Hayden Birdsong’s demotion combined with Justin Verlander’s inconsistency highlight the team’s need for major-league rotation depth as the July 31 trade deadline looms. It’s an issue that has been brewing since the team sent Kyle Harrison and Jordan Hicks to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for Rafael Devers.

Very few hitters on the planet could do what Rafael Devers did on Wednesday afternoon in Atlanta. He reached down for a pitch basically in the dirt, swung with pretty much one hand, and somehow launched a home run to right field anyway. Rafael Devers goes well below the zone to hit his 18th homer of the season pic.twitter.com/O1aEgetsBc