Today in Atlanta Sports

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Atlanta Braves

The Braves got swept today in four games against the worst team in baseball, the Phillies. They lost 7-6 but at least they didn’t get walked off on, right?

The Phillies came into the series the worst team in baseball and exited still the worst team in baseball. Not huge for them. But the Braves came into the series 8.5 back of the second wild card spot and left 11 games back. Much bigger news, as Atlanta now finds themselves out of playoff contention for all intensive purposes.

But this is about today, so let’s talk about today. The Braves lost again, and again they lost by one run for the third game in a row. They had the same struggles today as they have had all series long….. Which is leaving runners in scoring position and of course, the bullpen.The Braves left nine on base and left four of seven in scoring position. They did have 6 runs though and 10 hits. For the bullpen, they were slightly better recording 12 outs and only giving up one run on two hits and one walk. Of course things just haven’t been going the Braves way lately and it continued today. The hottest starting pitcher for the Braves lately, Mike Foltynewicz, went just four innings and gave up six runs.

So for the Braves this week, they play the Dodgers and Marlins for 3, all at home. The Braves are 11.5 back of the second wild card spot and have dropped from 2nd to 4th in a division that is all but the Nationals at this point.

The trade deadline was also yesterday.

Atlanta had yet to make a significant trade, and with the trade deadline upon them yesterday, many expected at least a minor move to come out of the Braves camp. However, they remained silent. There have been swirling rumors that the team was trying to dump veterans like Jim Johnson and Brandon Phillips. But with Jim Johnson’s declining play and Brandon Phillips list of teams he will not go to, those trades were much easier said than done.

There is still a good chance one or more of the Braves veterans clear waivers and are dealt before the August deadline.

Atlanta Hawks

For the first time in a long time, there is not much going on in the NBA world right now, but the Hawks did make a roster move yesterday, waiving the newly acquired Diamond Stone.

Stone was sent to Atlanta in the sign-and-trade deal that sent Paul Millsap to Denver. A second year player, there is still plenty of room for Stone to grow as he is just 20 years of age. Though, being let go from a rebuilding Hawks team is not exactly a promising sign. If Stone was going to have an opportunity to get minutes anywhere, it would probably be in Atlanta.

The Hawks are extremely thin in the front court, and their was belief Stone could be a nice project for the team, as a former top-10 recruit coming out of high school. The problem is he really lacks the athleticism and physicality that is required at this level. Perhaps as he gets older he can improve in these areas, but right now it looks like his NBA career is a short one.

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