The Braves are heading into the NLDS against the Dodgers with their rotation in rough shape, and the latest update only tightens the squeeze.
Martín Pérez, the $3.5 million All-Star, will not be on Atlanta’s roster for the series, leaving the Braves without another arm they were hoping to lean on. The setback came after Pérez landed on the 15-day injured list with lower back inflammation during the final week of the regular season.
“The Braves’ rotation depth was dealt another blow on Thursday, when it was learned that Martín Pérez will likely not be available during the first two rounds of the postseason. The Braves placed Pérez on the 15-day injured list with lower back inflammation,” MLB.com’s Mark Bowman wrote.
There was some faint hope that Pérez could possibly be back by Game 3, but even that timeline looked shaky. Bowman later posted, “Assuming Martin Perez's IL move is backdated to Monday, he wouldn't be eligible to return until Oct.
6 (NLDS Game 3). Weiss said he doesn't know if Elder will be available by the start of the IL.
That's probably optimistic to think he could return before the NLCS," Bowman posted.
That uncertainty was cleared up Friday when Braves manager Walt Weiss met with reporters. Weiss confirmed Pérez would not be available for the NLDS, saying the veteran is still working his way through the injury.
Bowman also reported, “Walt Weiss said Lane Thomas is a possibility for this Division Series against the Dodgers. Bryce Elder and Martin Perez won’t be on the roster. Both could be ready if the Braves advance to the NLCS,” Bowman wrote.
For Atlanta, that leaves even more pressure on the starting staff in a series already stacked against them. The Braves will likely need AJ Smith-Shawver and JR Ritchie to handle a heavy workload, especially in the first two games.
The good news, if there is any, is that Pérez could still be in play if Atlanta gets through Los Angeles. But for this NLDS, the Braves will have to try to get by the Dodgers without him.
In Other News...
Miguel Rojas Just Put The Dodgers In An Awkward Spot
Miguel Rojas has put himself and the Dodgers in a familiar late-season holding pattern, only this one comes with an offseason wrinkle. The veteran infielder entered the year thinking it could be his final one, but he has since started to rethink that timeline as he weighs whether he still has the skill and endurance to keep playing. For a Dodgers club that always has to balance present needs with future roster planning, even a quiet change of heart can matter.
Rojas has also made it clear he would prefer to stay in Los Angeles if he does decide to continue, which adds another layer to a decision the front office cannot fully control. As an unrestricted free agent, he will have to sort out whether retirement is still the right path, and his answer could shape how the Dodgers approach infield depth and other offseason priorities. It is the sort of personal crossroads that can linger well past the end of the schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Double Down On A Risky NLDS Plan Against Atlanta
Blake Snell getting the ball for Game 2 of the NLDS is another clear sign the Dodgers are leaning into a very specific postseason plan against Atlanta. Dave Roberts and pitching coach Mark Prior have both pointed to the Braves struggles against left-handed pitching, and that matchup-driven approach puts Los Angeles in position to attack with a rotation built around lefties as the series develops.
Snells own return from injury has given the Dodgers a useful playoff option at the exact time they need one, especially after he pitched effectively in limited innings this season. Yoshinobu Yamamoto is also part of the conversation for later in the series, which gives Los Angeles a chance to keep pressing that advantage, even if it means sticking with a fairly risky blueprint once the games start to pile up. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Just Put Serious Pressure On Atlanta's Next Pitching Call
The Braves opened the NLDS the same way they handled their Wild Card win, leaning on a bullpen game against the Dodgers rather than taking the traditional route with a set starter. Los Angeles still took Game 1 behind strong pitching from Tarik Skubal and a power surge that included two home runs from Kyle Tucker and one from Max Muncy, a combination that made Atlantas short-term pitching plan look a lot less comfortable.
Now Walt Weiss has already signaled that Chris Sale will not start Game 2, which keeps the spotlight squarely on Atlantas next move. For the Dodgers, it is the kind of October pressure point that matters, because every inning the Braves patch together only increases the chance Los Angeles can keep leaning on its lineup and turn the series into a test of depth rather than a duel at the top of the rotation. [Read more 🡒]