Joe Jimenez is finally headed back to a mound that counts.
After knee surgery following the 2024 season and multiple procedures on the same knee in the months since, the Braves announced Monday that Jimenez will begin a rehab assignment with the Gwinnett Stripers. It marks his first game action in two years after a long stretch of bullpen work against air and plenty of uncertainty about whether he’d pitch again at all.
The Braves also recalled RHP JR Ritchie to Atlanta and placed RHP Reynaldo López on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation.
The #Braves today recalled RHP JR Ritchie to Atlanta and placed RHP Reynaldo López on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation. Additionally, RHPJoe Jiménez tonight begins a rehabilitation assignment with the Gwinnett Stripers.
- Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 15, 2026
There’s not much calendar left for Gwinnett, which means Jimenez may only get a couple of appearances before the season winds down. Even so, that alone makes this worth watching. If he looks sharp in those brief outings, the door opens a crack for bigger questions: could the Braves give him a major league look before the regular season ends, and if he keeps dealing, is there any chance he enters the postseason conversation?
That’s a lot of ifs, and the most likely outcome is still a cautious finish to the year. But the comeback itself is the story here.
Before the injury, Jimenez was one of Atlanta’s most dependable setup arms. Across 128 appearances from 2023-2024, he posted a 2.81 ERA and 2.90 FIP. That’s the kind of track record every contender wants waiting in the wings, even on a staff that’s been strong all year.
For now, the Braves are just getting him back into games. What happens next depends on how his knee - and his stuff - hold up in Gwinnett.
In Other News...
Braves Are One Win Away But This Feels Far From Comfortable
The Braves head into their next game with a shot to lock up a playoff berth and inch closer to the division, but the mood around the club is more cautious than celebratory. JR Ritchies call-up from Triple-A gives Atlanta a chance to give Chris Sale a breather, and the matchup itself offers a few openings, including a familiar look at Shota Imanaga and a bullpen that has been running on a little more good fortune than substance.
Still, the recent dip in run production since September has made this feel like a night the Braves have to survive rather than simply win. Some of their hitters have handled Imanaga well in the past, and Atlanta may need every edge it can find if it wants to turn a near-clinch into something more secure while also keeping the bigger division picture in view. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Pitching Shuffle Just Sent A Clear Stretch Run Message
The Braves are continuing to sort out their pitching picture as the postseason approaches, and Bailey Falter is the latest arm caught in the shuffle. Atlanta outrighted the left-hander to Triple-A Gwinnett after designating him for assignment, a procedural move that gives the club more flexibility while it tries to settle on the best mix for the final stretch.
Falter has more than three years of service time, so he could elect free agency, though he is expected to accept the assignment and remain in the organization. If he does, he may still get one more turn with Gwinnett before that season ends, while Atlanta keeps leaning on depth options as it lines up the rotation for the games that matter most. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Fans Will Love What Mets Frustration Just Exposed
The Mets 2026 stumble has turned a lot of familiar noise into something louder, and not just inside Queens. With frustration building around the clubs ownership and front office, the reaction around Citi Field has started to reflect how thin the margin has become between patience and exasperation. Even a moment meant to celebrate the home side can quickly become a referendum on where things stand.
Pete Alonsos reception in a recent game against the Mets offered one of the clearest signs yet, with the former Mets slugger drawing cheers after a milestone home run. Sean Manaea said he was surprised by the fans support for an opposing player, a small admission that says plenty about the mood around the team. For Braves fans, it is the kind of messy Mets backdrop that can feel almost too on brand, and it only adds to the sense that the division picture is shifting in Atlantas favor. [Read more 🡒]