.jpg)
1 hour ago
2
The Atlanta Braves are entering the 2026 season with plenty of unanswered questions — most notably surrounding the starting rotation. That was already a major concern last year as injuries piled up, and early in Spring Training, it feels like déjà vu all over again.
“The Braves opened camp this morning with an unwelcome update on talented young righty Spencer Schwellenbach. He’s been placed on the 60-day injured list due to inflammation in his right elbow, per Mark Bowman of MLB.com. The team’s hope is that the 25-year-old is dealing with bone spurs and not something more nefarious,” MLB Trade Rumors’ Steve Adams wrote.
Spencer Schwellenbach was expected to be a key piece of the rotation this season, but it may not be until July that he makes his first start. Soon after, Hurston Waldrep underwent imaging for arm discomfort, adding to Atlanta’s concerns.
“The Atlanta Braves' rotation took another hit Sunday when manager Walt Weiss said right-hander Hurston Waldrep may need surgery to remove "loose bodies" found in his arm. Waldrep complained of discomfort after throwing batting practice. Weiss said an MRI showed no ligament damage, but the team is waiting to learn more after Waldrep has additional tests,” ESPN wrote.
With the rotation already thinning, FanSided’s Robert Murray believes Lucas Giolito could be a logical signing for Atlanta.
“The Atlanta Braves are already dealing with injuries to their starting rotation, and there’s a solution staring them right in the face: Giolito,” Murray wrote. “Part of what gave the Braves pause with pursuing other starting pitchers, such as Zac Gallen, is that they were attached to the qualifying offer. Giolito, meanwhile, is not. The fact he’s stayed on the market this long would seemingly suggest that he’s likely to sign a short-term contract that would allow him to test the market next winter. Which could be the perfect opportunity for Alex Anthopoulos to strike, especially with promising young right-handers Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep sidelined with elbow injuries.”
The move makes plenty of sense for the Braves. After an offseason in which they did not add a starting pitcher, the urgency is now clear. Atlanta is already in a precarious position with its rotation depth.
Giolito would bring valuable experience to the staff, and if he can replicate the form he showed late in the 2025 season, the Braves could stabilize the group quickly. Still, it remains to be seen what approach general manager Alex Anthopoulos will take in response to the mounting injuries.
More MLB news:
English (US)