‘Baby Braves’ endure growing pains

ATLANTA — As well as things have gone for the Braves in the first half of the season, troubling signs have emerged that something is not right.

The Braves have lost six of eight and briefly fell out of the NL East lead for the first time since May 30. They are looking to regain their momentum entering next week’s All-Star break.

“We just have to get back to getting the whole thing going,” manager Brian Snitker said. “We’re obviously struggling in a lot of different areas.”

Snitker said he has examined all options, including tweaks to his lineup. General manager Alex Anthopoulos also has to look closely at the team’s recent downward trends as he considers trade options.

The Braves are interested in the Orioles’ Manny Machado but are seen as long shots to acquire the All-Star shortstop. Anthopoulos may be more willing to trade a pitching prospect now that starters Sean Newcomb, Mike Foltynewicz and Mike Soroka have broken through.

Trading a prospect for immediate help would have been considered unlikely at the beginning of the year. The rebuilding Braves were expected to contend in a year or two. But now that they have spent much of the season in first place, the timetable for aggressive moves may have changed.

The team earned the nickname “Baby Braves” thanks to players such as 21-year-old AllStar Ozzie Albies and 20-year-old left fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. Soroka also is just 20. Lefthander Luiz Gohara, 21, could add even more youth.

Two more important players are only 24 — Newcomb and shortstop Dansby Swanson. And Foltynewicz is a first-time AllStar at 26.