediate options, all eyes will turn to Anthopoulos to see if he can work his magic before the trade deadline. One thing is clear: nights like this cannot become the new normal if the Braves hope to salvage their season.
