Martin Perez<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nAt first glance, there are recognizable names. But dig deeper, and the red flags become impossible to ignore.<\/p>\n
\nA Rotation Loaded With Injury Risk<\/h2>\n
![\"Hurston](\"https:\/\/img.mlbstatic.com\/mlb-images\/image\/upload\/t_16x9\/t_w1024\/mlb\/gywktjp2ijpguvhl5rvd\")
<\/p>\n
Chris Sale: Ace, But Fragile<\/h3>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Spencer Strider: Returning to Form?<\/h3>\n
Spencer Strider missed most of 2024 and struggled to regain his dominant form in 2025. If he returns to peak performance, Atlanta\u2019s ceiling rises dramatically. But if his stuff or command wavers again, the Braves could be in serious trouble.<\/p>\n
Reynaldo Lopez: Shoulder Questions<\/h3>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Grant Holmes: UCL Concerns<\/h3>\n
Grant Holmes ended 2025 on the injured list with a partially torn UCL. The organization hopes surgery won\u2019t be necessary, but partially torn ligaments rarely inspire long-term confidence.<\/p>\n
Bryce Elder and Martin Perez: Back-End Uncertainty<\/h3>\n
Bryce Elder posted a 5.30 ERA last season, leading to near-constant calls for his removal from the rotation. Meanwhile, Martin Perez \u2014 now 35 \u2014 has posted a 4.83 FIP over the last three seasons.<\/p>\n
Neither pitcher profiles as a stabilizing mid-rotation arm on a team with postseason aspirations.<\/p>\n
\nThe Cost of a Quiet Offseason<\/h2>\n
Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos<\/span><\/span> consistently suggested the team would explore pitching depth this winter. Yet meaningful reinforcements never arrived.<\/p>\nSeveral mid-tier free agents signed elsewhere on reasonable deals:<\/p>\n
\n- \n
Zac Gallen<\/span><\/span> returned to the Arizona Diamondbacks<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
Merrill Kelly<\/span><\/span> also re-signed in Arizona<\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
Chris Bassitt<\/span><\/span> joined the Baltimore Orioles<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
Justin Verlander<\/span><\/span> returned to the Detroit Tigers<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
Steven Matz<\/span><\/span> and Nick Martinez<\/span><\/span> signed with the Tampa Bay Rays<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nAny of those pitchers could have provided stability. Instead, Atlanta chose to rely on internal depth \u2014 depth that has now evaporated before the regular season even begins.<\/p>\n
\nIs Lucas Giolito the Only Option Left?<\/h2>\n
At this stage of free agency, the market is nearly barren. The only remaining starters with meaningful MLB track records include:<\/p>\n
\n- \n
Max Scherzer<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
Lucas Giolito<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
Zack Littell<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nScherzer has previously indicated he may wait until midseason to sign with a contender, limiting his immediate availability.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Signing Giolito could add name recognition \u2014 but it could just as easily compound Atlanta\u2019s injury concerns.<\/p>\n
\nThe High-Stakes Gamble on Organizational Depth<\/h2>\n
![\"Hurston](\"https:\/\/wehco.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com\/imports\/adg\/photos\/103268042_AP24161666020593_t1200.jpg?57a0c2296240c280e9492005c3cad63e7cbe80f4\")
<\/p>\n
Atlanta\u2019s front office bet heavily on internal depth heading into 2026. Now that depth has been severely tested.<\/p>\n
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?<\/p>\n
The Braves are walking a tightrope. One more injury could turn a concerning situation into a catastrophic one.<\/p>\n
\nCan the Braves Salvage the 2026 Season?<\/h2>\n
The Braves still possess an elite lineup and enough frontline talent to compete in the NL East \u2014 if their top starters remain healthy. But that \u201cif\u201d looms larger by the day.<\/p>\n
Without proactive reinforcement, Atlanta\u2019s rotation is hanging by a thread. The margin for error is razor thin, and the organization\u2019s decision to sit out much of the pitching market this offseason may define its 2026 campaign.<\/p>\n
Spring Training is barely underway, yet the Braves already find themselves in survival mode.<\/p>\n
If they hope to contend this year, reinforcements \u2014 internal or external \u2014 must arrive quickly. Otherwise, 2026 could become another season derailed by injuries before it truly begins.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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![\"Waldrep](\"https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_0,y_81,w_3243,h_1824\/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images\/ImagnImages\/mmsport\/229\/01khs392kxwh57xbw993.jpg\")
<\/p>\n