ATLANTA -- Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos became an Atlanta legend when he created a World Series winner with his 2021 Trade Deadline haul. His late-July mastery also significantly influenced the National League East titles won in ‘18, ‘19 and ‘22.

Anthopoulos had one last chance to make an on-field evaluation of this year’s Braves as they suffered a 4-1 loss to the Angels on Monday night at Truist Park. This showing may have enhanced his desire to add a starting pitcher, a reliever or maybe a right-handed bat before Tuesday’s 6 p.m. ET Trade Deadline.

Or as the Braves sit with MLB’s best record and no glaring need, maybe it’s best to stand pat.

“I like where we’re at,” Braves third baseman Austin Riley said. “That’s not to say Alex won’t do something. I trust him. He’s obviously very good at his job, and he has full support from me with whatever he does. The guys in the clubhouse, I’d take them into the playoffs right now.”

The Braves have an 11-game lead in the National League East and they are on pace for 104 wins. But tallying a triple-digit regular-season win total doesn’t create the same euphoria as postseason success. Atlanta has never won the World Series during any of the seven seasons they have tallied 100-plus wins in the modern era.

So Anthopoulos will take advantage of this one last chance to improve his club from outside the organization. He rebuilt his bullpen by acquiring Mark Melancon, Chris Martin and Shane Greene in 2019. His ‘21 Trade Deadline acquisitions included Adam Duvall, Joc Pederson, NL Championship Series MVP Eddie Rosario, World Series MVP Jorge Soler and Richard Rodríguez, who helped reset the bullpen before his late struggles left him off the postseason roster.

“I really like our club as it is,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “If we can make it better, great. But I think our club going forward is really good.”

The Braves gained a backup infielder when they acquired Nicky Lopez from the Royals on Sunday. Lopez may get more playing time than Charlie Culberson, who appeared in one game and tallied just one plate appearance while filling this role for Atlanta most of the past two months.

But there’s a potential to improve other areas. 

When Max Fried returns from the injured list this week, he will rejoin Spencer Strider, Charlie Morton and Bryce Elder as mainstays within Atlanta’s rotation. Elder stumbled over a couple of July starts but righted himself in his past two outings.

Morton threw just 13 strikes during a 30-pitch first inning on Monday. But three solo homers accounted for the only damage he incurred over six innings. The 39-year-old hurler has posted a 3.62 ERA and proven to be the steady contributor the Braves envisioned he’d be.

Yonny Chirinos currently sits in the rotation’s fifth spot. Michael Soroka, AJ Smith-Shawver, Jared Shuster and Allan Winans are other candidates for that role.

This depth provides options to mix and match in the fifth spot the remainder of the season. It could also create an option to use one or two of these pitchers to upgrade the roster.

As for the bullpen, A.J. Minter made a successful return from the injured list when he tossed a scoreless inning on Monday. He will team with Joe Jiménez and Kirby Yates to serve as closer Raisel Iglesias’ primary setup men.

Pierce Johnson might get more high-leverage opportunities after striking out three in a scoreless inning on Monday. Johnson hasn’t allowed an earned run in the three appearances he’s made since being acquired from the Rockies last week.

Iglesias, Minter, Jiménez, Yates, Johnson and Collin McHugh should fill six of the eight bullpen spots once the Braves carry five starters again. Fighting for the final two spots would be Michael Tonkin, Ben Heller and Daysbel Hernández, who hasn’t extended the dominance he showed in the Minors this year. He came within inches of allowing Shohei Ohtani’s 40th homer on Monday.

Left-handed reliever Dylan Lee could return from the injured list within a couple of weeks, and veteran setup man Nick Anderson should return in September. As for Kyle Wright, there’s always a chance he could be used as a reliever instead of a starter once he is activated in September.

So unless there’s a chance to add a high-impact reliever, there might not be a need for Anthopoulos to touch his bullpen.

“Whatever happens, happens,” Riley said. “But like I said, if the playoffs were starting tomorrow, I would like our chances.”