The Braves are still trying to sort out the edges of their roster while the bigger problems keep showing up in plain sight. After settling for a series split with the Phillies on the road, Atlanta has dropped into a rough patch against the AL East-leading Rays, getting embarrassed in back-to-back games in just about every phase. If the Braves are going to protect their lead in the NL East, the offense especially has to be much better than this.
Even with the season entering the stretch run, there are still a few developments worth tracking closely. Some of them are easy to miss if you’re only watching the scoreboard.
One of the more interesting moves involves catcher Eric Haase. The Braves have been leaning on Drake Baldwin and Sean Murphy heavily, which leaves them in a slightly dangerous spot behind the plate. Kyle Farmer was added when rosters expanded, and he can catch in a pinch, but that is not the same thing as having a true backup who is postseason eligible.
That may be exactly what Atlanta lined up. Based on a close read of the transaction log, the Braves apparently signed Haase to a deal dated September 1.
His exact roster situation still isn’t totally clear, but if that date holds, he could be playoff-eligible. Even if that turns out not to be the case, the Braves at least have a veteran catcher in the mix for the final weeks.
There is also encouraging news on Robert Suarez. His return to the bullpen has mattered because Atlanta’s other high-leverage arms have been taking on heavy workloads, and the rotation has not been giving them enough length. Suarez has apparently responded well to bullpen sessions and is scheduled to throw live BP next week, with a rehab assignment possible after that.
The timing could end up working in the Braves’ favor. The team hasn’t said how many rehab outings Suarez might need, and with the minor league season winding down, there is a chance he could be back in the majors before the regular season is over.
Robert Suarez will throw a live BP early next week. The Braves haven’t said how many rehab appearances he might make. There’s still hope he’ll pitch before the end of the regular season.
- Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) September 9, 2026
On the pitching side, Atlanta may also be weighing changes to its six-man rotation setup. AJ Smith-Shawver is still in the mix, and the extra starter has helped give Chris Sale and others more rest, which has been a clear priority. But Smith-Shawver has continued to struggle since coming off the injured list, and that has made the plan look less secure.
Mark Bowman recently raised another possibility: the Braves could bring up JR Ritchie to replace Smith-Shawver after Ritchie’s huge performance in Gwinnett. That path, though, would bring its own complication. If Atlanta calls him up, it would have to keep him in the majors, since he has already been optioned five times this season.
In Other News...
Braves Rotation Need Could Push Atlanta Toward An Intriguing Gamble
The Braves already made one move to bolster the rotation by adding Tyler Mahle at the trade deadline, but the work there does not figure to be finished once the offseason opens. Atlanta still has an obvious need to improve the starting staff, and that puts the front office in the market for pitchers who can offer upside without demanding the kind of certainty that usually comes at a premium.
Casey Mize fits that kind of discussion. CBS Sports Mike Axisa floated Atlanta as a possible landing spot for the free-agent right-hander, whose talent has shown through even as his performance has remained uneven this season. For a Braves club trying to keep pace in a demanding division, the appeal is clear, but the question is whether this is the sort of gamble the organization wants to make as it tries to deepen a rotation that still feels unfinished. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Outfield Uncertainty May Not Last As New Internal Options Emerge
The Braves outfield picture is still unsettled in the short term, but the organization may already have a few answers taking shape inside the system. With current roster decisions and free agency keeping the big-league mix in flux, Atlanta is looking closely at a group of younger options who could eventually factor into both the outfield and designated hitter spots.
Eric Hartman, AJ Gracia, Carter Beck and Owen Carey all got attention for the way they performed recently, and each brings a different kind of fit for the Braves to consider. The timeline is still gradual rather than immediate, but the idea that one or more of these players could push into meaningful roles over the next year and a half gives the front office something useful while the bigger-picture outfield situation remains unresolved. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Pitching Shuffle Puts Reynaldo Lopez In A Spotlight Again
The Braves continued to reshape their pitching group amid the series with the Rays, adding left-hander Bailey Falter to the major-league roster and designating right-hander Elieser Hernandez for assignment. The roster moves came alongside a more significant development for Atlantas rotation, with Reynaldo Lopez reinstated from the injured list and lined up to start the upcoming game.
Bryce Elders move to the injured list after knee surgery added another layer to the shuffle, leaving Atlanta to lean on depth it has been forced to test often. For Lopez, the return puts him back in a familiar spotlight at a time when the Braves are still sorting out how their staff fits together over the stretch ahead. [Read more 🡒]