This page may contain affiliate links. If you click and sign up, make a deposit, or place a wager, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Braves' Martin Perez: Likely to rejoin rotation this week
Rotowire
Manager Walt Weiss said Saturday that Perez (forearm) is likely to return from the 15-day injured list during Atlanta's four-game home series with San Diego that begins Monday, MLB.com reports.
The lefty appears most likely to slot back into the rotation Wednesday, which would afford ace Chris Sale an extra day of rest for his next start. Perez has been on the shelf since July 6 due to a left forearm contusion, but he's seemingly made good progress in his recovery from the bruise and doesn't look like he'll require a rehab assignment prior to being activated. The 35-year-old doesn't miss many bats (18.6 K%, 22 percent whiff rate), but he's been able to maintain a 3.54 ERA and 1.19 WHIP over 81.1 innings by generating groundballs at a healthy 47.7 percent clip.
... See More... See Less
Braves' JR Ritchie: Works in relief Saturday
Rotowire
Ritchie was credited with his second hold of the season in Saturday's 7-6 loss to the Rangers after striking out a batter and allowing one hit and no walks over a scoreless inning of relief.
Ritchie joined the rotation last Sunday as a replacement for the demoted Hurston Waldrep, with Atlanta deploying him for 4.1 innings of bulk relief in a 4-3 win over St. Louis. Rather than opening the second half with Ritchie as the fifth member of the rotation, Atlanta instead handed Owen Murphy his first MLB start Saturday. After Murphy was tagged for three runs (two earned) before being chased from Saturday's contest midway through the third inning, Atlanta manager Walt Weiss leaned on Ritchie and six other relievers to finish out the contest. Atlanta optioned Murphy to Triple-A Gwinnett on Sunday, but Ritchie appears likely to stick in the bullpen for the time being with Martin Perez (forearm) expected to return from the injured list during the upcoming week to fill the vacated rotation spot.
... See More... See Less
Braves' Elieser Hernandez: Joins big club
Rotowire
Atlanta selected Hernandez's contract from Triple-A Gwinnett on Sunday.
The right-hander joined Atlanta on a minor-league contract in November and is now getting his first opportunity in the big leagues since 2024. Hernandez finished that season playing in Korea and also spent time there last season. In 2026, the 31-year-old has posted a 4.83 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 72:27 K:BB across 76.1 innings.
... See More... See Less
Braves' Owen Murphy: Returns to Triple-A
Rotowire
Atlanta optioned Murphy to Triple-A Gwinnett on Sunday.
The right-hander made his first big-league start Saturday versus Texas and will head back to Triple-A after giving up three runs (two earned) on five hits with two strikeouts and two walks over 2.2 innings. Murphy has now covered 6.2 frames across three MLB appearances and has allowed three earned runs with a 6:2 K:BB. The 23-year-old could get another look in the majors later this summer, but for now he should step back into the rotation at Gwinnett.
Braves' Owen Murphy: Chased early in first MLB start
Rotowire
Murphy took a no-decision Saturday against Texas, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits and two walks in 2.2 innings. He struck out two.
Making his first career big-league start following a pair of relief appearances, Murphy struggled to contain the Rangers on Saturday. A fielding error by Mauricio Dubon kept an earned run off Murphy's line in the third inning, but the rookie right-hander failed to throw a clean frame and recorded season worsts in hits, runs and walks allowed. If Martin Perez (forearm) isn't ready to rejoin Atlanta's rotation, Murphy could get another chance as a starter next week against the Padres.
... See More... See Less
Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Looks sharp in latest rehab start
Rotowire
Smith-Shawver (elbow) allowed four hits and one walk while striking out five across 4.1 scoreless innings during his rehab start Saturday with Triple-A Gwinnett.
Smith-Shawver generated 13 whiffs on 72 pitches (43 strikes), and his fastball touched just over 99 mph during Saturday's rehab outing. His rehab assignment is set to run out July 29, so he could make at least a couple of more starts in the minors if Atlanta wants him to build up his pitch count further. Smith-Shawver is working his way back from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent last June.
Manager Walt Weiss said Saturday that Murphy (finger) is getting close to beginning a rehab assignment, Grant McAuley of the Marietta Daily Journal reports.
A fractured left middle finger has kept Murphy on the shelf since mid-May, but he's been starting to check off the boxes necessary to move on to playing in minor-league games. Given the length of his absence, he'll likely have to play a handful of games in the minors before returning to the active roster. Weiss has already ruled Murphy out from coming off the 60-day injured list before the end of July, but an early August return could be plausible, per MLB.com.
... See More... See Less
Braves' Mike Yastrzemski: Could return Tuesday
Rotowire
Yastrzemski (elbow) could return from the 10-day injured list when eligible Tuesday, Grant McAuley of the Marietta Daily Journal reports.
