The Atlanta Braves’ flickering playoff hopes had been dealt a major blow on Wednesday.
The Braves introduced that pitcher Spencer Schwellenbach was positioned on the 15-day injured checklist as a consequence of a fractured proper elbow. Mark Bowman from MLB.com reported that Schwellenbach had felt sore after pitching in opposition to the Phillies on Saturday, resulting in the invention that he has a small fracture in his elbow. Schwellenbach will probably be shut down for 4 weeks earlier than throwing once more, with the hope that he can return in September.
Schwellenbach had constructed off of an spectacular rookie season in 2025. He had posted a 3.09 ERA and a 0.967 WHiP in his 110.2 innings, hanging out 108 batters with 18 walks. Schwellenbach had begun to emerge as a possible ace for the Braves rotation.
The Braves rotation has been hammered by accidents this season. Chris Sale was lately transferred to the 60-day IL as a consequence of a fractured rib; he’s anticipated to be sidelined till late August on the minimal. Reynaldo Lopez underwent shoulder surgical procedure on April 8 and would possibly return in September. AJ Smith-Shawver has a torn UCL and can miss the remainder of the season in addition to at the least a part of 2026. Employees ace Spencer Strider has been inconsistent since getting back from elbow surgical procedure, posting a 3.86 ERA and a 1.143 WHiP over his 49 innings.
The Braves had already confronted an uphill battle to achieve the postseason. Atlanta entered Wednesday with a 38-46 report, 11.5 video games again within the NL East and seven.5 video games out of a playoff berth. The Braves lineup has struggled, rating twenty second within the majors with a .697 OPS, not almost sufficient to beat a decimated rotation.
Regardless of their report, the Braves are not anticipated to be sellers on the July 31 commerce deadline. The Braves have come again from a mediocre displaying over the primary 4 months, catching fireplace which led to an inconceivable playoff push. The Braves are additionally 5 video games beneath their projected report, tied with the Yankees and White Sox for the most important adverse discrepancy.
Nevertheless, that 2022 staff had a wholesome rotation and a productive lineup. The 2025 Braves don’t. Historical past repeating itself, given these circumstances, is unlikely at finest. Dropping Schwellenbach for at the least the subsequent two-and-a-half months is the loss of life knell for the season.
