We did get good news rather quickly. The Braves announced during the game that X-rays were negative, and another report from after the game said that the CT scan was also negative. But sitting just a week away from the start of the postseason, there was still some level of concern.

That looks to be put to bed with this latest report from Mark Bowman, who says Acuña was ready to play tonight but the Braves wanted to give him the day off. He’ll likely be back in the lineup tomorrow.

It’s been another roller-coaster season for Ronald Acuña Jr. He’s spent two different stints on the Injured List, costing him more than 50 games, and even when he’s been in the lineup, he hasn’t looked quite like himself for most of the season.

That changed around a month ago. Over his last 23 games, he’s hitting .368 with seven home runs, easily the best of anybody in the Braves’ lineup. Acuña is looking like the guy who won the NL MVP back in 2023 again, and for as much as Atlanta’s offense has struggled for long stretches this season, they could ill afford to lose that kind of production heading into October.

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(Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire)

Coming off their first missed postseason since 2017, there were plenty of concerns about how this team would bounce back with a new manager after Brian Snitker decided to hang it up. Those concerns were only exacerbated by injuries to Spencer Schwellenbach, Hurston Waldrep, and Spencer Strider during Spring Training.

Inside the clubhouse, however, there was never a sign of panic. The Braves claimed the NL East lead on April 10th and burst out to the best record in baseball through the first two months. Up until June, everything was clicking, but chinks in the armor eventually began to show.

Injuries continued to take their toll on the rotation, and then the bullpen lost one of its top guys in Robert Suarez, who didn’t make his return to the mound until last night. But surprisingly, it was the offense that was primarily responsible for the Braves’ lulls over the final four months.

Austin Riley never could quite find his footing — something he’s still trying to figure out in a hurry before postseason baseball begins next week. Ronald Acuña Jr. missed more than 50 games, Drake Baldwin missed a month, Sean Murphy missed damn near the entire season, and Ozzie Albies fell off a cliff following a hot start.

It wasn’t exactly a formula for an NL East title. Yet every time it felt like the wheels were about to come off, they’d pull it together and go on a run, keeping the Phillies at arm’s length the entire way before clinching the division with a week to play.

The Braves haven’t been an elite baseball team from a record or statistical standpoint for quite some time. On paper, their rotation should be one of the worst in the league, and basically everybody has already written off their chances come October — most didn’t even think they’d make it there. The fact that they are is a testament to the resolve of the entire group.

They never stopped finding ways to grind out wins, and when the dust settles, they’ll likely have 95 under their belt — the fourth-best record in Major League Baseball.

For that reason, ESPN gave Atlanta an A-grade for its regular season performance.

“More steady than dominant, the Braves built an early lead in the NL East but appeared vulnerable at times to the Phillies catching them — a lead that was as large as 10½ games on May 22 got as low as two games — but Atlanta beat Philadelphia four out of seven games in September to essentially wrap up the division,” David Schoenfield writes.

“Huge shoutout to Chris Sale, who carried a rotation that received just eight starts from Spencer Strider and none from Spencer Schwellenbach. Grant Holmes and Martin Perez also stepped up, while trade addition Tyler Mahle has been the best pickup of the deadline. Alongside Sale, the bullpen has been the team’s MVP, with the highest win probability added in the majors.”

The Braves’ ragtag bunch of arms rarely wavered the entire season. The bullpen was among the best in baseball from start to finish, featuring an incredible breakout campaign from rookie Didier Fuentes — possibly the most underrated reliever in the sport right now.

But not enough can be said about the likes of Grant Holmes, Martin Perez, and Bryce Elder. These were fringe roster guys who stepped up and are the only reason the Braves are thinking about October. Without them, it’s another long offseason of reviewing what went wrong.

Some grief can be thrown Alex Anthopoulos’ way for his lack of aggressiveness last winter and at the trade deadline. It’s fair to say this team has holes he could have addressed, but this regular season grade isn’t about him. It’s about the 26 guys in the clubhouse and the 20 more who made an appearance throughout the season. This roster had no business winning the division with the injuries taken into account, and they did so rather easily — a huge testament to Walt Weiss, who should receive strong consideration for NL Manager of the Year honors.

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(Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire)

The All-Star reliever hadn’t pitched in a major-league game since the middle of June, and had only pitched in one game, period, since then — a one-inning relief appearance for the Gwinnett Stripers last weekend. It wasn’t a clean outing on Wednesday night. In fact, Suarez actually gave up the go-ahead run after surrendering a triple to the first batter he faced. But he was able to limit the damage to just the one run, setting down the next three batters in order.

And most encouraging? Suarez was lighting up the radar gun at 99 MPH.

There’s obviously still some rust the veteran must overcome, and unfortunately, he doesn’t have much time to do so before the damage really starts to count. Walt Weiss said before the game that Suarez will make one more appearance on Saturday prior to the Wild Card Series, but from the eye test his first time out, the stuff is difficult to differentiate from what we saw earlier in the season. It looks like the Braves got back an incredible weapon at just the right time.

On the offensive side of things, Austin Riley and Matt Olson both hit solo shots, leading to a 2-2 game going into extras. Brent Suter was able to set down the Reds in order in the top half of the inning, continuing his stellar work since the Braves acquired him at the trade deadline, and then Mauricio Dubon finished the job with a high-bouncing chopper that never even passed the mound but was enough to bring in the speedy DaShawn Keirsey Jr.

But the most impressive thing about Wednesday night — shockingly — was Chris Sale putting the cherry on top of his incredible 2026 campaign. The 37-year-old was making his final start of the season — a tune-up before he takes the mound in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series. Expectations were that he would go through the motions for four or five innings to stay loose, but there’s no such thing as 90% when Chris Sale has the ball in his hand.

He wound up throwing 97 pitches, finishing 5.2 innings of one-run ball, and his last pitch was a strikeout, giving him a clean 200 punchouts on the campaign.

Sale’s final numbers for the season are simply absurd, finishing with a 2.16 ERA and leading the league in BB/9, HR/9, and K/BB ratio. He had 200 strikeouts compared to just 31 walks — nonsensical numbers for a third season in a row, all of which came after the rest of the league had deemed him finished due to a wide array of injuries. There was no better way for him to finish things off, but the real fun begins next week, when Sale takes the mound in a playoff game for the first time as a member of the Braves.

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(Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire)

However, the first two weeks came with third-string quarterback Cooper Rush under center. Michael Penix Jr. is set to make his season debut against the Packers, which should jolt some life into the entire team. There are also several stats that suggest this could be a much more interesting matchup than people might expect.

Atlanta Falcons — The Kings Of Primetime

I discussed it earlier in the week, but even though the Falcons have missed out on postseason play in each of the last two seasons, one area where they have thrived is in these primetime matchups. They went 4-1 on the national stage a year ago and are 7-3 over the last two seasons.

Of course, whether that stat means anything heading into this matchup could be picked apart, but this one is much more interesting. Kevin Stefanski is 5-0 on Thursday Night Football, with four of those victories coming after he lost the previous game.

That’s not just a random number. Kevin Stefanski wasn’t coaching a powerhouse out in Cleveland. He was an underdog in most every matchup, so the fact that his teams are undefeated when dealing with short weeks is a strong indication that he’s figured out how to approach things when there’s not as much time to game plan. We’ll see if the trends continue tomorrow.

A Mismatch In The Trenches

The Falcons’ embarrassing performances have allowed a lot of other teams that have underperformed through the first two weeks to fly under the radar. The Packers are one of those teams. They were embarrassed by the Vikings in Week 1, who were playing with backup quarterback Carson Wentz, and then narrowly escaped with a three-point victory in overtime against the Jets.

Green Bay has been a surprisingly terrible team to start the season, and a lot of the problems stem from the offensive line. They rank dead last in rush yards per game and are also last in pass block win rate (18%). That’s a massive matchup advantage for the Falcons, who have been very good across the defensive front even without James Pearce Jr. and Jalon Walker.

A primary reason for that has been a much more stout interior presence. The additions of guys like Maason Smith and Gervon Dexter Sr. have proven to be massive upgrades, as the group leads the NFL in pressures with 23. This matchup could prove to be the difference in the game, even if all the focus is on the quarterback position.

Tired Teams On Short Weeks

This isn’t gambling advice, but take it how you will. Teams that exhausted a lot of energy the week prior typically do not perform well on short weeks. Last week, the Packers went into overtime on the road and squeaked out a win over the Jets. Over the last 20 matchups on Thursday Night Football where a team went into overtime the previous week, those teams are 2-18 ATS.

And you don’t have to look far to find a previous example. One occurred just last week with the Lions, who beat the Saints in overtime in Week 1 and followed it up with a blowout loss to the Bills. The Packers are listed as 4.5-point favorites in this game, so they could still win and not cover, but this trend suggests it will at least be a very close game.

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(Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire)

The good news is that the best bet came through again, with South Alabama (barely) covering as a four-point home favorite against Ohio. Week 4 now brings what looks to be the most exciting Saturday slate we’ve had so far this season. There are a lot of games I like, so I’ll try to narrow the board down to my favorites. Here’s what I’ve got.

2026 record: 7-4

Wake Forest +14 at Louisville

I’ve had this spot circled since June. For starters, there is a legitimate matchup case for Wake being able to hang around. Louisville’s pass defense has been leaky early in the season, giving up 41 to Ole Miss and 31 to SMU, but if Kevin Jennings hadn’t fumbled going into the end zone late, the Mustangs very well could have scored 38.

Wake Forest has enough juice offensively to take advantage. The Demon Deacons can push the ball down the field with Gio Lopez and one of the ACC’s more underrated receivers, Carlos Hernandez. Louisville does have an excellent pass rush led by Clev Lubin and A.J. Green, but its run defense hasn’t been impressive, particularly when it comes to stuffing runs at the line of scrimmage. Wake doesn’t need to dominate on the ground; it just needs a few yards to keep the passing downs manageable.

Don’t get me wrong, Louisville is going to move the football too. The Cardinals’ rushing attack behind the Brown brothers has taken this offense to another level, and I expect plenty of points in this game. But catching two touchdowns with two offenses capable of scoring quickly means the backdoor is always open for Wake Forest.

The biggest reason I’ve wanted Wake in this spot is because of how horrible Jeff Brohm’s Louisville teams have looked in spots like this in years prior. Everybody knows how dangerous Brohm is as an underdog, but Louisville has repeatedly turned into a pumpkin in the favorite role, particularly after big wins.

Louisville went just 1-7 ATS as a home favorite last season! After an important road win at Pitt, the Cardinals returned home and lost outright as a seven-point favorite against Virginia. A few weeks later, after upsetting Miami, Louisville came out extremely flat as 24-point favorites against 1-7 Boston College, and was still in a seven-point game with roughly two minutes left.

The best example is when Louisville won on the road at Virginia Tech, and with Clemson waiting on deck, the Cards lost 29-26 to Cal as an 18.5-point favorite.

Now the Cardinals are coming off a major win against SMU and walk right into a sleepy noon kickoff at home against what I expect to be a hungry Demon Deacons team. It is exactly the kind of spot where Louisville has struggled to bring the same energy it shows in its biggest games.

Wake also played Friday night last week, giving the Demon Deacons one additional day to prepare. Under Brohm, Louisville is 5-7 ATS when playing with a rest disadvantage. It’s just another small factor pointing in Wake’s favor.

My power ratings make this Louisville -11.5, so I see a couple of points of value on top of a golden opportunity to fade Jeff Brohm in a spot where his teams have consistently struggled and come out flat. The backdoor will always be open in this game, but I think Wake is capable of making Louisville sweat for four quarters.

