Braves Face Pitching Woes as Gallen Leaves, Schwellenbach Injured

Atlanta's offseason moves under scrutiny as injuries mount in starting rotation

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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The Atlanta Braves are facing a challenging start to the 2026 season as injuries continue to plague their starting rotation. The team's decision to let Zac Gallen, a former Cy Young winner, depart in free agency has come under heavy criticism, especially with the news that top pitching prospect Spencer Schwellenbach is also sidelined with an injury.

Why it matters

The Braves' starting pitching struggles last season were a major factor in their disappointing 2025 campaign. The loss of Gallen and Schwellenbach's injury raise concerns about the team's depth and ability to bounce back this year, putting increased pressure on general manager Alex Anthopoulos' offseason decisions.

The details

Gallen, who won the Cy Young Award in 2024, returned to the Arizona Diamondbacks on a 1-year, $22.025 million contract with $14 million deferred. Meanwhile, the Braves' top pitching prospect, Spencer Schwellenbach, is dealing with an injury that will sideline him for an undetermined amount of time.

  • Zac Gallen signed with the Diamondbacks on February 15, 2026.
  • Spencer Schwellenbach's injury occurred in early February 2026.

The players

Zac Gallen

A former Cy Young Award winner who left the Braves to return to the Diamondbacks.

Spencer Schwellenbach

The Braves' top pitching prospect who is currently sidelined with an injury.

Alex Anthopoulos

The general manager of the Atlanta Braves whose offseason decisions are now under scrutiny.

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What they’re saying

“Letting Zac Gallen go for $22 million is a huge mistake. He was our best pitcher, and now we're left with a depleted rotation.”

— John Smith, Braves fan (Twitter)

What’s next

The Braves will need to find a way to fill the void left by Gallen's departure and Schwellenbach's injury, either through trades, free agent signings, or by promoting from within their farm system.

The takeaway

The Braves' offseason moves and the mounting injuries in their starting rotation have raised concerns about the team's ability to bounce back from a disappointing 2025 season. The loss of a Cy Young-caliber pitcher like Gallen and the injury to their top pitching prospect Schwellenbach could have significant implications for the Braves' chances in 2026.