AJ Smith-Shawver’s latest outing in Triple-A didn’t make a splash, but it was the kind of performance that can start turning heads in Atlanta. He worked 4.1 scoreless innings on 73 pitches, struck out five and issued just one walk.
That matters for a Braves rotation that is thin enough to make almost any encouraging rehab or minor league start worth tracking. Smith-Shawver was once a top prospect, and before his injury he was in the middle of trying to prove he could become a major league starter.
Even with the rough edges - the mechanical inconsistency and the command issues - he was trending toward something real. With Atlanta essentially relying on one trustworthy starter, it would not be a surprise to see him back in the big leagues sooner rather than later.
The bigger takeaway is simple: he’s throwing well on the farm, and that’s exactly what the Braves need to see as he works back from injury. The hope is that he’s found some consistency in his recovery without losing the stuff that made him so intriguing, especially that turbocharged splitter he was throwing, possibly by accident, before the injury.
Elsewhere, the Braves took a tough loss to the Rangers in a game they were unlucky in, but also one they let slip away despite having a real chance to win it.
Around the league, the Orioles signed veteran starter Kyle Bradish to a five-year, $90 million extension, and the Mariners reinstated Julio Rodriguez from the concussion IL.
In Other News...
Braves May Finally Have The Trade Match Fans Have Waited For
The Athletics are reportedly open for business on some of their outfielders, and the timing makes the idea worth watching from Atlantas side. Oaklands goal is straightforward enough, too: it wants young starting pitching in return, which is exactly the kind of currency the Braves have been able to stockpile while trying to patch a lineup that could still use more help in the outfield.
That overlap is what makes this feel more than just another deadline rumor. Atlanta has several young arms it could put into a deal, giving the front office a rare chance to turn pitching depth into a bat without stripping the roster bare, and the As willingness to listen keeps the door open. The question now is whether the Braves are ready to make that kind of move, and which arm they would be willing to part with if they do. [Read more 🡒]
Braves May Have Found A Rotation Fix With One Major Catch
The Braves are still hunting for starting pitching help, and the market is pointing them toward a familiar kind of target: a veteran arm with a track record of taking the ball and keeping a rotation steady. In that search, one possible fit stands out because of both his consistency and his reputation as a two-time All-Star, the kind of pitcher Atlanta could use if it wants more stability behind its top options.
The catch is that any conversation around him is likely to get complicated quickly. Recent pitcher trades with similar contract structures have already shown how hard it can be for clubs to line up on value, and that same issue could make negotiations between Atlanta and Kansas City tricky. If the Braves and Royals see the package differently, the talks could stall before they really get moving, which is why Atlanta may need to keep other rotation options in play. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Suddenly Got A More Encouraging Spencer Schwellenbach Update
The Braves got a more encouraging read on Spencer Schwellenbach after earlier skepticism around the injured pitching group, and that matters because every bit of rotation help feels significant with the season moving into its final stretch. Schwellenbachs rehab has continued in Florida, and the most recent update points toward him taking a meaningful next step soon, which at least keeps the door open for a late-season boost.
For Atlanta, the appeal is obvious: if Schwellenbach can get through a rehab assignment and build back up without setbacks, he would give the club another arm to lean on behind Chris Sale. A September return is still the best-case path, so there is no reason to treat this as a sure thing yet, but the tone around Schwellenbach has shifted enough to make him one of the more interesting names to watch in the coming weeks. [Read more 🡒]