Oklahoma State +2.5 at West Virginia

This line has moved around all week, but I’ll take what’s available at the time of writing. I make Oklahoma St -2 in this matchup, so that’s enough value for me to grab the Pokes as a short road dog.

I was spot-on with my West Virginia rating last week against Virginia, and even after upgrading the Mountaineers following that upset win, I still can’t get all the way to making them favored here. I was impressed with West Virginia. Michael Hawkins has been electric, Cam Cook gives them a legitimate bellcow in the backfield, and the passing game made more plays than I expected against a Virginia secondary I liked coming into the season.

But this is also a tricky spot for West Virginia. The Mountaineers are riding high after a big rivalry win, while Oklahoma State practically had a bye last week. The Pokes rested starters throughout the second half of their 59-0 win over Murray State, and I’m sure Eric Morris and staff spent most of the week prepping for this matchup instead of their FCS foe.

After preparing for Virginia’s run-heavy offense last week, West Virginia now has to completely flip the script against an Oklahoma State team that wants to attack through the air. The Mountaineers ranked 129th nationally in pass defense last season, and while there has been slight improvement, they still sit near the bottom of the country in pass defense and defending explosive passes.

That’s dangerous against Drew Mestemaker, who has really found his groove over the last two weeks. Oklahoma State already proved this offense can move the ball against high-level competition in the upset of Oregon, and Caleb Hawkins gives the Cowboys a real threat in the running game to keep West Virginia from simply selling out against the pass. Getting starting guard Joseph Hanson and receiver Chris Barnes back from injuries should only help this offense.

My biggest concern comes with Mestemaker himself, who has only faced one Power 4 opponent in his college career (Oregon), and now heads into Morgantown for his first Power 4 road start. He has already thrown four interceptions, and turnovers are probably the clearest path to Oklahoma State losing this game. If Mestemaker and the Cowboys can simply play West Virginia even in the turnover battle, I think Oklahoma State wins outright.

I upgraded West Virginia after last week, but I still don’t agree with what looks like a touchdown-sized move in their power rating. In what looks like a high-scoring game, I’ll take the points with Oklahoma St and bet on the Pokes pulling the outright upset in Morgantown.

Miami-Ohio -3.5 vs UConn

I make Miami-Ohio -6.5 here, so getting the RedHawks at -3.5 gives me three points of value, although I’d love to get -3 if it showed up somewhere.

These records are a little misleading. Miami is just 1-2, but has already gone on the road to face Pitt and Cincinnati. UConn’s two wins have come against Lafayette and a Southern Miss team I have rated more than 12 points worse than Miami.

I came away impressed with the RedHawks last week despite blowing a second-half lead in the loss to Cincinnati. Miami led by 21 before falling 35-31, but more importantly, QB David McComb continues to look better every week. He was thrust into the starting role with no college experience after projected starter Thomas Gotkowski suffered a season-ending injury before Week 1. McComb threw for 334 yards against Cincinnati after going 13-for-13 with three touchdowns against Holy Cross, and Miami has quietly developed a very explosive passing attack.

UConn’s pass-defense numbers look good, but this defense was just shredded for 347 yards against Maryland. Now they face a Miami offense that has been consistently generating explosive plays through the air with McComb and receivers Maleek Huggins and Damarion Witten.

I think Miami’s ugly defensive numbers are somewhat schedule-driven. UConn is a significant step down in competition from Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. The situational spot also favors Miami, with UConn playing its second straight road game after a long trip to Hattiesburg, Mississippi, last weekend. Meanwhile, the RedHawks have Homecoming this weekend and return home, where Chuck Martin’s teams are 12-6 ATS since 2023.

I’m not a fan of new UConn coach Jason Candle, who underperformed year after year at Toledo. With three points of value in my projected line, I’ll gladly take the chance to fade Candle and a UConn team that may be slightly overrated after playing an easy schedule. I trust McComb to keep making plays through the air, and I like Chuck Martin’s team to bounce back at home.

Auburn -9 vs. Vanderbilt

This spread may look a little big, but my power ratings are right in line with it, and I’m willing to lay the points with Auburn. This should be a desperate Tigers team after a close win over Baylor and a bad home loss to Florida. Auburn and Alex Golesh need a strong response here, because another loss–or even another uninspiring performance–will have the fan base getting restless in a hurry.

I’m not ready to call Vanderbilt a fraud, but I do think the Dores are a little overrated right now. They were completely uninspiring in Week 1 against Austin Peay, struggled to pull away from Delaware in Week 2, and now they’re coming off an emotional, fortunate comeback win over NC State. All the attention this week has been on that dramatic finish, and this feels like a spot where Vanderbilt could have trouble matching that same energy.

Freshman QB Jared Curtis is clearly the better option over Blaze Berlowitz, and Clark Lea made the right call going to him last week. But Curtis also showed some freshman mistakes, throwing three interceptions in his first start, including one late that probably should have ended the game if not for the last-second chaos from NC State.

Now there’s no time to settle in. Curtis heads straight into only his second career start, and it comes at one of the nation’s most hostile environments, Jordan-Hare Stadium, against an Auburn team and crowd desperate for a win.

Look for the Tigers to have a big day on the ground, as Vanderbilt’s run defense has struggled to create pressure and negative plays. That sets up nicely for RB Jeremiah Cobb and QB Byrum Brown. If Auburn can stay ahead of the chains on the ground, Brown should spend most of the afternoon working in manageable second- and third-down situations instead of constantly facing obvious passing downs.

Curtis has definitely flashed, but he’s still a freshman quarterback making his first road start in one of the toughest environments in the country. In what feels like a desperation spot for Auburn and Golesh, I’ll lay the points and trust the Tigers to finally put together a complete performance.

Other Thoughts/Leans

Michigan -4 vs Iowa — I seriously considered making this my Best Bet of the week. My power ratings make Michigan -9.5 because I’m much lower on Iowa than the market; I just don’t see how the Hawkeyes score enough against one of the best defenses in the country. Michigan wins 17-9.

NIU @ Georgia State, Over 55 — Georgia State profiles as a great “over” team with an explosive offense and a defense that has plenty of holes. They should score plenty against one of the worst defenses in the country, and I think NIU can do enough offensively to help push this game over 55.

South Florida -17 @ Bowling Green — I make this around -19, so not a ton of value. But I have BGSU as one of the worst teams in the country, and the Falcons are bottom 15 in the nation in every defensive and offensive category.

Mississippi St -3 vs Missouri — I grabbed this when it opened, but I don’t like making something my Best Bet after the line has moved so far from the number I got. Still, I project Mississippi State -6.5 and would lay anything below that. Missouri was thoroughly outplayed by Troy last weekend, and since 2024 the Tigers are just 1-8 SU and 2-7 ATS against Top 25 teams. Drinkwitz can’t win when stepping up in competition, and I don’t expect that to change in what should be a juiced-up Starkville atmosphere.

Oregon -3 @ USC — I hate to go with the crowd, but it would have to be Oregon or pass for me in this game. I’m not sold on USC or their defense yet. Have not bet this one yet, but definitely leaning towards the Ducks.

Arkansas -6.5 vs Tulsa — This is disgusting, but if there was ever a time to bet Arkansas, it’s right now. I project this Hogs -8, so I see a tiny bit of value above a key number. Tulsa QB Baylor Hayes missed last week with injury and is out again for this game as they make sure he’s ready for conference play. This is a desperation spot in Fayetteville.

Minnesota +10 @ Washington — Another good data point for my ratings…I make this Washington -4.5. What in the world has Washington done to be favored double digits against a team with a pulse? I know the Minnesota travel spot is brutal, but this is a lot of points for a Husky offense that has looked all out of sorts. Also should be low scoring with a total of 45.5. I lean heavily to the Gophers.

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(Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire)

Rightfully so, those fans were booing early and often last Sunday during Atlanta’s 34-3 loss to the Panthers. It was sheer embarrassment for the entire organization — one that was lambasted by every media outlet in the country heading into Thursday Night Football, a game everybody predicted they would lose.

Here’s what was funny about nearly every one of these football savants from the national media, though: they had no problem calling the Falcons the worst team in the league, but almost none of them acknowledged that all of Atlanta’s struggles stemmed from one simple fact — Cooper Rush was starting at quarterback.

If any of them had taken five minutes out of their day to actually watch what the Falcons were dealing with under center instead of skimming the box score, they might have talked a little differently once it was announced that Michael Penix Jr. was set to make his season debut after tearing his ACL.

Instead, all those talking heads cracking jokes without watching a single snap got a firsthand glimpse of just how “talentless” the Falcons are — on primetime television, no less — as Atlanta swarmed the Packers in all three phases.

For the Falcons, it always starts with the ground game, and nobody was happier to see Michael Penix Jr. back in the lineup than Bijan Robinson. The mere threat of Penix’s arm — something Cooper Rush simply couldn’t provide — forces defenses to play honest, and it let Robinson get going early and often, racking up 194 yards on 29 carries with a couple of touchdowns.

In total, the Falcons piled up 242 yards on the ground, running it a whopping 41 times. The Packers? Nine carries for 17 yards.

That’s a storyline nobody wanted to touch coming into the game. Atlanta’s defensive front — despite losing big names in Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. — had been quietly impressive through the first two weeks, while the Packers’ offensive line has been a disastrous work in progress. It was a massive advantage in Atlanta’s favor, and it played out exactly that way. Green Bay couldn’t run it, and Jordan Love spent the night running around like a chicken with his head cut off, doing most of his damage in garbage time with the game well out of reach.

But this blowout didn’t start with a dream script. Atlanta got the ball to open the game, and after a couple of first downs, Penix tossed a dangerous ball into traffic for his first interception of the season. The jokes came flying on social media, and the Packers turned it into an early touchdown lead.

Then, around the second quarter, Penix found his rhythm — and never lost it. He went 16-for-18 the rest of the way for 234 yards and a touchdown, with Drake London hauling in 194 of those yards.

It may have been the best three-quarter stretch of Penix’s entire career. And to do it in his first game back from his third ACL injury, in front of a national audience, with nobody in his corner? As Drake London put it after the game, “He’s the definition of resiliency.”

This was among the most complete performance we’ve seen from the Falcons in nearly a decade. Even special teams — a glaring problem area a year ago — was flawless. Zach Harrison blocked a field goal. They shut down the Packers’ return game. Nick Folk bounced back from a shaky start to the season, going 2-for-2 on field goals. And Jake Bailey dropped both of his punts inside the 20.

It gets said all the time, but the NFL is the definition of a week-to-week league. What happened Thursday night won’t help the Falcons next week, just as last week’s blowout loss didn’t carry over to Green Bay. Every team is liable to get beaten badly if it doesn’t bring its A-game — something that was impossible with Cooper Rush under center. But with Michael Penix Jr. back, the Falcons announced to the world that they’re not dead yet.

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(Photo by Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire)

Walt Weiss added that Perez felt the pain during his last start in Houston, and the veteran hopes he can return at some point in October if the Braves make a deep playoff run.

This is exactly the type of news no team wants to hear less than a week before the postseason begins. Martin Perez has been a steady force in the Braves’ rotation all season. Everybody expected him to slip at some point, but he answered the bell at every call, recording a 3.04 ERA over 142 innings.

I had Perez as the Braves’ #3 starter going into the postseason, likely getting the ball in a winner-take-all Game 3 next week if the series made it to that point — the primary reason being his success at home. Perez owns a 1.80 ERA this season at Truist Park, and over his last six starts, that number is down to 0.28. He wasn’t expected to be the catalyst that was going to carry the Braves, but those numbers are hard to ignore. Losing him unexpectedly for at least the first two rounds is far from ideal.

