ATLANTA, GA – AUGUST 12: Atlanta pitcher Tyler Mahle (54) pitches during the MLB game between the New York Mets and the Atlanta Braves on August 12th, 2026 at Truist Park in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Well Tyler Mahle is two starts into his Braves’ tenure, but those two starts have been two of the best starts by a Brave not names Chris Sale this season, going 6.0 innings with strong strikeout numbers in each. There is one thing that definitely jumps out on his profile that the Braves may have changed and that is dramatically reducing his cutter usage, in favor of his four-seamer and splitter. It is also possible that they dropped his arm angle, but that is less clear from the season-long trends for him. If that can actually unlock a better version of Mahle, who has always had middle-of-the-rotation talent, that would be a huge win for the Braves and a huge feather in Jeremy Hefner’s cap.
Braves News
As much angst as there has been about Atlanta’s ABS savvy, often justifiably so, the Braves have been quite good on the defensive side of ABS.
Tyler Mahle twirled another gem, as the Braves secured another series win against the Mets, stretching the division lead to a massive 9.5 games in mid-August and 1.0 game behind Milwaukee for the #1 seed in the NL.
MLB News
Rays’ Yandy Diaz reached the threshold to secure his vesting option and a salary bump in the final year of his contract, as the Rays have the best record in baseball.
The Red Sox sent one of their top prospects, Harold Rivas to the Orioles as a player to be named later in the Adley Rutschman trade.
The Tigers placed Riley Greene on the IL with a hamstring strain.
Cubs Phil Maton is hitting the IL with a partially torn patellar tendon, but may be able to return this season.