There is no doubt that getting back to the playoffs was great for the Atlanta Braves in 2026, but the season didn't end the way they wanted it to. Now, 2027 will bring another year of immense pressure given the team's recent success.

The starting rotation is once again a major concern. The Braves already know there are some players they won't be able to count on in 2027 due to injuries.

“The Atlanta Braves enter another offseason trying to solve the same puzzle: how to enhance their starting rotation. In 2026, they hoped Spencer Strider, Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep were the cavalry needed to solve the issues. But all three dealt with injuries and can’t be counted on to pitch in 2027,” The Athletic’s Jesus Cano wrote.

For Atlanta, one thing is certain: Chris Sale will once again lead the rotation as its ace.

“While it wasn't their downfall in the end, the starting rotation has been a constant thorn in the Atlanta Braves' side for multiple seasons now. For 2026, it was no different. As the page turns to 2027, it's to see how it shakes up. There will be at least one guarantee. Chris Sale is the ace. You probably guarantee that Bryce Elder is in the mix, too, along with Grant Holmes. After that, we'll see what happens," SI's Harrison Smajovitts wrote.

Outside of Sale, the Braves are going to need to make significant additions to their rotation. CBS Sports’ Mike Axisa believes the team will sign former New York Mets pitcher Freddy Peralta.

“It has been a roller coaster year for Peralta, who flopped with the Mets, rebounded with the Rays, then faced the Brewers(his former team) in the World Series and lost. The post-deadline stint with Tampa salvaged Peralta's free agent year. They made several adjustments, most notably raising his arm angle and getting him to pitch exclusively from the stretch, and the result was a livelier fastball and also better command,” Axisa wrote.

Adding Peralta would give Atlanta a strong 1-2 punch at the top of its rotation alongside Sale. Peralta is coming off winning the ALCS MVP award with the Tampa Bay Rays, and he appeared to rediscover his dominant form during the second half of the season.

Peralta just wrapped up his $15 million contract with the Rays. With a roster in need of reliable starting pitchers who can stay healthy, Peralta is a name the Braves should pursue aggressively this offseason.

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