With this news, Grant Holmes instantly becomes the Braves’ #3 starter in the postseason following Chris Sale and Tyler Mahle. Outside of those three, expect to see bullpen games until Perez returns. AJ Smith-Shawver is likely the only other starting pitcher who will make the playoff roster for the Wild Card Series. JR Ritchie is another option the Braves might consider, but those would indeed be desperate times.

Hopefully, Perez’s injury isn’t a blow that deters the Braves too much. This is a team that’s overcome so much, starting at the very beginning of the season, when Spencer Strider, Spencer Schwellenbach, and Hurston Waldrep all went down with significant injuries during Spring Training. The Braves should have just enough starting pitching to withstand another loss, but they better hope this is the last time the injury bug takes a bite out of the club. Depth across the board is razor-thin.

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(Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire)

That much we know for certain, but their opponent still remains very much in the air — with the Padres, Phillies, Cubs, and Diamondbacks all jockeying for the final three spots in the National League.

Arizona Diamondbacks (84-74)

Remaining Games: (1) @Colorado, (3) @San Diego

The Diamondbacks are alive in the Wild Card race, but barely. They sit three games behind the Phillies for the sixth seed with just four games to play, making them the least likely of the Braves’ opponents next week.

Philadelphia Phillies (87-71)

Remaining Games: (1) vs. Milwaukee, (3) vs. Tampa Bay

If the season ended today, the Braves would face the Philadelphia Phillies, and what a familiar sight that would be. These two teams met in the postseason in 2022 and 2023, with the Phillies winning in four games both times. An opportunity for some sweet revenge is attractive, but that pitching staff would be hell to face in a three-game series where there is absolutely no margin for error.

Given the Phillies’ remaining four games are against two of the best teams in the league, there’s a very high likelihood they finish sixth in the standings.

Chicago Cubs (87-71)

Remaining Games: (1) vs. Miami, (3) @Boston

The Cubs own the tiebreaker over the Phillies, but the teams are tied in the standings, so Chicago could be the Braves’ opponent, with that three-game set in Boston determining a lot.

San Diego Padres (88-70)

Remaining Games: (1) @Los Angeles Dodgers, (3) vs. Diamondbacks

The Padres currently hold a one-game edge over the Cubs and Phillies, which sets them up for a home Wild Card Series. That’s what all these teams are fighting for over the final week, but their remaining schedule is on the more difficult side, featuring a matchup with the two-time defending champions and a Diamondbacks team that could be fighting for its postseason life.

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A lot of times, there’s a rooting interest for a team sitting in the Braves’ position, but I’m not quite sure it matters who they end up facing out of these four. All of them have really good aspects that are going to make them extremely difficult to beat. The Padres have been red-hot and have had the Braves’ number. The Phillies are a seasoned team with incredible starting pitching, and the Cubs feature a lineup that can absolutely mash the baseball. If the Braves are going to make it to the NLDS, they’re going to have to do it the hard way no matter who they face.

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(Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire)

So, who will replace him on the postseason roster? First, let’s take a look at what that would look like.

Potential Braves 2026 Playoff Roster

Starting Pitchers

1. Chris Sale
2. Tyler Mahle
3. Martin Perez (???)
4. Grant Holmes

Bullpen

1. Raisel Iglesias
2. Robert Suarez
3. Dylan Lee
4. Didier Fuentes
5. Brent Suter
6. Victor Mederos
7. Ray Kerr
8. Dylan Dodd
9. AJ Smith-Shawver

Catchers

1. Sean Murphy
2. Drake Baldwin
3. Chuckie Robinson

Infielders

1. Ozzie Albies
2. Matt Olson
3. Mauricio Dubon
4. Austin Riley
5. Ha-Seong Kim

Outfielders

1. Ronald Acuña Jr.
2. Michael Harris II
3. Mike Yastrzemski
4. Brewer Hicklen
5. DaShawn Keirsey Jr.

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The Braves right now only have three starting pitchers with any experience. Losing even more depth with this injury to Martin Perez hurts, but it’s not something that should be catastrophic. This was always going to be a team that relied a lot more heavily on its bullpen than its starting pitchers. The plan for a while now has been Chris Sale, Tyler Mahle, and then figure out some way to piece together 27 outs.

As far as potential replacements for Perez on the Braves’ playoff roster, there isn’t really a clear-cut option. They could go the bullpen route, with Elieser Hernandez being a likely candidate. He’s proven over a small sample size that he can be effective, boasting a 2.43 ERA in 11 innings this season, and his ability to go multiple innings in a given outing is attractive.

But it feels like the most likely replacement is JR Ritchie. Sure, he’s taken plenty of lumps throughout his rookie season, but from a stuff perspective, there’s still a lot to like, and he showed that a couple of nights ago when he went five innings and allowed just one run with eight strikeouts against the Reds.

In truth, whoever the Braves call up will likely be last in line to see the mound. They’ll have a completely rested pitching staff heading into the Wild Card Series that shouldn’t require everybody to pitch. However, where things really start to get interesting is if the Braves get deeper into the postseason. Then they might be relying on JR Ritchie to make a start, something we’ve seen in the past with guys like Kyle Wright, Bryse Wilson, and Tucker Davidson.

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(Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire)

Tyler Mahle has been the best starting pitcher that was moved. There’s not a close second, as he’s posted a 1.99 ERA over nine starts and was acquired for a journeyman reliever. All the Braves had to do was pick up the remaining $2 million left on his contract.

Brent Suter has also been a really quality addition. He’s not someone the Braves are going to throw out there in high-leverage situations often, but he’s done a terrific job eating the middle innings when the starters haven’t been able to go deep into games, boasting a 1.92 ERA over 24.2 innings. His ability to go multiple innings out of the bullpen is also something that could prove beneficial when the Braves hopefully begin a deep postseason run next week.

However, there has always been the question of whether the Braves did enough. Their offense has struggled mightily over the last four months, yet the only bat they acquired was Lane Thomas, who is currently on the IL and questionable for the postseason. They could have used more, but the real concerns surround the rotation. It’s been a paper-thin group all year, and the healthy options are dropping like flies.

Bryce Elder went to the IL earlier this month with a knee injury. He’s not going to be available for the first couple of rounds of the postseason, and now Martin Perez is on the IL as well with back inflammation, keeping him out for at least the next couple of weeks.

That leaves the Braves with three — yes, three — healthy starting pitchers who have any experience at the major-league level: Chris Sale, Tyler Mahle, and Grant Holmes.

Sale and Mahle were always going to be the two horses the Braves relied on, but having that little depth going into a postseason that’s going to require four series wins if they want to reach the top of the mountain isn’t just less than ideal; it almost feels like a hill that could be too difficult to climb.

This is the exact scenario fans have been clamoring about for years. Injuries and inconsistency have plagued the Braves’ rotation for a long time, yet Alex Anthopoulos has essentially refused to bring in any new blood. It’s a situation everybody could have seen coming from a mile away; unfortunately, the one whose opinion matters never saw it that way.

Now Walt Weiss is tasked with the near-impossible job of navigating a gauntlet of the best teams in baseball with just three starting pitchers. If he can somehow piece this thing together, it will go down as one of the best managerial jobs in MLB history — a tough ask for a guy in his first year on the job.

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(Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire)

Typically, there’s not a ton of movement from week to week, but a couple of significant injuries to Reynaldo Lopez and Lane Thomas have really opened the door for several players who would have never been considered for October baseball just a few weeks ago.

Braves 2026 Playoff Roster

Starting Pitchers

1. Chris Sale
2. Tyler Mahle
3. Martin Perez
4. Grant Holmes

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In a three-game Wild Card series, only three starters are needed, so one of these guys will be pitching out of the bullpen. At this very moment, I believe that player will be Grant Holmes.

Sale and Mahle will pitch Games 1 and 2 — and because the Wild Card series will likely take place at Truist Park, Martin Perez feels like the most likely option for a winner-take-all Game 3. His numbers at home recently have been downright absurd, posting a 0.28 ERA in Atlanta over his last six starts. However, I still wouldn’t write that in stone just yet, because Holmes has been more than solid in his own right over the past couple of months.

Bullpen

1. Raisel Iglesias
2. Robert Suarez
3. Dylan Lee
4. Didier Fuentes
5. Brent Suter
6. Victor Mederos
7. Ray Kerr
8. Dylan Dodd
9. AJ Smith-Shawver

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For now, I’m continuing to hold onto the hope that Robert Suarez will return for the playoffs. However, I’m admittedly becoming more concerned by the day.

I also have AJ Smith-Shawver sneaking onto the roster as a potential bullpen option because of his upside, but a name to watch over the final couple of weeks of the season is JR Ritchie. He’s going to start tomorrow in Chicago and will likely get another look before the season ends. If he pitches well, he could find his way onto the Braves’ playoff  roster.

Catchers

1. Sean Murphy
2. Drake Baldwin

Infielders

1. Ozzie Albies
2. Matt Olson
3. Mauricio Dubon
4. Austin Riley
5. Ha-Seong Kim

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Any questions about Ha-Seong Kim’s inclusion on the postseason roster have been put to bed for two reasons. Lane Thomas’ injury opens up another spot, and Kim has proven to be really clutch in big moments down the stretch. He’s become someone Walt Weiss can turn to off the bench with the game on the line. That could prove huge come October.

Designated Hitter

1. Dominic Smith

Outfielders

1. Ronald Acuña Jr.
2. Michael Harris
3. Mike Yastrzemski
4. Brewer Hicklen
5. DaShawn Keirsey Jr.

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This group without Lane Thomas has become tough to look at. Brewer Hicklen’s spot on the roster now feels 100% secure, and the final player I included is DaShawn Keirsey Jr. — strictly because he can offer the Braves a lot of speed off the bench, which is valuable during the postseason.

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The minor-league season ends this week, which means if Suarez is going to get some work in before the postseason, it’s going to come with the major-league club — something Braves beat reporter Mark Bowman confirmed on Tuesday.

This is actually something I’ve mentioned over the last month since Suarez ramped up his activities. Unlike position players and especially starting pitchers, relievers don’t really need rehab assignments. It’s typically nice to get them a few appearances against lesser competition before throwing them back into the fire, but in this case, the Braves would probably like to see him against major-league competition immediately before he pitches in a high-leverage situation come the playoffs.

Hopefully, Atlanta has an opportunity to ease him into things in low-pressure situations. The Braves currently have a 4.5-game lead in the NL East, which is really a 5.5-game lead because they own the tiebreaker over the Phillies. If they can essentially wrap things up in the coming days, the final week of the season could feel like an enhanced rehab assignment for Robert Suarez, giving the Braves a good idea of what they have in him before all the chips are on the table.

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(Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire)

The calls for Jack Strand are at an all-time high, and understandably so.

Cooper Rush just turned in one of the worst showings in NFL history. His 2.6 QBR was by far the worst mark of any signal caller in Week 1, but somehow, that number really doesn’t do his performance justice. He couldn’t even throw the ball past the line of scrimmage, and on the rare occasion the Falcons attempted to do so, disaster was usually around the corner.

There’s no right-minded individual who’s been around the game for very long that watched that performance and believes Cooper Rush should be on the field come Sunday. It’s also not like this is a new development. Rush started two games last year for the Ravens, and he averaged just 150 yards passing per game with no touchdowns and four interceptions.

The sample size is large enough that we know Rush is not a competent starting quarterback. At least with Strand there’s the possibility of untapped potential. The Falcons are going to lose anyway with Rush under center, so why not see what the new blood can provide? Strand at least has the tools from a physical standpoint to be successful.