Yastrzemski has made encouraging progress in his recovery since landing on the IL on July 11 due to left elbow inflammation. Once activated, Yastrzemski should settle back into a strong-side platoon role in the corner outfield.
... See More... See Less
Braves' Spencer Schwellenbach: No timeline for rehab stint
Rotowire
Atlanta manager Walt Weiss said Friday that Schwellenbach (elbow) lacks a clear timeline to begin a rehab assignment, Chad Bishop of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Atlanta had some hope that the 26-year-old right-hander would be able to make his season debut before the end of August, but he'll need to get back into game action in the minors within the next week or two for that to be a realistic possibility. Schwellenbach is recovering from a fractured elbow he suffered last June, having put together a 3.09 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 108:18 K:BB through 110.2 innings in 2025 up to that point.
... See More... See Less
Braves' Spencer Strider: Set for follow-up appointment
Rotowire
Atlanta manager Walt Weiss said Friday that Strider (elbow) will have a follow-up appointment with Dr. Keith Meister next week and may also be scheduled for an MRI, Chad Bishop of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
The right-hander was originally shut down June 16 for a period of about four weeks after an initial MRI revealed no structural damage. A return to the big-league roster in late August would seem to be the best-case scenario for Strider, but Weiss didn't sound optimistic while discussing when the 2023 All-Star might be back with Atlanta. Through just 39 innings this season, Strider has a 5.31 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 46:20 K:BB.
Braves' Michael Harris: Smacks bases-clearing double
Rotowire
Harris went 2-for-6 with two doubles and three RBI during Friday's 15-1 win over Texas.
This marks the second time this season that Harris has hit two doubles in a game. His second two-bagger Friday cleared the bases in the seventh inning to extend Atlanta's lead to 11-0. The 25-year-old outfielder continues to enjoy a productive season, slashing .297/.329/.491 with 16 home runs, 56 RBI and six steals across 359 plate appearances.
... See More... See Less
Braves' Austin Riley: Smacks late homer against Texas
Rotowire
Riley went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Friday's 15-1 win over the Rangers.
Riley added to Atlanta's blowout victory with a solo homer in the eighth, his 10th long ball of the season. He's sitting at a .629 OPS over 390 plate appearances this season and has struck out 113 times, which is fifth-most in the National League. Perhaps Friday's performance is a sign of things to come for Riley for the second half of the regular season.
... See More... See Less
Braves' Matt Olson: Goes deep against Texas
Rotowire
Olson went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, two walks and an additional run scored during Atlanta's 15-1 win over Texas on Friday.
Olson extended Atlanta's lead to 6-0 after smacking a solo homer off Cal Quantrill in the fourth inning. Olson is up to 26 home runs on the season, ranking seventh in the majors and fourth in the National League. He has an .887 OPS with two steals and 59 RBI across 421 plate appearances in 2026.
... See More... See Less
Braves' Drake Baldwin: Collects five RBI in blowout win
Rotowire
Baldwin went 3-for-5 with a home run, five RBI and an additional run scored during Atlanta's 15-1 win over Texas on Friday.
Baldwin smacked RBI singles in the second and fifth innings but made his biggest impact of the game in the fourth, when he belted a three-run homer off Cal Quantrill. It was the 16th home run of the season for Baldwin, though he's homered only twice since June 17. The 25-year-old catcher has an .804 OPS with 51 RBI and one steal across 324 plate appearances this season.
... See More... See Less
Braves' Chris Sale: Tosses seven scoreless frames
Rotowire
Sale (10-6) earned the win against the Rangers on Friday, allowing two hits while striking out six across seven scoreless innings. He did not issue a walk.
The veteran southpaw was sharp in Atlanta's first game since the All-Star break. He limited the Rangers to just two hits and retired 13 straight batters from the third to seventh frames, ending his night with 16 whiffs on just 89 total pitches. It was the 11th quality start of the season for Sale, whose 2.06 ERA (across 105 innings) is third best among qualified starters in the majors behind Jacob Misiorowski (1.62) and Cam Schlittler (2.05). Sale is lined up to face the Padres at home next week.
Atlanta manager Walt Weiss said Friday that he hopes Acuna (hamstring) will be ready to return from the 10-day injured list before the end of the team's homestand next Thursday, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Acuna has played three rehab games in the rookie-level Florida Complex League and was transferred to Triple-A Gwinnett earlier Friday to continue his rehab assignment. He was used in the designated hitter slot for all three contests in the FCL, and Atlanta likely needs to see Acuna play right field before reinstating him from the IL. Acuna has been shelved since early June due to a Grade 1 left hamstring strain.
