The Phillies demolished the Braves 13-0 on June 28, 2025, as Trea Turner's two homers led an offensive onslaught against a struggling Bryce Elder. Recap the rout.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
After a rain delay of over two hours, the skies finally cleared at Truist Park, only for a different kind of storm to hit the Atlanta Braves. In a game that felt more like a statement than a simple loss, the Philadelphia Phillies dismantled the home team 13-0, exposing every flaw in a pitching staff stretched to its absolute limit. Led by a dominant Trea Turner, the Phillies turned Saturday night into a showcase of power, leaving the Braves and their fans searching for answers.
Bryce Elder lasted just two-plus innings, allowing 10 runs (nine earned) on eight hits and four walks.
The game was over almost before it began. Braves starter Bryce Elder, thrust into a key role due to injuries, suffered a catastrophic outing. The Phillies lineup teed off, launching five home runs into the Atlanta night. Trea Turner was a one-man wrecking crew, going 4-for-6 with two solo shots and a double. He was joined in the home run parade by Kyle Schwarber, Nick Castellanos, and Otto Kemp, who celebrated his first career big-league homer. The 13 runs allowed marked the most the Braves have given up in a single game this season, a defensive implosion that left the bullpen scrambling to pick up the pieces of a shattered start.
In the vast darkness of a 13-run deficit, a single light continued to shine. First baseman Matt Olson managed to single in the fifth inning, extending his on-base streak to an impressive 28 games. It's now the longest active streak in all of Major League Baseball and a testament to Olson's consistency. Unfortunately, it was one of only six hits the Braves could muster all night. The offense was completely stifled, unable to build any momentum or give the home crowd anything to cheer about, resulting in a demoralizing shutout.
This lopsided defeat wasn't just a bad day; it was a symptom of a much larger crisis. The Braves' starting rotation is in tatters. With Chris Sale (fractured ribs), Reynaldo López (shoulder surgery), and top prospect AJ Smith-Shawver (season-ending elbow surgery) all on the injured list, the team's depth has evaporated. For years, the farm system has been a point of concern, and now those fears are realized. There are no immediate, high-impact arms ready to be called up. While Ronald Acuña Jr. continues to perform at an MVP level, this game was a harsh reminder that even the most potent offense can't win games when the pitching falters so spectacularly.
This brutal loss serves as a blaring alarm. While individual bright spots like Olson's streak and Acuña's MVP-caliber season offer hope, they cannot mask the gaping hole in the starting rotation. With the farm system unable to provide immediate relief, the pressure now falls squarely on the front office. The path forward is clear: the Braves must make a significant move for pitching before the trade deadline, or risk watching a promising season unravel.
