The Braves are wasting no time setting the tone for their 2026 campaign, and that starts with their rotation. General Manager Alex Anthopoulos made it clear on Thursday: four of the five rotation spots are locked in. Chris Sale, Spencer Strider, Reynaldo López, and Grant Holmes are the arms Atlanta is banking on to carry the bulk of the starting load this season.
That’s a bold move - and a telling one - especially when you consider the backstories of López and Holmes. Both are coming off season-ending injuries, and both have had success out of the bullpen in the past.
López, in particular, made just one start last season after dealing with fatigue-related issues the year before. Given that, there was some chatter about whether he might return to a relief role.
But with Spencer Schwellenbach unavailable, that door seems firmly shut. The Braves are betting on López as a starter, and they’re not hedging.
Same goes for Grant Holmes. He’s flashed potential in the bullpen, but Atlanta is committing to him as a rotation piece.
That tells you two things: the team believes in his health, and they believe in his upside. These aren’t just depth moves - they’re foundational decisions.
That leaves one rotation spot up for grabs, and as of now, it’s a three-man race: Bryce Elder, Hurston Waldrep, and veteran Martín Pérez. The Braves aren’t ruling out adding another arm before Opening Day, but if they stand pat, these are the names to watch in camp.
Elder’s situation is complicated. He’s out of minor league options, which means if he doesn’t make the team, he’s likely gone.
That’s a tough spot for a guy who’s posted a 5.59 ERA over the last two seasons. The Braves want to preserve their pitching depth, sure - but not at the cost of performance.
Elder will need a strong spring to stick around. If he struggles, a DFA could be in the cards.
Pérez brings experience and stability. The lefty has logged a 4.24 ERA across the last two seasons and was an All-Star in 2022, when he posted a 2.89 ERA over nearly 200 innings with the Rangers.
He may not be flashy, but he’s a dependable innings-eater - the kind of guy who can step in if injuries strike. He may not break camp in the rotation, but don’t be surprised if he’s called upon sooner rather than later.
Then there’s Hurston Waldrep - the wild card, and frankly, the most electric option of the three. After a breakout 2025, where he posted a 2.88 ERA over 56.1 innings in Atlanta, Waldrep looks like a future mainstay. If this decision were purely about putting the best arms on the mound in April, Waldrep would be the pick, no question.
But it’s not just about April. The Braves are playing the long game.
They’ve already been hit with injuries, and rotation depth is thin. That makes the decision trickier.
Do you go with the high-upside arm now, or stash him to preserve depth and keep a veteran like Pérez or a roster-constrained Elder on the roster?
It’s a delicate balance - win now vs. plan for later. But one thing’s for sure: the Braves aren’t tiptoeing into 2026. They’re setting expectations early, and the competition for that final rotation spot is going to be one of the most compelling storylines of Spring Training.