The Braves keep circling the same problem, and the latest roster shuffle only underscores it: the rotation is getting thin, and the internal fixes are starting to run out.
Manager Walt Weiss said this week there’s a pretty decent chance neither Spencer Strider nor Spencer Schwellenbach returns this season unless something changes in their rehab paths. That leaves Atlanta leaning hard on stopgaps, and the early returns haven’t been strong enough to settle anything down.
JR Ritchie got the first crack at covering innings, and he’s shown flashes, but his command still isn’t steady enough to retire big league hitters with any consistency. Then Martin Perez was slowed by a forearm contusion after being hit by a line drive, forcing the Braves to try Owen Murphy in the second half.
That experiment didn’t last long. After a rough outing against the Rangers on Saturday, Murphy was sent back to the minors. In the corresponding move, the Braves recalled right-hander Elieser Hernandez from Triple-A, and Perez is expected to return and take Murphy’s rotation spot this week.
“Hernández will provide bullpen depth. Murphy’s rotation spot will be filled by Martin Perez this week”
The logic is easy to follow. Murphy doesn’t look ready yet, so the Braves are sending him back to Triple-A for more seasoning. Perez coming back gives the rotation a needed body, and Hernandez adds a fresh arm to the bullpen while Atlanta waits.
But the bigger issue is what comes after that. The Braves are scraping the bottom of their internal options.
AJ Smith-Shawver is still coming back from Tommy John surgery and likely needs another start or two before his pitch count is where it needs to be. Hurston Waldrep is still in the mix, but he has to keep shaking off the rust and throw more strikes before that becomes a realistic answer.
So the message is pretty clear: Atlanta needs pitching, and it needs it soon. The trade deadline gives the Braves a chance to go outside the organization for help, but this year’s deadline doesn’t arrive until August 3. Until then, they’re trying to piece things together with what they have, and the list of usable internal arms is getting shorter by the day.
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 🡒]