Of course, all of this is a moot point if either Michael Penix Jr. or Tua Tagovailoa is cleared to play. We know Penix is healthy, but he decided to sit out Week 1, claiming he wasn’t mentally ready. We don’t know yet if that will be the case again, but Stefanski once again reiterated that Penix is cleared to play.

Hopefully that means Penix will be on the field Sunday. Not a lot of teams have dug themselves out of an 0-2 hole and made the postseason — and the task doesn’t get any easier in Week 3, with the Falcons traveling to Green Bay for a Thursday Night Football matchup with the Packers.

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(Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire)

On the one hand, there are a lot of positives to discuss surrounding the defense, and even Bijan Robinson continued tearing teams to shreds on the other side of the ball. However, the offense overall looked no better than what you’d find at your local high school here in Georgia, and the issues ran much deeper than just the quarterback.

Falcons Offensive Line

The Falcons have invested a ton of money into their offensive line, most recently making Matthew Bergeron the highest-paid guard in the league. Chris Lindstrom on the other side is up there as well, and Jake Matthews is also being paid handsomely at left tackle.

It didn’t look like it on Sunday. The Falcons were called for holding six times, with four of those penalties being accepted — both rank dead last in the league through one week. They also surrendered four sacks, which is pretty impressive considering Cooper Rush only dropped back 26 times, and more often than not, he was targeting a quick option in the flat.

The Steelers have a menacing defensive line, led by T.J. Watt — one of the best defensive players over the last decade. But several members of the Falcons offensive line are getting paid like the best at their respective positions, and all of them underwhelmed on Sunday. For now, we can chalk it up to a small sample size against a good defense with a quarterback who wasn’t doing them any favors, but they have to be way better moving forward, or this team is going to struggle to get to six wins.

Falcons Kicking Woes

Kicking woes doomed the Falcons on several occasions last year as they cycled through three different field goal kickers before finally landing on Zane Gonzalez, who brought some stability to the position, making 19 of 22 attempts over the final nine games.

But for whatever reason, that wasn’t good enough to keep him around. Instead, the new regime preferred 41-year-old Nick Folk, who looked every bit of his age in his first game with the Falcons, missing two of his four attempts. That ultimately was the difference in the game, because Atlanta found themselves looking for touchdowns in the fourth quarter instead of a go-ahead field goal.

Folk has been arguably the most reliable kicker in the league over the last three seasons. He entered Sunday’s game having missed only three field goals since the start of the 2023 campaign, so he’s earned a little bit of grace. That said, he’s coming up on 42 years old, and the cliff when kickers get to that age tends to be pretty steep once things start heading in the wrong direction.

Falcons Injuries

The offense has stayed mostly healthy up to this point. Chris Lindstrom did suffer a concussion in the loss and his status is up in the air for Week 2, but most of the concerns lie across the defensive front. James Pearce Jr. has seven more games to serve of his suspension. Jalon Walker is out for the season with a torn ACL, and now Da’Shawn Hand will also miss the remainder of the campaign after suffering a torn quad. The Falcons defensive front was spectacular against the Steelers, but they are running out of depth fast, which could rear its ugly head later in the season.

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(Photo by John Adams/Icon Sportswire)

Martin Perez got the ball on Tuesday night for Atlanta at Wrigley Field, and the game didn’t exactly get off to the most encouraging start. The Cubs began the scoring in the second and then added two more in the fourth, thanks to some shoddy defense from Mauricio Dubon. But Perez settled in after that and finished six innings without allowing any more damage — another strong outing for the veteran, who even shaved his ERA down a smidge to 3.07 on the season.

Offensively, there weren’t many signs of life for much of the evening, but everything changed in the sixth when Ronald Acuña Jr. lifted one over the left-field wall to put two runs on the board. His best friend, Ozzie Albies, then played a little game of copycat with a go-ahead two-run moonshot in the seventh. And for insurance, Drake Baldwin blasted a two-run homer in the ninth to make life much easier on Raisel Iglesias, who shut the door for his 33rd save of the season.

Meanwhile, the pesky Nationals topped the Phillies in Washington thanks to a couple of late home runs of their own, giving the Braves a 5.5-game lead in the NL East with 10 games the rest of the way. Which, if you’re counting at home, means Atlanta’s magic number to win the division is down to five.

Even more good news? With the Diamondbacks losing in extras to the Marlins late last night, the Braves’ magic number to clinch a spot in the postseason is now down to just two. The Braves will be back in the playoffs after a one-year hiatus, and as long as they avoid an epic collapse within the division, postseason baseball is returning to Truist Park.

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This is nothing short of brain-dead from the Atlanta Falcons, and while everybody wants to give the new regime the benefit of the doubt, decisions like this will lead to the fan base turning on them quickly.

Cooper Rush was historically bad in the Falcons’ season opener. He finished with a 2.6 QBR, yet somehow, that number really doesn’t do justice to the type of horrific quarterback play that was on display in Pittsburgh. Rush quite literally was incapable of throwing the ball past the line of scrimmage. By the end of the first quarter, the Falcons had pretty much put themselves in a box of running the football and tossing a pass out to Bijan Robinson in the flat.

That’s straight-up unacceptable, yet somehow Rush is not only still on the roster, but the Falcons are actually considering starting him again?

Everybody should be concerned with that kind of decision-making from the coaching staff, and they should also be quite pissed off that Michael Penix Jr. isn’t taking a bit more initiative to start under center against the Panthers. He’s a miles better option than Cooper Rush, someone who actually gives the Falcons a chance to win the game, and he’s healthy — yet he’s going to sit out again because he’s not quite ready mentally.

That doesn’t sound like a football player, and it certainly doesn’t sound like someone Atlanta should make the face of their franchise. If he’s not on the field against the Panthers, he might as well have one foot out the door.

Then there’s the Jack Strand aspect to all of this. He starred in the preseason, enough that the Falcons placed him on the 53-man roster, yet they don’t want to start him over Cooper Rush?

I’m not saying Strand is going to lead the Falcons to the playoffs. It’s a lot to ask of an undrafted rookie to come in and start immediately. But what I do know is Strand can at least throw the football further than five yards and also offers a ton with his legs that could help the Falcons offense at least keep defenses honest. He could play one of the worst games in the history of football this Sunday, and it still would be marginally better than what we saw out of Cooper Rush.

We’ll see what happens the rest of the week, but this is quickly becoming a stain for everyone involved — a terrible look for a new regime that sparked some confidence when they were hired, mainly because of Matt Ryan rejoining the organization in an executive role. Unfortunately, that’s only going to buy the organization so much grace from a restless fan base.

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(Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire)

After two full weeks of meaningful data points, we’re starting to learn which preseason assumptions were right, which teams were badly mispriced, and where the market still hasn’t fully caught up. Here’s what jumps out to me heading into Week 3, including a couple of point totals.

2026 record: 6-2

South Alabama -6 vs. Ohio

I’m rolling with South Alabama again this week. The Jaguars were one of my best bets last Saturday, and I came away impressed. South Alabama played well enough to beat Tulane outright, carrying the game deep into the fourth quarter before Tulane scored in the final 90 seconds to take the lead. More importantly, QB Bishop Davenport has looked steady through two games, taking care of the football and giving this offense a much higher floor than we saw in 2025.

Ohio, meanwhile, is coming off one of the more fortunate wins of this early season. The Bobcats survived Jacksonville State 29-27 in four overtimes, but the box score was dominated by the Gamecocks, and nearly every high-variance play seemed to break Ohio’s way. The Bobcats won the turnover battle, benefited from a failed Jax State fourth-down conversion, returned a kickoff for a touchdown, and then watched Garrison Rippa (one of the best G6 kickers) miss a 38-yard field goal that would have won the game. Ohio deserves credit for surviving, but there was heavy luck involved along the way.

Something to note is that Ohio just played four overtimes and now immediately has to travel to hot and steamy Mobile, and the Bobcats came out of last week pretty banged up. Starting QB Nick Poulos left in the second quarter after taking the hit that resulted in a targeting call, backup Matt Vezza also exited, and true freshman Levi Davis had to finish the game. Starting RB Duncan Brune was injured as well, while the secondary is dealing with issues involving key players DJ Walker, KJ Sejour and Eli Thompson. There’s no definitive update yet on several of those players, but that is a lot of uncertainty at important positions for a team making a road trip after an exhausting game.

Ohio has also been a very different team away from Athens. Peden Stadium has become one of the strongest home-field environments in the G6, with Ohio having an incredible 24-1 record at home since the start of 2022. Strange games have had a way of breaking in the Bobcats’ direction there, and last week certainly fit the pattern. But on the road over that same span, Ohio is only 12-13 straight up, including a 3-11 record as a road underdog. Simply put, there’s been a night-and-day difference between the Ohio we see at home versus on the road.

I like what I’ve seen from the Jags through two weeks, but this bet is just as much about fading an Ohio team that may be running on fumes. The Bobcats were outplayed last week, survived because of a string of favorable variance, and may now be missing key pieces on both sides of the ball. South Alabama has been competitive, and Davenport looks good alongside weapons RB Keenan Phillips and WR Brendan Jenkins. After watching Ohio squeak out that fortunate home win, I’m jumping at the chance to fade them, especially on the road.

West Virginia vs. Virginia — under 54.5 & 1H under 28

I’m staying away from the side in this one and instead backing a lower-scoring game between two offenses that are built to run the football. West Virginia has been one of the most run-heavy teams in the country under Rich Rodriguez, with roughly a 78% run rate through the early part of the season. Cam Cook, who was one of the best backs in the country last year at Jacksonville State, is the bellcow, while Oklahoma transfer Michael Hawkins gives the Mountaineers another major rushing threat at quarterback. Virginia wants to play a similar style. Tony Elliott has a deep stable of backs he is comfortable rotating, and QB Beau Pribula is a major part of the running game himself. In the Week 0 win over NC State, Pribula attempted only 11 passes but ran for 110 yards.

I also like what Virginia’s defense has shown so far. I was skeptical coming into the year after the Cavaliers lost a lot of talent from last season, but Elliott appears to have hit on several portal additions, particularly in the secondary. Michigan transfer Brandyn Hillman has fit in nicely alongside stars Ethan Minter and Corey Costner, and the defense should get even better with LB Kam Robinson returning from injury. NC State’s offense was completely overwhelmed in the opener, and through two games Virginia has allowed just one offensive play of 25-plus yards. John Rudzinski’s defense is making opponents earn everything slowly instead of giving up cheap explosives, and that is exactly what I want to see when betting an under.

The tempo also works in our favor. West Virginia does play fairly fast, which is not ideal for an under, but most of that pace comes through the running game and keeps the clock moving. Virginia is on the opposite end of the spectrum, averaging roughly 33 seconds per play, which is among the slowest offenses in the country. They are in no hurry to snap the football, and when Virginia is playing from ahead, Elliott is perfectly comfortable leaning on the run and shortening the game. Since the start of the 2024 season, Virginia games are 11-5-1 to the under when the Cavaliers are favored. With UVA laying around ten points here, the expected game script fits that trend well: establish the run, build a lead and make West Virginia drive the field against a defense that has done an excellent job limiting explosive plays.

I also like the first-half under for many of the same reasons. Both teams are making a small step up in competition. Virginia is coming off a bye week and then a blowout of FCS Norfolk State, meaning this is its first legitimate test since seeing NC State. West Virginia has opened with Coastal Carolina and FCS Tennessee-Martin. I expect some feeling-out early as both teams try to establish the run, and that could make the first half move very slowly. I see some long possessions, limited explosives and enough defensive resistance to keep this from turning into a track meet.

