BS Report: March 26, 2026
Braves will start on Friday night at Truist Park when they host the Kansas City Royals.
We’re going to do a couple of segments here, one today and one for tomorrow. Let’s talk about the pitching today, and we’ll talk about the position players tomorrow here on the news at six. First the pitchers. And obviously the biggest question for the pitching staff is going to be about this starting rotation. There are a lot of questions about the starting rotation for the Atlanta Braves. Who’s going to stay healthy, who can go and make 30 starts out of this group that has started the year? Chris Sale is one of the best pitchers in baseball when he’s healthy, when he’s on the mound. But of course, even with the Braves the last two years, there have been injury issues. Two years ago, he couldn’t finish the season because of the back issue.
And then last year, he dug for a ball on June 18th against the Mets. And he missed about ten weeks with a couple of broken ribs. Well, the Braves cannot afford for Chris Sale to go down for any extended period of time this year because they are counting on him to make 30 plus starts and to be that Cy Young candidate if he can. It’s going to help the Braves a great deal to try to keep them in the race to the National League East, no doubt about it. As for the others, well, there are a lot of questions after Chris Sale. You’ve got at least to start the season. Reynaldo Lopez, who only had one start last year. Then he had shoulder surgery, missed the rest of the year.
His velocity was down this past Sunday and his last appearance at spring training. He had a bullpen session on Monday, supposedly did better and had a little bit better velocity, so we’ll have to see. But again last year, one start, then shoulder surgery, then number three is Grant Holmes. Well, he’s got a partially torn UCL in his arm. Can that hold up I don’t know. Number four is Bryce Elder Bryce elder does not throw very hard stays healthy. He makes his starts. But sometimes he’s not very good for a stretch of alone games. Last summer he had an E.R.A. Just under nine and that’s not going to cut it, especially if he has to have a larger role in the rotation.
And then the fifth starter, at least to start out will be Jose Suarez, who got DFA two months ago by the Braves, picked up by the Orioles. They designated him for assignment again on waivers. The Braves picked him back up, and now, because of all the injuries, he is their fifth starter. A big question when will Spencer Strider return? Of course, that’s another question. When will Spencer swollen back return? When will Hearst and Waldrop return? And could we see AJ Smith shoulder back from Tommy John surgery later in the year? We don’t know. The bullpen is good if it can stay healthy and if it’s not worn down, the bullpen could be very good. Rocio Iglesias is a great closer.
He’s done a great job for the Braves for the last couple of years. Robert Suarez led the National League in saves last year. The Braves brought him in in a free agent contract. He could be very, very good. Tyler Kenley acquired from the Rockies last year in July. He was great ball back for another year. They needed two main lefties. You’ve got Aaron Bummer and Dylan Lee, two very good pitchers and they were going to see probably a revolving door. Of course Didier Fuentes will be part of this at least from the outset. He’ll be in the bullpen. Could he move the rotation? Yeah, he could, but Fuentes will start the year in the bullpen and we’ll see how that goes.
So the pitching could be good if they can all stay healthy. But like for most teams heading into a season that’s a very big if.
