Atlanta Braves Rotation in Crisis: Hurston Waldrep Injury Leaves Few Viable Options for 2026

The Atlanta Braves entered 2026 Spring Training hoping for better injury luck after a frustrating 2025 campaign. Instead, just days into camp, their starting rotation is already facing a full-blown crisis.

First came the news that right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach would begin the season on the 60-day injured list with an elbow issue. Then, in a brutal twist, fellow righty Hurston Waldrep was also ruled out for at least the first two months of the season with his own elbow problem.

Suddenly, what once looked like a potential strength has become one of the most concerning rotations in Major League Baseball.

Hurston Waldrep Injury: What Happened?

According to reporting from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Waldrep underwent a procedure to remove “loose bodies” from his pitching elbow. While the surgery was not considered major reconstructive work, it’s never encouraging to hear about structural issues in a young pitcher’s elbow.

There is at least a slight silver lining. Neither Waldrep nor Schwellenbach required Tommy John surgery, and comparable procedures in the past suggest a possible midsummer return timeline.

Still, Braves managerial comments have done little to inspire confidence. When asked about the odds of both pitchers contributing meaningfully in 2026, the response was far from reassuring. Losing 40 percent of a projected starting rotation before Opening Day is not how contenders draw up their plans.

Braves Projected Rotation After Injuries

With Waldrep and Schwellenbach sidelined, here’s how Atlanta’s rotation depth currently stacks up:

• SP1: Chris Sale

• SP2: Spencer Strider

• SP3: Reynaldo Lopez

• SP4: Bryce Elder

• SP5: Grant Holmes

• Depth Options: Joey Wentz, Martin Perez

At first glance, there are recognizable names. But dig deeper, and the red flags become impossible to ignore.

A Rotation Loaded With Injury Risk

Chris Sale: Ace, But Fragile

Chris Sale is penciled in as the staff ace, yet durability remains a major concern. Since 2019, Sale has surpassed 125 innings just once. While his talent is unquestioned, relying on him for 180+ innings is a gamble.

Spencer Strider: Returning to Form?

Spencer Strider missed most of 2024 and struggled to regain his dominant form in 2025. If he returns to peak performance, Atlanta’s ceiling rises dramatically. But if his stuff or command wavers again, the Braves could be in serious trouble.

Reynaldo Lopez: Shoulder Questions

Reynaldo Lopez threw only five innings last season before a shoulder injury shut him down. Shoulder issues can be notoriously unpredictable, making him far from a sure thing.

Grant Holmes: UCL Concerns

Grant Holmes ended 2025 on the injured list with a partially torn UCL. The organization hopes surgery won’t be necessary, but partially torn ligaments rarely inspire long-term confidence.

Bryce Elder and Martin Perez: Back-End Uncertainty

Bryce Elder posted a 5.30 ERA last season, leading to near-constant calls for his removal from the rotation. Meanwhile, Martin Perez — now 35 — has posted a 4.83 FIP over the last three seasons.

Neither pitcher profiles as a stabilizing mid-rotation arm on a team with postseason aspirations.

The Cost of a Quiet Offseason

Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos consistently suggested the team would explore pitching depth this winter. Yet meaningful reinforcements never arrived.

Several mid-tier free agents signed elsewhere on reasonable deals:

• Zac Gallen returned to the Arizona Diamondbacks

• Merrill Kelly also re-signed in Arizona

• Chris Bassitt joined the Baltimore Orioles

• Justin Verlander returned to the Detroit Tigers

• Steven Matz and Nick Martinez signed with the Tampa Bay Rays

Any of those pitchers could have provided stability. Instead, Atlanta chose to rely on internal depth — depth that has now evaporated before the regular season even begins.

Is Lucas Giolito the Only Option Left?

At this stage of free agency, the market is nearly barren. The only remaining starters with meaningful MLB track records include:

• Max Scherzer

• Lucas Giolito

• Zack Littell

Scherzer has previously indicated he may wait until midseason to sign with a contender, limiting his immediate availability.

That leaves Lucas Giolito as the most realistic option. On the surface, his 3.41 ERA last season looks appealing. However, advanced metrics suggest he benefited from favorable luck indicators. Even more concerning: Giolito underwent UCL reconstruction in 2024 and ended last season back on the injured list with another elbow issue.

Signing Giolito could add name recognition — but it could just as easily compound Atlanta’s injury concerns.

The High-Stakes Gamble on Organizational Depth

Atlanta’s front office bet heavily on internal depth heading into 2026. Now that depth has been severely tested.

Top prospect JR Ritchie could emerge as an option, but relying on a young arm in a pennant race carries its own risks. And what happens if Sale, Strider, or Lopez suffer setbacks?

The Braves are walking a tightrope. One more injury could turn a concerning situation into a catastrophic one.

Can the Braves Salvage the 2026 Season?

The Braves still possess an elite lineup and enough frontline talent to compete in the NL East — if their top starters remain healthy. But that “if” looms larger by the day.

Without proactive reinforcement, Atlanta’s rotation is hanging by a thread. The margin for error is razor thin, and the organization’s decision to sit out much of the pitching market this offseason may define its 2026 campaign.

Spring Training is barely underway, yet the Braves already find themselves in survival mode.

If they hope to contend this year, reinforcements — internal or external — must arrive quickly. Otherwise, 2026 could become another season derailed by injuries before it truly begins.