Ball State @ Liberty — under 52

Don’t expect a ton of points here, mainly because of the offensive tempo. Ball State is around 91st nationally in seconds per play, while Liberty is down around 130th, putting the Flames among the ten slowest offenses in the country. Ball State is extremely run-heavy and almost service-academy-like in its approach, while Liberty also wants to establish the ground game, so the basic setup points toward long possessions, a running clock and fewer total drives. The market has already moved in that direction, with the total opening around 53.5 before getting bet down toward 49.5. I would still play the under at any number above 49, and I was happy to grab it at 52.

Liberty’s offense simply has not looked good through two games. The Flames scored only 13 points against James Madison and struggled to sustain drives, then barely escaped FCS Gardner-Webb 24-23 as a massive favorite. That performance included 11 penalties, two turnovers and a 2-for-12 mark on third down. Liberty scored touchdowns on plays of 65 and 54 yards, while another touchdown came after a turnover gave the offense the ball at the Gardner-Webb 20. Outside of those explosive plays and short fields, the Flames had a difficult time putting together consistent offense. QB Deshawn Purdie has not looked comfortable, and Liberty even turned to backup Jaylen Henderson late, which adds another layer of uncertainty to an offense already struggling to stay on schedule.

I have Ball State power rated as the second-worst team in FBS (ahead of Sacramento State), which is the main reason I’m not simply taking the points with the Cardinals. Their offense did look much cleaner against Stony Brook, and an offensive line that allowed a MAC-worst 49 sacks last season finally looked functional, but I still don’t trust Ball State to play from behind — and that actually helps the under. Liberty will hunt explosive passes and has been successful so far this season, while Ball State is vulnerable to give them up. The Cardinals are not built to suddenly abandon the run and start chasing points through the air. Should Ball State fall behind quickly, they will likely struggle to claw back into the game instead of turning this into a shootout.

Explosive passes are the biggest threat to the under, and Liberty may be able to create easy points over the top. But the flip side is that the Flames have needed those explosives to score efficiently because they have been so poor at sustaining drives. If Ball State can prevent two or three huge plays, this has all the ingredients of an ugly, slow game filled with runs and long possessions. Liberty travels to Coastal Carolina on a short week the following Thursday, and if the Flames get control of this game, there is little incentive to keep pushing offensively when they can lean on the run, drain the clock and get out healthy. I considered Ball State +14.5, but I don’t trust the Cardinals’ offense enough if they fall behind. The cleaner way to play this matchup is the total.

Other Bets/Thoughts

EMU @ Wisconsin, Under 49 — I’m taking the under in Madison, where wind and rain are expected. This EMU offense has been dreadful to start the season and could only muster seven points in East Lansing last weekend. Expect the same here.

Kentucky +10 1H @ Texas A&M — I think A&M is slightly overrated after benefiting from four touchdowns off special teams or turnovers last week vs Arizona State. Kentucky hung around for a while with Alabama and can do the same here. The key is UK DC Jay Bateman, who comes from A&M and knows the Marcel Reed offense well.

North Carolina @ Clemson, Under 43.5 — Not sure who to trust here, but I think it’ll be low-scoring. From a side perspective, I like Bobby Petrino much more than Chad Morris. I can’t believe how far Clemson has fallen.

Minnesota -23.5 vs Akron — The Gophers looked awful last week, but I think Mississippi St could be really good. Akron can’t stop this Darius Taylor rushing attack for four quarters, and Minnesota will respond in a big way. PJ Fleck is 8-2 ATS at Minnesota when laying 21 points or more.

Purdue +15 @ UCLA — Has anyone seen the Bruins offense recently? It’s not been great. Purdue looks competent and has an offense that can score enough to cover here. My ratings have UCLA -10, so I’ll take the points.

NC State +3.5 @ Vanderbilt — This is a season-defining spot for the Wolfpack, and I expect a desperate team. Vanderbilt is much worse than I originally thought, although Jared Curtis at QB does add some pop to the offense. I lean Wolfpack.

Ole Miss +3 vs LSU — LSU has looked great, but doesn’t that say more about who they’ve played? This line has moved around five points since it posted in the summer, and that feels like a little too much for me. Should be back and forth, so I’ll lean to the home team and the better quarterback who could have the ball last.

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(Photo by Matthew Maxey/Icon Sportswire)

There’s been a lot of understandable commotion surrounding the Falcons quarterback situation. Kevin Stefanski said earlier in the week that all four quarterbacks could potentially get the nod, but it’s always felt like things were trending towards Rush starting for the second consecutive week despite his woeful performance against the Steelers.

Michael Penix Jr. isn’t quite comfortable enough with his knee yet to play, even though he’s been cleared to do so by the doctors. Tua Tagovailoa is dealing with an oblique injury, which is always a difficult injury to come back from. And while the fan base would love to see undrafted rookie Jack Strand, it never appeared the coaching staff seriously considered him as an option.

That’s discouraging, because the entire world knows what Cooper Rush is, and that’s not a competent starting quarterback. He’s made three starts over the last two seasons, throwing for just one touchdown compared to six interceptions. Rush couldn’t even complete a pass past the line of scrimmage last week, severely handicapping what the Falcons could do offensively.

Perhaps he’s better in Week 2, and for the coaching staff’s sake, he better be. This is the first major test for the new regime — one they are failing miserably through one week.

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(Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire)

Entering the season, Spencer Schwellenbach, Hurston Waldrep, AJ Smith-Shawver, JR Ritchie, and Owen Murphy were all on the radar as potential significant pieces to the rotation. Schwellenbach entered Spring Training expected to be the #2, and Waldrep showed some real promise down the stretch last season. Both were injured about a month before the start of the season and combined to make just three appearances.

AJ Smith-Shawver finally made his return from Tommy John surgery in August but has been mostly erratic since rejoining the Braves, which is to be expected for someone who did not pitch for 14 months. There remains a lot of promise for his future, but as far as this season is concerned, he’s probably not someone the Braves are going to trust in big moments in October, even if he’s still in the conversation for the playoff roster.

JR Ritchie and Owen Murphy are two more pitchers who both look like they are a year away. Ritchie got the start last night for the Braves against the Cubs. It was his first appearance with the major-league club since August 2nd, and Chicago thrashed him for six earned runs over 4.2 innings. He’ll likely get another look before the season ends because he cannot be optioned anymore this year without having to clear waivers, but the Braves have seen enough to know he’s not quite ready for the big stage.

The only young arm that’s experienced success has been Didier Fuentes, blossoming into one of the best setup men in all of baseball. It’s impossible to say anything negative about the rookie campaign he’s put together. He’ll be an integral piece to the Braves next month, but it’s hard not to wonder what he might have been able to provide if the club had elected to stretch him out. A three-headed monster of Chris Sale, Didier Fuentes, and Tyler Mahle really doesn’t sound too shabby with the way they’ve performed of late.

When looking at the last five or six seasons, few organizations have been better at developing starting pitching than the Atlanta Braves. Seemingly every year at least one of their young arms flashes frontline potential. Unfortunately, keeping them healthy has been an entirely different story. Didier Fuentes is no consolation prize. In fact, he could be the best of the bunch when it’s all said and done, but given how the Braves operated in free agency — failing to acquire a single starting pitcher — it’s fair to assume they expected a ton more from their young starting pitching.

They essentially got nothing, and it’s left them with more questions than answers entering October.

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(Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire)

That will make a lot of the fan base more hopeful after what happened this past weekend against Pittsburgh, but the best possible scenario remains Michael Penix Jr. returning to the field. He’s been cleared to play, but in response to those questioning his decision not to suit up, he reminded everybody on Wednesday that it’s ultimately his decision.

Penix is right, and there must be some level of understanding when it comes to his injury history. This is a player who has suffered five season-ending injuries dating back to his college days, including three different ACL surgeries. It’s natural for a mental barrier to exist.

However, that’s not going to go over well with a restless fan base that has watched the Falcons miss the playoffs every season since 2017, and it’s also more than fair to question how sitting out is going to help him get over this mental barrier. It’s not as if he’s getting hit in practice. Penix isn’t going to really feel comfortable with the knee until bullets are flying and he takes that first hit, which is only going to happen in a game setting.

The fan base seems to be split in two on this issue. Some are okay with Penix taking as much time as possible to feel 100% comfortable until he plays. Others wonder how he can continue to sit on the sidelines while cleared after watching the disaster class the Falcons offense put on live television against the Steelers.

Both can make valid points in their respective arguments, but ultimately, Penix has made it very clear he has no intention of playing until he feels ready, even if the team continues to suffer because of it.

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Atlanta fell behind early with Chris Sale on the bump — a rare occurrence this season, as the former Cy Young award winner surrendered three runs in the second inning, thanks to a Derek Hill bases-clearing double. And for most of the evening, it felt like the Braves’ offensive woes were going to carry into the weekend.

But an Austin Riley laser over the left-field wall gave the club some life in the seventh, and the tying run came across in the ninth when Sean Murphy singled to center. A late night got even later with extra innings. Both teams brought across a run in the tenth, and the Phillies did the same in the eleventh to take back a one-run lead.

The bottom half of the inning began with two quick outs, setting the table for probably the most unexpected hero in Major League Baseball this season. Ha-Seong Kim came up with a walk-off hit a few weeks ago against the Dodgers; he then had another massive hit in the Braves’ win on Thursday against the Rays, and he did it again against the Phillies — roping a ball into left field to tie the game.

That gave way to Drake Baldwin, and the All-Star catcher did not disappoint.

The win gives the Braves a 5.0-game lead in the NL East, which is really a 6.0-game lead because the Braves own the tiebreaker after taking the season series between the two clubs. With about two weeks left to play, as the infamous Sal Licata would say, “The NL East is OVER.”

The Phillies seem to see the writing on the wall. After the game, they announced Jesus Luzardo, who threw a complete-game shutout against the Braves last week, will not make his scheduled start on Saturday for extra rest. That’s probably not something that would have happened had the Phillies found a way to win last night.

Additionally, we got another update on the injury to Lane Thomas from Gabe Burns of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Thomas suffered an intercostal strain and was placed on the IL. Typically, that requires at least a month of downtime, but the veteran outfielder is going to try to push the envelope to return for the Braves’ postseason run.

“There’s a range for obliques and intercostals — four to six weeks, I feel like — but some injections can speed that up potentially,” Thomas said. “So that’s the information I’m going to get from the doctor on Sunday.”

Walt Weiss said before the game that Thomas’ injury will lead to more playing time for Ha-Seong Kim, with Mauricio Dubon spending more time in the outfield. Given the number of clutch hits Kim has provided since returning from the Injured List, it may end up working out just fine, but more depth is never a bad thing. Hopefully Thomas can make it back at some point in October.

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Photo: David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire

Stefanski would add that Tagovailoa is week-to-week, but oblique injuries are always tricky and can oftentimes take north of a month to heal. After all the hoopla leading up to this moment, it’s possible Tagovailoa never takes a snap under center in Atlanta.

For Cooper Rush, this will be his 17th NFL start. The most he’s ever made in a season was back in 2024, when he started eight games for the Dallas Cowboys, leading them to a respectable 4-4 record with 1,844 passing yards and 12 touchdowns to five interceptions. Last season, Rush made two starts for the Ravens, going 0-2 with just 303 passing yards, zero touchdowns, and four interceptions.

Let’s hope the Falcons see the Dallas version of Rush on Sunday, or things might get really interesting. Undrafted rookie Jack Strand has already cemented his status as a folk hero for his tremendous work during the preseason. If Rush struggles mightily in Week 1, the calls to see Strand are only going to grow louder, and I’m not sure the Falcons should be so against the idea.

At least with Strand, there is the unknown possibility of something special. He has physical attributes few quarterbacks in the league can match. With Rush, the Falcons know exactly what they are getting, and it’s not exactly high-level quarterback play.

