In the midst of a standout rookie campaign, Atlanta Braves righthander AJ Smith-Shawver is slated to miss the rest of the season after an MRI exam revealed a torn UCL in his pitching elbow, according to the team.

Ronald Acuña Jr. has been back for a week and the pitching staff has posted the National League’s third-best ERA this month. But neither of these encouraging developments have helped the Braves, who have lost seven of their past nine games to fall to 12-14 in May.

Another loss, another reason for Atlanta to want Snit gone — but his history with the franchise makes that a fraught proposition.

Trevor Story hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the fourth inning and the Boston Red Sox snapped a five-game skid with a 5-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Friday night.

The Braves began a six-game homestand Friday by again sputtering on offense, resulting in a 5-1 loss to the Red Sox. It was their fourth loss in past five games, further delaying an anticipated resurgence that the Braves hope eventually will propel them into the postseason race.

The Philadelphia Phillies won two of three against the Atlanta Braves to strengthen their grip on the NL East. After a turbulent few weeks to open the season, Philly has settled into a nice groove. Their division rivals, meanwhile, continue to stall. The Phillies now lead the Mets by 2.0 games and the Braves by 9.5 games.

Considered an early World Series favorite, the Braves have a roster consisting of players failing to live up to expectations.