The Braves’ playoff roster came in with a few expected calls, but the final shape still managed to raise eyebrows. Atlanta is set to open the 2026 MLB playoffs against the Phillies in a series where the Braves are favored on paper, yet the matchup already has some built-in volatility.
The Phillies are dealing with their own problems, including Jesus Luzardo likely being limited because of a shoulder issue and Luis Arraez being out for the series. Add in a pitching staff that had to be pushed hard just to get into the postseason, and Atlanta enters with the edge.
That context makes the Braves’ roster choices worth watching closely. Most of the lineup and pitching puzzle pieces were already in place, with only a few spots truly up for grabs.
Shortstop and left field were the main areas of interest, though the expectation was that Atlanta would stick with the approach it had used there. The club also only has three healthy starters it truly trusts, which is a useful setup in a short series.
Robert Suarez being back helped settle the back end of the bullpen, leaving the bench decisions as the part that really turned heads.
One of the clearer winners is Grant Holmes. He was the kind of name most people expected to see, but his spot still says something about where the Braves think he is right now.
Holmes has been tough to pin down this season, especially after running into trouble once hitters saw him a second and third time. There had also been some questions about whether elbow issues from last year were still affecting him.
Lately, though, he has been better, posting a 1.96 ERA in September, even if the 4.67 FIP adds a little caution to the picture. Atlanta clearly feels good enough about him to use him in a playoff game.
Brewer Hicklen also comes out ahead after Lane Thomas was lost. Thomas’ absence is still a real blow, but it opened the door for Hicklen to make the roster and give the Braves another right-handed option against lefties. He also adds value as a pinch-runner, which gives him a path to helping in more than one way if the situation calls for it.
Ray Kerr is another beneficiary. He began the season still working his way back from Tommy John surgery, so just being part of this conversation marks a major shift.
Now he’s carved out a role as a lefty specialist in the bullpen. The fact that the Braves had even discussed using him as an opener in the playoffs hinted that he was in the mix, and now he’s on the roster where it counts.
Then there’s Dom Smith, who somehow survived when many assumed he would be the odd man out. Smith was one of the season’s feel-good stories in the first half, but his production tailed off quickly after that.
With little defensive value, a bat that has gone backward, and only so much room available, he looked like the kind of player teams usually leave off a postseason roster. The Braves took a different route and carried him anyway, along with Rowdy Tellez.
That made for one of the more unusual calls of the whole announcement.
On the other side, Kyle Farmer is one of the biggest losers. There was a real argument for carrying a third catcher, and Farmer would have offered bench flexibility plus an emergency option behind the plate.
Instead, Atlanta went with Luke Williams. In a three-game series, the risk is lower than it would be over a longer stretch, but it still leaves the Braves hoping the catching situation stays intact.
James Karinchak also misses out after a season that never fully clicked. He signed a minor league deal with Atlanta and did get back to the majors, where he pitched well enough in nine appearances. Even so, the Braves never seemed fully comfortable using him on consecutive days, and that kind of limitation is hard to overlook in October.
Elieser Hernandez is another tough omission. He kept getting called up to cover roster issues and was asked to work multiple innings, then sent back down again. This time, the Braves’ bullpen simply had too many multi-inning options, and Suarez’s return tightened the crowd even more.
In Other News...
Braves Wild Card Roster Includes Two Surprise Bench Decisions
The Braves Wild Card roster brought a couple of notable bench choices into focus as Atlanta set up for the 2026 NL opener. Non-roster infielders Rowdy Tellez and Luke Williams both made the cut after being in the organization before Sept. 1, giving the club additional infield flexibility and some extra matchup options if the games get tight late.
Atlanta also made corresponding roster moves to clear the way, with right-hander Ricky Vanasco designated for assignment and Elieser Hernndez removed from the 40-man roster. The Braves are carrying 11 pitchers for the round, which leaves the bench built around versatility as much as depth, a sign the team is preparing for a short series where one pinch-hit decision can matter just as much as a bullpen call. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Could Get An Early Phillies Test From A Risky Game 1 Plan
The Phillies have already locked up a postseason berth, but their Game 1 Wild Card pitching plan suggests they are willing to get creative right away. According to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com, Philadelphia is planning to use Jesus Luzardo as an opener, with Andrew Painter following out of the bullpen, a move that reflects how carefully the club is trying to manage its arms as October begins.
For Atlanta, the setup matters because it could create an early look at a Phillies staff that is being handled with some flexibility and risk. Luzardo is returning from the injured list, which makes the opener idea a little more volatile, and Painter could wind up in a bulk relief role after those first innings. The result is a Game 1 approach that may not look conventional, but it could shape how the Braves would have to attack Philadelphia if the matchup comes together. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Flipped Game 1 Late In A Win Fans Will Debate
For most of Game 1, the Braves and Phillies traded the kind of October blows that can swing a short series before the first night is even over. Philadelphia got the first big hit from Alec Bohm, then the Braves answered through Ozzie Albies, whose RBI triple briefly put Atlanta in front and set up a tense finish that felt every bit like postseason baseball.
JT Realmutos two-run triple pushed the Phillies back ahead, but Atlanta never let the game slip away for long. Austin Riley changed the tone in the eighth with a go-ahead homer that sent the Braves to a 5-3 win, leaving both sides with plenty to unpack after a opener that had momentum shifting almost every inning. [Read more 🡒]