Outside of the quarterback room, Atlanta is entering the season rather unscathed in terms of injuries. Billy Bowman Jr. will not play as he nurses his way back from an Achilles injury. That was always likely given he just returned to practice; however, Za’Darius Smith, Brandon Dorlus, Kendal Daniels, Zachariah Branch, and Jawaan Taylor were all full participants on Friday. They will be on the field come Sunday.

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AJ Smith-Shawver was seen in the bullpen over the weekend as Atlanta squared off with Philadelphia. Given the struggles he’s had as a starter since returning from Tommy John surgery, this feels like a natural transition. His stuff can still play over one inning, and the numbers back that up. Opponents are hitting just .111 with a .586 OPS against Smith-Shawver in the first inning of his five starts this season.

Reynaldo Lopez will get the start tonight in the series opener against the Chicago Cubs, and this might be his last opportunity to start a game if he doesn’t look a lot better than he did against the Tampa Bay Rays his last time out, allowing six earned runs over 4.2 innings.

Martin Perez will go Tuesday, and for now, the Braves have yet to announce a starting pitcher for Wednesday’s game.

Chris Sale would be on regular rest, so he is an option, but Atlanta has preferred to give him extra rest between starts as we come down the stretch, which could open up an opportunity for JR Ritchie, who really seems to have found his footing in Gwinnett recently. Over his last six starts, he’s allowed two runs or fewer in five of them, and he’s coming off a performance in which he tossed six innings of one-run ball with nine strikeouts. The Braves very well might want to see him against major-league competition before the season ends to gauge whether he could play some type of role for them come October.

The good news is the Braves have four guys who continue to throw the hell out of the ball every time they toe the rubber. Chris Sale has been the second-best pitcher in baseball this season. Martin Perez has been a godsend, particularly at home, where he owns a 0.28 ERA over his last six starts — the best mark by a Braves starting pitcher since 1912. Tyler Mahle has been the acquisition of the entire trade deadline, and Grant Holmes has five shutout outings in his last eight starts.

The fifth spot remains a revolving door, but that’s the case for a lot of teams across Major League Baseball this time of year.

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The rookie Murphy showed some promise earlier in the season with the major-league club over a small sample size, posting a 4.05 ERA over 6.2 innings. However, he really seems to have found his footing down in Gwinnett, giving up just four combined runs over his last five starts.

According to Mark Bowman, Murphy will be utilized out of the bullpen over the next couple of days, suggesting he’s more of a placeholder with the Braves being short on relief arms.

Falter getting designated for assignment is a bit of poor luck. The Braves acquired him in a trade with the Royals at the deadline and immediately optioned him to Triple-A Gwinnett, where he did not give up a run over 10.2 innings. That earned him a call to the major-league club, where he also didn’t give up a run over 3.1 innings. He’s tossed 14 scoreless innings in the Braves organization, but unfortunately that was not enough to keep him around with the team needing fresh arms against a potent offensive club like the Cubs.

It’s possible Falter clears waivers and remains with the organization. At the very least, he’s solid organizational depth the Braves could use as the season wanes to keep some of their better arms fresh for the postseason.

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Atlanta’s 20-13 loss on Sunday was an embarrassment to the game. Third-string quarterback Cooper Rush was thrust into a starting role due to the injuries to Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa, and he didn’t look like someone who belongs within 20 feet of an NFL sideline.

The stat line wasn’t horrendous. Rush finished 12/22 for 143 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, but those numbers don’t really capture just how unreliable he was under center. The Falcons could not call a pass beyond the line of scrimmage. It looked like Rush was throwing a medicine ball out there, and the Steelers defense quickly realized they didn’t even have to play defense on the back end, focusing exclusively on Bijan Robinson in the backfield.

Which is what makes Robinson’s performance even more impressive. The entire world knew where the ball was going, and he still finished with over 170 yards from scrimmage — split evenly between rushing and receiving — with the Falcons’ lone touchdown on the afternoon, a swing pass that he took 23 yards to the end zone towards the end of the first quarter.

That same pass from Rush actually led to another touchdown later in the game. Unfortunately, it involved TJ Watt going the other way on a throw that was just a dismal effort — tossed with the same velocity you’d find at a youth football game, and that might be disrespecting some of the kids out there.

Which begs the question: were the Falcons ever considering a debut for undrafted rookie Jack Strand? It undoubtedly would have been a tough spot to throw him in there, but it was very obvious early on that Cooper Rush gave Atlanta zero chance of winning unless Pittsburgh completely pissed down their leg. At least with Strand, the threat of a pass past the line of scrimmage would have existed, and he also offers a lot with his legs that would have taken some attention off of Bijan Robinson.

According to head coach Kevin Stefanski, however, that was never something they considered. Instead, they were willing to punt the entire game, because as I will continue to reiterate, Cooper Rush had no business playing in an NFL game yesterday, and if we’re being real, he has no business staying on the Falcons’ roster past this week. It was hands down the worst quarterback performance I’ve seen with my two eyes in my 30 years on this earth, and I had to watch Desmond Ridder start an entire season not long ago.

But that leads us to the much bigger issue at hand: why was Michael Penix Jr. not playing?

Penix was cleared for 11-on-11 work a few weeks ago after suffering a torn ACL last season. He said he’s not quite feeling 100% yet, which is why he opted against playing, but whatever he’s feeling has nothing to do with him being healthy. There is not a world where the Falcons would clear him to play if he wasn’t healthy. This isn’t a hamstring strain; it’s a surgically repaired knee — the third of Penix’s career. If he wasn’t 100%, he wouldn’t be cleared to play.

The issue, as Penix has said several times leading up to the season, is the mental hurdle of getting back on the field and taking hits. It’s a completely reasonable concern given all he’s undergone in the injury department, but that’s something he needs to get over, and fast. A hesitant Michael Penix Jr. is still better than whatever the hell we were forced to watch on Sunday, and he’s not going to get any more mentally ready by sitting on the sideline while this team looks more inept than Buford High School would offensively.

There’s no reason Penix shouldn’t be the starting quarterback for the Falcons’ Week 2 matchup with the Panthers, and if he isn’t, it’s fair to say we have our answer on whether he can be a franchise cornerstone moving forward.

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Atlanta did enough good things to win, but they were ultimately let down by abysmal quarterback play, a gaudy number of penalties, and multiple missed kicks. It’s almost impossible to win with one of those three things occurring, let alone all three. Yet somehow the Falcons found themselves in possession of the ball and an opportunity to tie the game. The only way for that to happen is if there were some positive aspects, and a few things stood out.

The Bijan Robinson Show

When Cooper Rush was named the starting quarterback, we knew it was going to be a heavy dose of Bijan Robinson from the jump. But so did the Steelers, and they really couldn’t do anything to stop him as he racked up north of 170 yards from scrimmage and scored the team’s only touchdown. This is the best running back in football, and Robinson could put up video game numbers this season if Penix can return and at least keep defenses honest with his arm.

Za’Darius Smith Masterclass

The Falcons defense as a whole played about as well as it possibly could have given the circumstances. They only gave up 13 points, and seven of them came off a turnover that gave Pittsburgh an extraordinarily short field. This game would have been ten times worse without them, and veteran pass rusher Za’Darius Smith was arguably the unit’s top performer, racking up two sacks and three tackles for loss. That’s already more sacks than he had in five games with the Eagles last year before he retired.

The Falcons signed Smith out of necessity about a month before the start of the season because of the injury to Jalon Walker. It was about as good as they could have possibly done that late in the offseason, and though it’s just one week, it looks like Smith should be able to fill the void pretty competently.

2026 Rookie Class

I wrote last week how the 2026 rookie class — despite the Falcons not having a pick until the second round — could play a massive role immediately, and that was on full display on Sunday. Avieon Terrell looks like he’s going to be a fixture in Atlanta’s secondary for a long time. The preseason hype surrounding Kendal Daniels proved warranted as he got the start next to Divine Deablo and was the team’s best middle linebacker. And while Zachariah Branch wasn’t really involved offensively because of the quarterback situation, he looked very dangerous as a punt returner. Hopefully we’ll get to see a lot more from him as a receiver whenever Penix or Tua is deemed healthy enough to return to the field.

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Saying Tyler Mahle is better than Tarik Skubal might be a bit of a stretch, but Francoeur’s statement does carry some weight when evaluating the context.

There’s no arguing who has been better up to this point. Mahle owns a 1.25 ERA in his seven starts since being traded, while Skubal has experienced a bump or two since moving to Los Angeles, boasting a 2.93 ERA over the same number of appearances.

Then, when you take into account the price, the question of who was the better trade deadline acquisition really becomes a no-brainer. The Braves got Mahle in what was essentially a salary dump. All they had to do was give up a journeyman reliever and pick up the remaining $2 million left on his salary for this season. Meanwhile, Skubal cost multiple top-100 prospects, and the Dodgers are on the hook for nearly $10 million.

Of course, if Skubal ends up being an integral piece to another Dodgers World Series run, the tune of this debate would change pretty quickly. But right now, Tyler Mahle has been the addition of the entire trade deadline, and if he pitches like he has over the last six weeks come October, he could go down as one of the better midseason acquisitions of all time. Alex Anthopoulos may not be perfect, but this was incredible work by the Braves front office to find a really talented starting pitcher for basically nothing.

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According to Ian Rapoport, Da’Shawn Hand is believed to have suffered a torn quad that could require surgery.

Hand played sparingly on Sunday before going down with the injury, seeing the field for just seven snaps. Despite that, the Falcons defense — particularly when it comes to stopping the run — was among the bright spots against the Steelers, who managed just 58 yards on the ground on 21 attempts.

That was a problem area for the Falcons a year ago, and they spent a lot of their resources this offseason focusing on getting bigger along the interior defensive front. Still, this is a pretty thin group that really couldn’t afford to lose a significant piece like Hand so early in the year, especially after already losing Jalon Walker for the season to a torn ACL.

With this news, defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich‘s job just got that much more difficult. The Falcons defense played about as well as it possibly could have on Sunday, and they still lost by seven points to a team that’s far from a legitimate contender. The offense must be miles better moving forward, because expecting that kind of result every week from a defense that’s already down three starters is not realistic.

Breach Inlet Capital is urging Atlanta Braves Holdings to pursue a sale of the Braves, citing the skyrocketing value of franchises across sports and a potential MLB lockout looming in the winter.

“Breach Inlet Capital Management, LLC (“Breach Inlet Capital” or “we”) is a top 20 institutional shareholder of Atlanta Braves Holdings (“BATRK” or the “Company”),” a public letter from Breach Inlet Capital to the Board of Directors read, via Business Wire. “We have been patient, long-term investors in the Company for nearly a decade. However, we believe the timing is optimal to pursue a sale of BATRK for the reasons outlined below. While we appreciate that John Malone has effective voting control of the Company, the Board’s fiduciary duties obligate it to act in the best interest of all shareholders. We hope and trust that Mr. Malone and most shareholders would be aligned with our recommendation. We urge the Board to diligently consider all options, including our recommendation for a sale process.”

Breach Inlet Capital specifically mentions the Seattle Seahawks’ recent sale at $9.6 billion as an example of the surging sale prices of sports franchises. The Lakers also recently sold for a record $12.5 billion, and while no MLB franchise is likely to challenge those two, the Padres recently sold for $3.9 billion and the Angels sold for $4 billion — figures the Braves could certainly target to eclipse given their stronghold on the entire market in the Southeast and The Battery, which has become a case study for new arena ventures across all sports.

