​ATLANTA, GA – JULY 04: Sidelined Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Joe Jimenez in the dugout during the Saturday evening MLB game between the Atlanta Braves and the New York Mets on July 4, 2026 at Truist Park in Atklanta, Georgia. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesThe Atlanta Braves entered their series against the Los Angeles Dodgers trying to stabilize their position atop the National League East, but the timing of the matchup also provided a reminder of how much pitching depth can matter in October.Atlanta held a slight divisional lead entering the series, despite enduring a harsh skid.“Atlanta enters this series with a 3 1/2-game lead over the red-hot Phillies in the National League East,” Sonja Chen and Jacob Gurvis wrote for MLB.com. “Despite sitting a comfortable 21 games over .500, the Braves return home after a tough road trip — the club lost five of its first six games on its Midwest swing before winning the Little League Classic on Sunday, and has dropped seven of its last 10 games overall.”While the Braves continue searching for answers that can help hold off the Phillies for the remainder of the regular season and potentially contribute to a postseason run, one organizational veteran is simply trying to return to the mound before he is forced to end his career.FORBES | By Peter ChawagaFormer Astros MVP Takes Over For GM Dana Brown After Sudden ExitAtlanta Braves Veteran Offers Social Media Update After Brutal Injury Threatens CareerAfter a brutal cartilage injury to his knee at the end of the 2024 season, Braves veteran Joe Jimenez faced questions about whether he would ever be able to return to pitching again.But this week, he was able to provide a positive update on his recovery, even if he hasn’t completely answered those questions yet.”Rehab keeps getting tougher, but that’s exactly where I want to be,” Jimenez wrote on Instagram. “There’s still work to do, but I can feel it: I’m getting closer to playing again. One day at a time. Keep pushing.”And that marathon mentality is evidently a focus for Jimenez, as he followed up that caption with another two-word update on his attempt to return.“Keep going,” he wrote.FORBES | By Peter ChawagaDodgers Sends ‘Fire Sale’ Message After $1.2 Billion DealAtlanta Braves’ Former All-Star ‘Unlikely’ To Return This Season After Injury SetbackThough Jimenez is still a long shot to contribute to any Braves’ World Series aspirations this season, the update was a significant positive given the concerns over his 2024 injury setback.“A couple months ago, Joe Jimenez didn’t know if he’d ever pitch again,” MLB.com’s Mark Bowman wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “He’s throwing bullpens now. Returning this year still seems unlikely. But he at least now has hope to continue his career.”Jimenez appeared in both games of Atlanta’s season-ending doubleheader in 2024 and helped the Braves secure a postseaso