The Atlanta Braves have been busy reshuffling their roster lately. With Alex Verdugo getting the call-up and Ian Anderson being claimed off waivers while the team was on the road, a flurry of transactions was needed just to keep the roster functional and game-ready. Anderson has since been sent to Triple-A, and Bryan De La Cruz has been claimed off waivers by the Yankees.

While none of these moves are blockbuster news, they do help clarify Atlanta’s current roster strategy. Verdugo has proven to be a major bargain, and with Eli White playing at a high level and the return of Eddie Rosario, there simply wasn’t a spot left for De La Cruz. His poor offensive numbers—just a 28 wRC+—didn’t help his case either, and now the Yankees will see if they can unlock his potential.

Bryan De La Cruz

As for Ian Anderson, his future remains uncertain. The Braves could try converting him into a reliever, but his stuff doesn’t really profile well out of the bullpen. Starting again is another option, though his struggles the second time through the lineup suggest that could be a tough road. For now, he remains in Gwinnett as more of a long-term project.

With those roster moves settled, the focus now shifts to the Braves’ upcoming series against the Dodgers. Game one will feature Grant Holmes on the mound for Atlanta, going up against Yoshinobu Yamamoto. It’s a challenging matchup, but the Braves appear to have assembled the lineup they believe can compete.