The letter continues by addressing a potential lockout in the winter. Major League Baseball has done a tremendous job in recent years of increasing popularity, headlined by new rules like the pitch clock, which have helped speed up the time of games. The momentum around the sport has moved forward like a freight train as a result, but a lengthy lockout — like most expect is on the horizon — would bring that positive charge to a screeching halt and then some.

“But this momentum could face a near-term headwind,” the letter continued. “The MLB’s Collective Bargaining Agreement expires December 1, 2026. Many team owners want a salary cap like other leagues, while players appear adamantly opposed. The consensus view seems to be that this will lead to a lockout. That will be the case if history is a guide. When owners and players last fought over a salary cap in 1994, the players went on strike for 239 days, causing the World Series to be canceled for the first time since 1904. MLB attendance did not exceed its 1993 peak until 13 years later in 2006.

“BATRK’s Board (and John Malone) should not hope that history does not repeat itself and should instead capitalize on the MLB’s current momentum ahead of a potential extended lockout.”

For most fans who follow the Braves closely, a sale of the team would be welcome news. This team generates gobs of cash year after year, and yet the commitment to winning from a payroll perspective doesn’t always seem to be there — at least not in regard to the way the team spends in free agency.

However, while I do feel like a sale of the Braves is probable at some point down the line, I would urge disgruntled fans to be careful what they wish for. This is a club that currently sits sixth in the league in payroll at $260 million. That’s nearly triple where they were a decade ago, so the idea that the Braves are among the cheaper teams in the sport is only for those who refuse to look at the facts.

Could the Braves stand to spend a little more? Of course, but there are a lot more abysmal owners across the four major sports than there are quality ones. The grass isn’t always greener on the other side.

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ESPN recently polled 16 executives and scouts about a number of topics regarding the postseason, including the National League’s team to beat, with the Braves not receiving a single vote. Now, given how strong the NL is, that’s not totally surprising, but it is when considering the Brewers led the way with six votes, the Phillies also received four, and even the Cubs got a vote. It wasn’t all Dodgers, who received the second-most votes behind Milwaukee.

The Braves did receive a couple of votes for “sleeper team” in the National League, but even in that area they were outpaced by the Padres by five votes, with the Cubs also receiving two more votes.

If you went solely by this article, it’d almost be hard to tell that the Braves are even set to compete in the playoffs. They were barely mentioned, but are the executives and scouts included in this poll all that wrong?

October is often defined by pitching and timely hitting. This is a group that’s battle-tested, but it’s not as if they’ve performed their best when the lights have shined on them. The Braves haven’t won a playoff series since 2021 despite making it three times, and nobody is going to buy into this pitching staff on paper. Tyler Mahle, Martin Perez, and Grant Holmes have all been unbelievable for Atlanta this season, but the outside world is right to question whether that can continue against the best offenses in the playoffs.

Perhaps the best case for the Braves to surprise people next month is that baseball is an unpredictable, weird sport, and postseason heroes often come from unsuspecting places. Nothing exemplifies that better than Atlanta’s run back in 2021. That was arguably the worst playoff roster the Braves have had since 2018, yet that happened to be the team that climbed to the top of the mountain, thanks to unforgettable performances from Eddie Rosario, Jorge Soler, Tyler Matzek, and Ian Anderson.

None of those players have been relevant in the league since, but for one month five years ago you would have thought they were destined for the Hall of Fame. The Braves have enough talent to beat anybody. They’ve held up well against the best teams in the National League all season, and you don’t win 90+ games without some special players. But the doubt from the outside world is understandable and, dare I say, warranted given how inconsistently this team has performed over the past four months.

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Elder deserves a lot of credit for what he’s done this year. The Braves desperately needed someone to step up in the wake of several major injuries to the rotation, and he’s gone out and delivered every five nights more often than not. Without him, the Braves might not be sitting here in first place today.

That said, acting as if Elder will return in a month and make an impact in the playoffs is probably not a realistic scenario. He was already a fringe guy for the roster — not somebody who was likely to start a postseason game, and unlikely to contribute out of the bullpen as well, given he has zero experience as a reliever.

Elder’s season is almost certainly over unless some unexpected injuries arise down the line.

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Falcons Week 1 Depth Chart

Quarterbacks 

• Tua Tagovailoa — QB1
• Cooper Rush — QB2
• Jack Strand — QB3
• Michael Penix Jr. — QB4 (Will Be Inactive)

Running Backs

• Bijan Robinson — RB1
• Brian Robinson Jr. — RB2

Wide Receivers

• Drake London — WR1 (Starter)
• Jahan Dotson — WR2 (Starter)
• Olamide Zaccheaus — WR3 (Starter)
• Zachariah Branch — WR4
• Chris Blair — WR5

Tight Ends

• Kyle Pitts — TE1 (Starter)
• Charlie Woerner — TE2 (Starter)
• Austin Hooper — TE3

Left Tackle 

• Jake Matthews — LT1
• Michael Jerrell — LT2
• Cameron Williams — LT3

Left Guard 

• Matthew Bergeron — LG1
• Kyle Hinton — LG2

Center 

• Ryan Neuzil — C1
• Corey Levin — C2

Right Guard 

• Chris Lindstrom — RG1

Right Tackle 

• Jawaan Taylor — RT1
• Michael Jerrell — RT2
• Ethan Onianwa — RT3

Defensive End

• Cameron Thomas — Starter
• Brandon Dorlus — Starter
• Za’Darius Smith — Backup
• Samson Ebukam — Backup
• Yasir Abdullah — Reserve
• Jared Ivey — Reserve

Defensive Tackle

• Maason Smith — Starter
• LaCale London — Starter
• Gervon Dexter Sr. — Backup
• Da’Shawn Hand — Backup

Linebacker

• Divine Deablo — Starter
• Kendal Daniels — Starter
• Harold Perkins Jr. — Backup
• Christian Harris — Backup
• Josh Woods — Reserve

Cornerback

• A.J. Terrell — CB1
• Mike Hughes — CB2
• Avieon Terrell — Nickel (Starter)
• C.J. Henderson — Backup
• Billy Bowman Jr. — Backup
• Mike Ford Jr. — Backup
• Malcom Dewalt IV — Reserve

Safety 

• Jessie Bates III — Starter
• Xavier Watts — Starter
• DeMarcco Hellams — Backup
• Sydney Brown — Backup

Special Teams 

• Nick Folk — K
• Jake Bailey — P
• Liam McCullough — LS

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The Falcons didn’t reinvent the wheel here. Almost all of these were expected, but the one pleasant surprise is the decision to name rookie Kendal Daniels a starter immediately out of the gate. He’ll get the bulk of the reps next to Divine Deablo at inside linebacker, and if the preseason is any indication, Daniels could end up being the best story of the entire season.

Another Falcons rookie, second-round selection Avieon Terrell, is also in line to get the nod for Week 1, which means he will be sharing the secondary with his brother A.J. Terrell.

Much like the pass rush was a beaming bright light of positivity for the Falcons a year ago, the secondary could be the same for the team this season. It’s a really quality mix of elite talent, veteran experience, and high draft picks with immense upside. If the Falcons defense turns out being much better than the rest of the league might expect, the secondary is going to have a big hand in that development.

One rookie who is a bit further down the depth chart than some might have expected is Zachariah Branch. He’s listed as the backup to Olamide Zaccheaus, but given the Falcons are only carrying five receivers, I expect him to get some touches early on in the season. The explosive aspect he can bring to this offense should earn him a lot of playing time.

Back to the defensive side, you might notice Gervon Dexter Sr. and Za’Darius Smith are both listed as backups at their respective positions. However, I would expect them to get a lot of run this Sunday. The defensive line is always a highly rotational group that will see a lot of different faces in and out of the game. I wouldn’t put a lot of weight into where they are on the Week 1 depth chart.

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I am not going to say I disagree with any of those points. Most of them are true, but this is the NFL, and the Falcons still have a ton of talent on the roster with an opportunity to start 1-0 against a team that has plenty of flaws of its own.

The Falcons’ Rushing Attack

Could I really start listing off positives without focusing on arguably the best player in all of football, Bijan Robinson? He’s the star of the show, and with the Falcons limited at the quarterback position, Kevin Stefanski isn’t going to try and hide who they want to get the ball to. This is a head coach who had no problem handing the ball off 300 times per season to Nick Chubb while he was in Cleveland, but unlike Chubb, Robinson can also be a weapon in the passing game. He should get 25+ touches in this one as long as the Falcons manage to keep it close.

A Potentially Elite Secondary?

I’ve said it a couple of times leading up to the season, but the Falcons’ secondary is going to be last year’s version of the pass rush. Xavier Watts and Jessie Bates III make up one of the most intimidating safety duos in the league. Both have a nose for the football and could potentially change this Week 1 matchup in favor of the Falcons. But for the first time in a while, the cornerback room also adds some intrigue.

A.J. Terrell leads the group as one of the premier talents at the position. Mike Hughes has proven to be a serviceable veteran. Avieon Terrell joins the room as a rookie — he’ll get the nod as the team’s starting nickel corner. And while we don’t know if Billy Bowman Jr. will play in Week 1, he’ll certainly have a say as the season progresses, giving the Falcons some enticing depth at a spot they haven’t had it in a long time.

There are obviously still some unknowns with this group, but it’s the one area I feel comfortable buying into on the defensive side of the ball.

The Start of a New Regime

The first game of a new era is always exciting, especially when it’s led by a Falcons legend in Matt Ryan. Everybody wants this to work out, and while the previous regime made it nearly impossible for Atlanta to put together a roster worthy of legitimate contention, we can still learn a lot about this regime in year one — particularly head coach Kevin Stefanski. This is a former two-time Coach of the Year who led the Browns to the playoffs not once but twice. So why can’t he keep the Falcons competitive in a weak NFC South? We’ll get our first glimpse of it all this Sunday.

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Robert Suarez began his throwing program over a month ago. The Braves have taken things very cautiously with him, but he’s now firing bullpens pain-free. The next step is to face live batting practice before beginning a rehab assignment.

Let’s say Suarez threw a couple of sessions to live hitters this week. That would put him on track to begin a rehab assignment with just two weeks remaining in the regular season. That’s still enough time for him to return during the regular season and get his feet wet against major-league hitting before the temperature heats up exponentially during the postseason.

Because he’s a reliever, and he’s already throwing bullpen sessions, his rehab assignment really shouldn’t be a lengthy one. I would actually argue he doesn’t even need one.

Regardless, the more pressing questions surround how Robert Suarez might look after such a lengthy layoff. He hasn’t pitched since mid-June and was shut down completely for about two months. Before the injury, he was arguably the most dominant reliever in all of baseball, pitching to a 0.56 ERA over 31 appearances. If the Braves are getting that guy back, their bullpen is going to be a weapon that Walt Weiss can wield early and often throughout a playoff series.

But expecting Suarez to jump back in like nothing happened might be wishful thinking.

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The offense — as has been the case more often than not for a long time — couldn’t get anything going. They mustered just one run, and when that happens, there’s basically no chance of winning. I will say they hit the ball hard everywhere, but it was one of those nights where nothing could find a hole or green grass.

Still, they have to find a way to be better down the stretch. They are performing nowhere near their potential, and if things don’t take a turn for the better quickly, they’ll be headed for another first-round exit come October.

The story of the night, though, was AJ Smith-Shawver — and not in a good way. The 23-year-old was making his fifth start for the Braves since returning from Tommy John surgery, and just about every outing has looked like a mirror image of the last. He’s still throwing way too many uncompetitive pitches, giving up too many free passes, and can’t miss bats consistently.

Junior Caminero and Liam Hicks provided most of the damage against Smith-Shawver with two home runs. He would only allow four runs in total but needed 81 pitches to get through just 3.1 innings.

