Here's how Braves' rotation could be shaped down the stretch

ATLANTA -- It’s been no secret that the Braves have faced unprecedented injury trouble in their starting rotation this season.

After Grant Holmes was placed on the 60-day injured list with right elbow inflammation on July 27, every starting pitcher in Atlanta’s season-opening rotation (Holmes, Chris Sale, Spencer Schwellenbach, AJ Smith-Shawver and Reynaldo López) is currently on the IL.

Prior to Monday’s series opener against the best-in-baseball Brewers -- a 3-1 loss at Truist Park -- Braves manager Brian Snitker provided updates on some of the team’s injured starters.

Holmes has elected to undergo a rehabilitation process rather than have an elbow procedure such as a Tommy John surgery or an internal brace. Though the Braves have not said whether or not there was a tear in his ulnar collateral ligament, the conversation about whether or not Holmes would undergo surgery is telling.

“Holmes has decided to do the rehab process instead of surgery,” Snitker said. “He’s consulted with all the doctors. He and his camp came to that conclusion. So they’re going to try that approach.”

Sale, who landed on the injured list June 21 (retroactive to June 19 and transferred to the 60-day IL July 1) with a fractured rib after he dived for a dribbler on the infield, threw a bullpen session on Monday.

“His next thing up is live [batting practice],” Snitker said.

Schwellenbach was placed on the injured list on July 2 (retroactive to June 29 and transferred to 60-day IL on July 6) with a fractured right elbow.

“He hasn’t started throwing yet,” Snitker said. “He’s still receiving treatment.”

López, who was placed on the injured list March 31 (retroactive to March 29 and transferred to 60-day IL on April 3) with right shoulder inflammation, started playing catch recently.

With the decimated starting rotation, the Braves have had to get creative with their starting hurlers.

Right-hander Spencer Strider, who was slated to start Saturday’s Speedway Classic in Bristol, Tenn., was scratched due to a rain delay prior to the game.

Strider was originally pushed back to Tuesday before the Braves then moved his start to Wednesday’s series finale against the Brewers. Though rain has been forecast in Atlanta for most of the week, Snitker said that’s not why Strider was pushed back to Wednesday.

“As we talked about it, we’re just [going to] try to piggyback on the next off-day so we get an extra day now, then we can have another extra day built in to try to get him to the finish line,” Snitker said.

After a rain-soaked weekend in Bristol, the Braves are amid a stretch of eight games in seven days, which creates a challenge when piecing together the rotation.

“It’s [going to] be challenging the rest of the year,” Snitker said. “Hopefully we get a guy or so back from that group [of injured starters]. We knew as soon as the last guy went down it was going to be challenging.”

The Braves have had to dig deep for starters. They traded for right-hander Erick Fedde on July 27, right-hander Carlos Carrasco on July 28 and claimed left-hander Joey Wentz off waivers from the Twins on July 11.

After Fedde allowed four runs on five hits over 4 2/3 innings in his first start for Atlanta last Tuesday, he allowed three runs on three hits over 5 1/3 innings in Monday’s loss to the Brewers. His big blemish was a three-run home run to Isaac Collins -- July's NL Rookie of the Month -- in the top of the fourth.

“I obviously want to go up and put up zeros and win ballgames,” Fedde said. “From a personal side, it obviously hasn’t been my best year. In [2024], I had a great year, and I’m trying to find my way back to knowing I can do it and proving it.”

Wentz has allowed three earned runs on seven hits over 18 innings in four games (three starts) since joining the Braves. Carrasco allowed three runs on seven hits over six innings Thursday in his first start with the Braves.

“Those guys have given us chances, that’s all I can ask for,” Snitker said.

In the aforementioned rain-soaked Speedway Classic, right-hander Hurston Waldrep was called up from Triple-A Gwinnett on Sunday to start the continuation of Saturday’s suspended game. Waldrep allowed one run on three hits over 5 2/3 innings as he gave the Braves much-needed innings.

Snitker believes Waldrep, who was returned to Triple-A on Sunday, could be called up again during the homestand.

“We have a doubleheader coming up at the end of the week,” Snitker said. “We’ll see how we get there. I think after [Sunday’s] outing, we will see him.”