Braves Aim to Turn Rotation Woes Into Postseason Strength

Injuries force Atlanta to get creative, mirroring Dodgers' successful strategy

Mar. 28, 2026 at 4:27pm

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The Atlanta Braves are facing a major challenge to start the 2026 season, with five starting pitchers on the injured list. However, this initial obstacle could turn into a potential advantage come October, similar to how the Los Angeles Dodgers leveraged their depth last year.

Why it matters

The Braves' depleted rotation is a significant early-season issue, but if the makeshift staff can keep the team afloat, the team may benefit from having fresh, limited-innings starters available for the playoffs.

The details

With Joey Wentz, Spencer Strider, AJ Smith-Shayver, Huhrston Waldrep, and Spencer Schwellenbach all sidelined, the Braves will rely on Chris Sale, Reynaldo Lopez, Grant Holmes, Bryce Elder, and Jose Suarez to hold down the rotation. This patchwork group is not ideal, but if they can keep the Braves competitive, the team's top starters could return fresh and ready for the postseason.

  • The 2026 MLB regular season began on March 28.

The players

Chris Sale

The Braves' ace and lone healthy top starter to begin the season.

Joey Wentz

One of the Braves' injured starting pitchers, out for the season with a torn ACL.

Los Angeles Dodgers

The team that successfully leveraged pitching depth to their advantage in the 2025 postseason.

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What they’re saying

“Pivotal number: 1. That's the number of starting rotations the Braves had on the injured list as the 2026 season began.”

— Bradford Doolittle, ESPN Analyst

What’s next

If the Braves' makeshift rotation can keep the team competitive until their injured starters return, the team could have a well-rested and limited-innings pitching staff ready to excel in the postseason.

The takeaway

The Braves' rotation woes to start the season could ultimately become a strength if the team can weather the storm and have their top starters fresh and ready to go come October, mirroring the Dodgers' successful strategy from last year.