Robert Suarez has cleared another hurdle in his comeback, but the Braves still don’t sound ready to show their hand.
Suarez, who hasn’t pitched in the majors since June 19 because of soreness in his throwing elbow, finally got his first real rehab outing for Triple-A Gwinnett on Sunday. The outing went well, which is the encouraging part. The unclear part is what comes next: Atlanta still hasn’t committed to bringing him back to the majors this week, and it’s not certain the club feels confident enough to put him on the playoff roster yet.
That uncertainty hangs over a bullpen that has quietly done a lot of heavy lifting for the Braves this season. While the rotation has drawn plenty of attention for how well it has held up, the relief corps has been the steady force through the team’s offensive swings and pitching bumps. Suarez was a key part of that group before the injury stopped him in his tracks.
There was real concern at one point that the elbow issue could drag him out beyond the season, especially given his profile as a power arm. Surgery even looked like a possibility if the rehab had gone sideways. Instead, his recovery has moved along slowly but steadily, and by the end of the regular season it now looks at least possible that he could return.
Braves manager Walt Weiss had already been guarded about Suarez’s timeline, and for good reason. The elbow is a delicate thing, and the team clearly hasn’t wanted to overpromise anything while he works back. That caution still appears to be in place.
From a baseball standpoint, the argument for getting Suarez back now is straightforward. Even if he looks sharp in rehab, there’s no real substitute for big-league innings after a long layoff.
A pitcher who had a 0.56 ERA in 31 appearances could use a little game action before October, and the Braves could also use the help for the final stretch. Getting him back would give Raisel Iglesias, Didier Fuentes, and especially Dylan Lee a chance to catch their breath this week.
Still, Atlanta may decide not to rush the move. Mark Bowman recently noted that the Braves could send Suarez to the team’s spring training complex for more rehab now that the minor league season is over. Exactly what that would look like isn’t clear, but the signs point toward Suarez having a real shot to be on the postseason roster.
Just not, at least for now, as a sure thing.
In Other News...
Braves Wild Card Plans Just Changed With New Outfield Concern
The Braves outfield picture changed quickly after they added Lane Thomas from the Royals in a deadline deal for two minor league pitchers, a move meant to deepen the roster for the stretch run. Thomas was brought in to give Atlanta another experienced option, and the club was counting on that addition as it mapped out its postseason outfield mix.
Now the plan has a new wrinkle. Thomas suffered a left intercostal strain during batting practice and went on the 10-day injured list, which puts his availability for the Wild Card Series in doubt and likely knocks him out of the opener anyway. With that door closed, Atlanta is expected to lean on other players to handle his role on the postseason roster while the team adjusts on the fly. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Still Have One Big Postseason Pitching Call To Settle
With the NL East wrapped up and a postseason seed in hand, Atlanta is down to the kind of October detail that can shape a series. Chris Sale and Tyler Mahle are lined up to open the Wild Card Series with extra rest, giving the Braves a clear front end to their pitching plan as they prepare for the first round of games.
The last major call is what comes behind them if the series reaches a decisive third game, with Grant Holmes and Martn Prez both in the conversation. There is also some uncertainty further down the October staff picture, as Robert Suarez works back through rehab and Bryce Elder recovers from knee surgery with a possible NL Division Series return window, while Matt Olsons latest power milestone adds another note to a team entering the postseason with plenty to like and at least one rotation question still unresolved. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Bullpen Picture Just Got More Interesting In Gwinnett Finale
The Gwinnett Stripers season ended with a 9-6 loss to Indianapolis, and the finish only sharpened the conversation around Atlantas bullpen depth. A late rally briefly pulled Gwinnett back into the game, but the Indians answered with three runs in the ninth inning to close it out, a reminder of how quickly the leverage picture can swing in a minor league finale.
Several names tied to the Braves relief pipeline were involved, including Michael Grove, Joe Jimnez and James Karinchak, with Karinchak taking the loss. For Atlanta, the bigger takeaway is less about one result than the mix of arms it watched in a high-pressure spot, the kind of outing that can quietly shape how the bullpen picture looks heading into the next stretch. [Read more 🡒]