The Braves went into the 2026 trade deadline with a problem that was impossible to miss: starting pitching. Chris Sale has been excellent enough to put himself back in Cy Young conversations, but the rest of Atlanta’s rotation has been shaky all season.
Alex Anthopoulos, though, didn’t treat it like an urgent issue. The Braves general manager made it clear he was comfortable standing pat, and that decision is already looking risky.
On Tuesday morning, Anthopoulos pointed to the Braves owning the third-best starting rotation ERA in the National League as the reason for not chasing pitching help. The numbers support that in a narrow sense, but the larger picture is far less flattering.
The Dodgers are second and still 0.36 runs better, while both Los Angeles and Milwaukee reinforced their staffs at the deadline anyway. The Brewers landed Dustin May, and the Dodgers added Tarik Skubal and Kris Bubic.
Atlanta’s deeper metrics tell an even harsher story. The Braves are ninth in the National League in starting pitcher FIP and 22nd in MLB, a sign that the rotation may be running hotter than it should.
Sale’s 2.46 FIP dwarfs Martín Pérez’s 4.37, and Pérez is Atlanta’s second-best starter by that measure. That gap is massive, and it’s hard to see the Braves matching up cleanly with contenders that can roll out stronger two- and three-starter combinations.
The rest of the playoff field only makes the contrast sharper. The Padres added Robbie Ray and Casey Mize to support Michael King.
The Brewers brought in Dustin May behind Jacob Misiorowski and Kyle Harrison. The Cubs added Kevin Gausman to back Shota Imanaga and Matthew Boyd.
The Phillies have Cristopher Sanchez, Zack Wheeler, and Jesús Luzardo. And the Dodgers added Skubal to an already loaded staff.
There’s also the issue of workload. Atlanta ranks 20th in MLB in starts that lasted more than six innings, and the list of Braves starters who have reached at least 6.1 innings is thin.
Of those 14 outings, five belong to Sale, five to Bryce Elder - who has not gone 6.1 innings since June 2 - and one each to Spencer Strider, Martín Pérez, Grant Holmes, and JR Ritchie. Tyler Mahle, the newly acquired arm, has only gone more than six innings twice and has averaged less than 5.1 innings per start.
That lack of length matters, especially when the deadline didn’t bring in an impact starter or even a notable reliever. The bullpen now looks set to carry even more of the load, and that’s a dangerous spot with Robert Suarez still not having resumed throwing. The high-leverage group is now leaning heavily on a 36-year-old Raisel Iglesias, a 32-year-old Dylan Lee, and a 21-year-old Didier Fuentes.
Anthopoulos’ read on the rotation could end up defining the deadline. If the Braves are sent home in the first round because of those pitching holes, the questions won’t stop with the roster. They’ll land squarely on the front office, too.
In Other News...
Braves Face A Bigger Bryce Elder Question Than His Recent Results
Bryce Elders recent run has at least given the Braves something to point to while they wait for more certainty in the rotation. Over his last five starts, he has put together a 2.57 ERA across 28 innings, and on the surface that looks like the kind of stretch a club can build around as it tries to steady itself through the seasons grind.
The deeper numbers tell a different story, though, and that is where the real concern for Atlanta sits. Elders performance has looked better than it may actually have been, with indicators suggesting the Braves have benefited from a mix of good fortune and solid defensive support behind him, leaving open the question of how sustainable this all is if the results start to swing the other way. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Bullpen Plans Suddenly Ride On Robert Suarez Health
Robert Suarez has given the Braves plenty to like when he has been on the mound, posting a 0.56 ERA across 13 appearances, but his season has again been shaped by health. The reliever is working his way back from a forearm injury, and Atlanta is keeping a close eye on him while trying to avoid turning a short-term issue into something more complicated.
Suarez is still feeling soreness, which is why the Braves are holding off on any meaningful ramp-up until they are convinced he is fully recovered. For a bullpen that could use every reliable arm it can get, the timing makes this recovery especially delicate, since the club needs to balance patience now with the possibility of running out of runway later. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Are Sending A Clear Message With Robert Suarez's Return
The Braves are still keeping a close eye on a trio of important arms as the season moves into its most delicate stretch. AJ Smith-Shawver has already made his way back onto the field, while Spencer Schwellenbach continues working through recovery from elbow surgery with no firm timetable attached. Robert Suarez, meanwhile, remains on the injured list with elbow inflammation, and Atlantas approach with him fits the broader tone around the pitching staff: patience first, urgency later.
Suarez is expected to pitch again this season if the rehab keeps trending in the right direction, but the organization is making it clear there will be no shortcuts. For a club trying to line up healthy pitchers for the postseason, every step in his recovery matters, and the Braves seem intent on avoiding the kind of setback that would complicate the bigger picture. [Read more 🡒]