Atlanta’s rotation has had a rough go this spring. Spencer Schwellenbach and hurston world rep Both were placed on the injured list before spring training games even began, and now the loss of the left-hander follows suit. Joey Wentz Season-ending ACL tear. Waldrep and Schwellenbach’s schedules are not yet clear, but they are expected to miss significant time following surgery to remove loose bodies in their elbows. (Schwellenbach is already on the 60-day IL.) This gives the Braves a lot of uncertainty in their rotation. grant holmes and Reynaldo Lopez They’re coming off an injury-marred 2025 season, but they’ll be relying on mid-rotation innings. chris sale and spencer strider.
There is still one rotation spot open. Wentz was in position to play in the position and had a decent spring, allowing two runs, three hits, four walks, one hit and six punches (3.18 ERA) in 5 2/3 innings. His injury allowed a larger group to compete.
On paper, the favorite is likely to be right-handed. Bryce ElderHe made 28 starts for the Braves last year. Elder is still just 27 years old and a 2023 All-Star thanks to a big first half, but in his last 52 starts, he has posted a 5.63 ERA with a below-average 18.4% strikeout rate and 8.3% walk rate. Metrics like SIERA (4.56) and FIP (4.76) have been a little kinder, but Elder is approaching 300 innings with an ERA north of 5.50 over the past two and a half years.
Elder’s status as a presumptive favorite is closer to being active, on the 40-man roster and out of minor league options. He hasn’t been strong this spring, posting a lackluster 6.48 ERA in three starts. This leaves the door wide open for others to get the job.
left handed Jose Suarez He is also out of the minor league option and included on the 40-man roster. He has a patchy big league record, but pitched well for Atlanta last winter between 61 2/3 minor league innings and 19 1/3 major league frames. He allowed four runs in 6 2/3 spring innings. Suarez posted a 3.86 ERA in 207 1/3 innings for the Angels in 2021-22 and had a 6.91 ERA in 86 innings during an injury-marred season in 2023-24.
The most notable non-roster veteran in camp is a left-hander. Martin Perez. The left-hander allowed just one run in five innings in the spring and is coming off a season in which he posted decent numbers (3.54 ERA, 4.24 FIP) over 56 innings for the White Sox. Flexor and shoulder injuries cut his 2025 season short, and Perez’s days of All-Star level performance for the Rangers (2.89 ERA, 3.9 fWAR in 2022) appear to be behind him. Still, he has the potential to be an effective backend starter.
This isn’t your only option for the role. veteran Carlos Carrasco Even though he’s in camp, he’s unlikely to be the top option after posting a 9.88 ERA in three starts for Atlanta last season and allowing nine runs on 11 hits in 6 1/3 innings this spring. Didier Fuentes He made his MLB debut last year and pitched four scoreless innings this spring, but he won’t celebrate his 21st birthday until June and may be better off spending more time in the minor leagues. Best pitching prospect JR Rich He had a good season in Triple A last year and showed good performance until this spring (average ERA of 3.38 in 8 innings). He is not yet included in the 40-man roster.
Another possibility that cannot be completely ruled out is external addition. Lucas Giolito Despite the apparent lack of interest on the Atlanta side as of yet, he’s still available and certainly looks like a good fit. Other veterans like it Tyler Anderson and patrick corbin It remains unsigned. Any of these pitchers could be added to the mix with the intention of eventually taking over the fifth starting spot, but the team would likely have to trade a player who is already pitching for another club to add someone ready to join the rotation right away when the season starts. Free agents like Giolito will certainly have to participate in extended spring training at this point.
How do MLBTR readers think the Braves will round out their rotation? Will they hand the job to an elder and hope for better results than last year? Should you go with a young prospect like Fuentes or Ritchie, or a veteran like Pérez or Carrasco? Perhaps they will avoid all options for external additions? Vote now in the survey below.
