The Braves’ Game 2 conversation behind Chris Sale keeps shifting, and it may not settle down until October actually arrives. That’s why this week’s ranking of the club’s starting options is built around what each arm has done lately, with the understanding that the playoffs could ultimately come down to whoever is hottest when the time comes.
Didier Fuentes is out of the mix entirely now. The Braves don’t appear likely to stretch him back out as a starter this season, and that makes sense given how much he has given them in relief.
With some of the other arms still sorting themselves out, there’s no real reason to force the issue. Fuentes can still matter plenty as a multi-inning weapon.
At the bottom of the list is Spencer Schwellenbach, who sits at No. 6 only because there’s still no certainty he returns this year. The longer this drags on, the tougher it gets to imagine him being ready in time.
He’d need at least a month just to build back up, and then he’d have to prove he belongs in that kind of October spot. If he hasn’t started a rehab assignment in the next week or two, he’ll be dropped from the rankings altogether.
Bryce Elder checks in at No. 5 after a solid season that’s kept him healthy and regularly put the Braves in position to win every fifth day. That kind of reliability matters.
But the idea that he should be the one taking the ball in a playoff game doesn’t hold up. He didn’t suddenly transform into a different pitcher this offseason, and while the tweaks he made have helped, he still isn’t a big strikeout arm.
A lot of his success rides on batted-ball fortune, and October is no place to bank on that.
Martin Pérez stays at No. 4, even with an 18-inning scoreless streak, because the pitchers ahead of him have simply been stronger. He and Elder belong in the same general tier: dependable enough to eat innings, good enough to help keep a game on track, but not the sort of arms you want opening a playoff night. Neither one is built to overpower lineups, and both need some BABIP luck to keep things rolling.
Grant Holmes jumps to No. 3 after back-to-back six-inning outings without allowing a run. He’s also sitting on a 2.18 ERA over his last nine starts, which is the kind of stretch that gets attention. Walt Weiss probably shouldn’t expect him to carry a game deep into October, but there’s plenty here to feel good about if the assignment is three to five strong innings.
Tyler Mahle holds the No. 2 spot after making a loud Braves debut at the trade deadline. He went into the Bronx and threw six shutout innings against the Yankees with nine strikeouts, and if he strings together more starts like that, the debate might disappear fast. For now, though, one outing isn’t enough to lock him in as the obvious choice behind Sale.
AJ Smith-Shawver remains the top name on the list. He only made one start for the Braves before being optioned, but that move was more about necessity than performance.
Since coming back from Tommy John surgery, he’s looked sharp, including Tuesday’s line for the Stripers: 5.1 scoreless innings, one baserunner allowed, and seven strikeouts. On pure upside, nobody here touches him.
Right now, the dream setup for the Braves is Smith-Shawver starting Game 2 with Didier Fuentes available behind him.
In Other News...
Braves Could Push For A Star Shortstop Rival Fans Would Hate
The Braves are already being connected to one of the more intriguing offseason questions on the market, and shortstop sits near the center of it. Atlanta has a chance to look for an upgrade there, and the kind of player who could move the needle is the sort who usually costs real prospect capital and then some. In division deals have never been the norm, but they have become more common lately, which is why this conversation has at least some traction.
One name hovering around that search is a young shortstop who could become available if his current club cannot lock him up long term. For Atlanta, the appeal is obvious: a chance to target a player with upside at a position of need, even if doing so would mean dealing with a rival and putting together a package strong enough to make them listen. It is the kind of possibility that can reshape the rest of the winter if the Braves decide to press hard enough. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Injured Starters Are Progressing But One Return Loos Large
The Braves finally have some movement on the pitching injury front, even if the updates come with plenty of caution attached. Spencer Strider and Hurston Waldrep, both sidelined by elbow inflammation, have avoided surgery and have started throwing programs, while Spencer Schwellenbach has begun bullpen work as he tries to build back toward a possible return this season.
Reynaldo Lopez may be the most immediate name to watch, which matters for a staff that has spent too much time piecing things together. He is recovering from knee inflammation and appears closest to coming back, with the Braves also considering using him out of the bullpen instead of sending him straight back into the starting rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Reynaldo Lpez Could Force A Braves Pitching Decision That Changes Everything
The Braves are entering the kind of pitching puzzle teams usually hope to have in September, when injured arms start filtering back and the staff begins to take shape for October. Reynaldo Lpez is right in the middle of it after a recent bullpen session, and Atlanta is weighing how best to use him as the rotation picture gets more crowded with pitchers returning and the postseason roster coming into focus.
Lpez remains a name to watch because the Braves still have to decide whether his next value comes from starting games or helping out of the bullpen, and that choice could ripple through the rest of the staff. AJ Smith-Shawver has also reinserted himself into the conversation after a strong rehab outing with Gwinnett, while Spencer Schwellenbach is another piece the Braves are evaluating as they try to sort out who fits where when the games matter most. [Read more 🡒]