Smith-Shawver now owns a 7.71 ERA this season. He’s averaging just over 4.0 innings per start, giving up nearly 11 hits per nine innings, 5.6 walks, and 1.7 home runs. Those numbers are gaudy in any scenario, and they are especially discouraging when you’re unable to strike guys out — he’s averaging 7.7 strikeouts per nine innings.

The Braves understandably would like to give AJ Smith-Shawver as much runway as possible leading up to the postseason. There’s a world where his talented arm could give them something, especially over an extended seven-game series. And everybody should be reminded it’s his fifth start since spending 14 months on the shelf. It should be expected that he’s not anywhere close to the top of his game.

But continuing to trot him out as a starting pitcher doesn’t make a lot of sense right now. The Braves did lose Bryce Elder to knee surgery, which takes away an option in the rotation, but they are gaining one in Reynaldo Lopez. That gives them five quality starters who can take the team the rest of the way as they try to finish off the division.

Smith-Shawver could still have a role for this club out of the bullpen. Opponents are hitting just .111 against him with a .576 OPS in the first inning. But as a starting pitcher this year, it’s probably best for the Braves to continue with their other options.

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They say the biggest improvement a college football team makes comes between Week 1 and Week 2, and now we finally have a meaningful data point on every team to go along with what we thought entering the season.

For what it’s worth, there has already been some wild line movement heading into Week 2. Back in July, I bet Oklahoma +3 at Michigan as a look-ahead line, and after Michigan basically lost to Western Michigan, that number has completely flipped to Oklahoma -6.5. I also grabbed Air Force +6 at home against North Dakota St when that line opened Sunday–and that would probably be my favorite bet of the weekend if the number were still available. Instead, the Falcons have been hammered by the market, with NDSU now sitting around -2.5.

I love both bets at the numbers I got, but with the market having moved so drastically, I can’t include them on this week’s article, so I have fewer favorites than usual. With that in mind, here are the two bets I like most for Week 2.

2026 record: 4-2

FAU +6 vs Navy

I took a 25-1 flier on FAU to win the American before the season because I believe this offense can be electric again in Year 2 under Zach Kittley, and I liked what the Owls did in the transfer portal to address a defense that was dreadful a year ago. FAU retooled the front seven with productive additions such as Ohio edge Jay Crable, SMU defensive tackle Blake Burris and Kansas linebacker Joseph Sipp, while returning established players like Leon Hart and CJ Doggette. I’m not putting much stock into Florida hanging 66 on the Owls last week. That was a superior SEC opponent playing its first game under new coach Jon Sumrall, and the Gators were in a perfect spot to come out trying to make a statement.

This matchup should look very different from Navy’s 42-32 win over FAU last season. Navy lost a ton of offensive production, including three of the program’s best skill players in recent memory: QB Blake Horvath, RB Alex Tecza, and RB/WR Eli Heidenreich. Navy should still have one of the better offensive lines in the G6, but there are questions almost everywhere else.

New QB Braxton Woodson has experience in the system and is an explosive runner, but he has not shown himself to be anywhere near the passer Horvath was. That matters because Horvath’s ability to punish defenses over the top was part of what made Navy’s option attack so difficult to defend. Without him, Tecza and Heidenreich, I expect this offense to be considerably less explosive.

Navy also has important pieces to replace defensively, particularly up front. All-American defensive tackle Landon Robinson was the AAC Defensive Player of the Year last season, and replacing his production is no small task. The pass rush is a legitimate concern, which is exactly where FAU should be capable of taking advantage.

The Owls are built to test this Navy defense. Zach Kittley’s up-tempo, pass-heavy offense has one of the best QBs in the AAC in Caden Veltkamp and two of the best receivers in all of G6 with Easton Messer and Dominique Henry. If Navy cannot consistently pressure Veltkamp, those receivers should have opportunities to make plays against a secondary that had issues throughout much of last season.

There’s already been evidence of that problem in Navy’s opener. In Week 1, FCS Towson hit for several explosive passes against the Navy secondary, and these were not meaningless garbage-time plays. Towson connected on a 48-yard touchdown early in the second quarter and then hit a 30-yard touchdown later in the quarter. If Navy is surrendering multiple explosive passes to an FCS offense while the game is still competitive, then Veltkamp, Messer and Henry should be capable of stressing this secondary considerably more.

FAU also moved the ball against Navy last season, scoring 32 points and finishing with 450 yards despite turning the ball over three times. FAU finished with an abysmal -21 turnover margin on the season, one of the worst marks in the country. There should be some positive turnover regression coming, and if the Owls simply take better care of the football this season, this offense is talented enough to score plenty of points against a Navy defense that I believe has taken a step backward.

There is also a situational advantage for FAU, with Navy having to make the long trip from Maryland to Boca Raton for its first FBS test of the season after opening at home against Towson. September heat and humidity in South Florida can become a factor, particularly for a defense whose depth along the line is already a question. FAU also appears to have an edge on special teams after adding SMU transfer Collin Rogers, the Mustangs’ all-time leading scorer and a Lou Groza Award watch-list kicker. If this game is close–and being at home–it gives FAU all the more of an advantage.

My power ratings make this Navy -2.5, so I love getting nearly a touchdown with FAU at home. I’ll call my shot and say FAU wins outright, but I’ll gladly take the six points with the home dog.

South Alabama +10 @ Tulane

I make Tulane -7 here, so getting South Alabama +10 gives me enough value to take the points, especially in a game with a low total.

Tulane’s offense looked completely out of sorts in Will Hall’s debut against Duke. The Green Wave managed just 258 total yards, 10 first downs and 54 rushing yards, went 3-for-14 on third down, and allowed three sacks in a 17-3 loss. Starting quarterback Zeon Chriss-Gremillion was pulled at halftime for Kadin Semonza, who will now get the start this week, while standout running back Jamauri McClure’s injury adds further questions to an already struggling offense.

More broadly, I think this Tulane team has taken a sizable step backward in both roster talent and coaching. Jon Sumrall is gone, and I’m not convinced Hall — whose last head-coaching stop ended poorly at Southern Miss — can immediately maintain the standard Tulane has set in recent years. The Green Wave were also an unsustainable 5-0 in one-score games last season, the kind of record that typically regresses toward even over time. With a weaker roster and what I view as a downgrade on the sideline, I expect some of that close-game fortune to swing the other way this season.

I’m not particularly high on South Alabama, but there were encouraging signs in its 39-14 win over Southeastern Louisiana, most notably 241 rushing yards. If the Jaguars can establish the run again, they should be able to sustain drives, shorten the game and attack a Tulane defense that just allowed Duke roughly 250 yards on the ground.

I considered the under at around 49.5, but I’d rather take the points with the Jags, who I think can run the ball successfully against a Tulane offense that hasn’t shown it can create much separation. And for what it’s worth, Mobile to New Orleans is a very manageable road trip.

My number is Tulane -7, and I think the market is still giving the Green Wave too much credit for what this program has been in previous years rather than what this current roster looks like. In what I expect to be a lower-scoring game, South Alabama +10 is too many points.

Other Thoughts

Ohio St +1.5 @ Texas — No strong opinion here, but I do trust Julian Sayin and the Buckeyes offense more than the Horns. I’m not really a Sark guy, either. No bet from me, but I’d take whatever points I can get.

USF +4 @ Army — I was slightly concerned with USF’s lackluster offense last weekend, but I think the Bulls can turn it around in Week 2, plus I’m lower on Army, who replace a ton from last year’s defense. In a lower-scoring game, USF can hang around.

Rutgers +4 @ Boston College — The loser will be crowned the worst team in Power 4 (by my ratings). I expect Rutgers’ best effort off the embarrassing UMass loss, and I think the QB change to AJ Surace could be a positive. The Scarlet Knights also have a big rest advantage here. This is a coin flip, so I’ll take the points.

North Texas +4 vs UNLV — I’ve been very vocal that I’m down on UNLV, and I was impressed by North Texas, who actually outgained Indiana last week. I missed the best number here, but I would fade UNLV on a second straight road trip after going to Hawaii.

Boise St -7.5 vs Memphis — I’m slightly worried about a letdown spot for Boise after nearly stealing one in Eugene. But I hate this more for Memphis, who take a second long road trip this early in the season. Boise looked great in the trenches, which is where you have to counter the Tigers’ strength. I trust the Smurf Turf and the Broncos’ supporting cast a little more.

Georgia Tech +13.5 vs Tennessee — This screams overreaction to me. Georgia Tech looked bad in lots of areas, but laying two touchdowns with Tennessee and a freshman QB in his first big road test? I’ll pass. Since becoming head coach, Brent Key is 13-6 ATS as an underdog and 4-0 ATS as a home underdog. I’d lean to grabbing the points.

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(Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire)

Bailey Falter has been selected to the major-league roster. In a corresponding move, Elieser Hernandez has been designated for assignment. Additionally, Reynaldo Lopez returns from his rehabilitation assignment. He will start tonight, and Bryce Elder has been placed on the IL after undergoing knee surgery.

With Elder’s season likely over, Lopez has a chance to earn a spot on the postseason roster, whether that’s as a starter or out of the bullpen. In 71.2 innings so far this season, he boasts a respectable 3.64 ERA.

Falter takes Hernandez’s spot on the roster, and it will be the first time we see him in a Braves uniform after he was acquired from the Royals at the trade deadline. In limited appearances for Kansas City, the numbers were an eyesore — a 13.97 ERA over 9.2 innings.

However, Falter has been lights out for Gwinnett, allowing zero runs over 10.2 innings. I wouldn’t expect to see him very often in high-leverage situations, but the Braves have made Tyler Mahle look like a Cy Young candidate since he made the move to Atlanta. Perhaps they’ve similarly helped Falter with his repertoire, and he can show why he’s deserving of a spot on the postseason roster.

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(Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire)

In that time, there have been several significant developments that have really cleared things up with just three weeks remaining until the postseason.

Removed From Rankings: Bryce Elder

It was always pretty unlikely Bryce Elder started a playoff game for the Braves, but now that he’s undergone minor surgery on his knee that will keep him out for 3-4 weeks, that closes the door on any ideas.

5. AJ Smith-Shawver (Previous Ranking: 2)

Smith-Shawver might have the most upside of anybody on this list, and I took that into account early on in these rankings. But it’s now been five starts, and his lack of control coupled with his inability to miss bats consistently is beyond concerning. He can’t be trusted to start a playoff game right now, and time is running out for him to change that narrative. However, I could see him contributing out of the bullpen come October.

4. Reynaldo Lopez (Previous Ranking: N/A)

I didn’t have Lopez ranked in my previous editions because he was dealing with an injury, but he’s returning tonight to face the Rays. It’s probably unlikely that he shows enough over his final couple of outings to earn a start come the playoffs, but I wouldn’t rule anything out with this group.

3. Martin Perez (Previous Ranking: 4)

Perez has been a godsend for the Braves this season, pitching to a 3.25 ERA over 124.2 innings. It’s absolutely wild he was signed to a minor-league deal in the offseason and then designated for assignment by the Braves earlier in the season. Without him, this team probably isn’t in first place, and while he certainly could end up starting in the playoffs, I think Atlanta’s other two options provide a little more upside.

2. Grant Holmes (Previous Ranking: 3)

What a finish to the season Grant Holmes is experiencing. In four of his last seven starts, he has gone six innings without allowing a single run, pitching to a 2.27 ERA over that stretch with a 3.18 FIP. If he keeps pitching like that over the final three weeks, there shouldn’t be much of a question about who gets the ball in a hypothetical Game 3 for the Braves.

1. Tyler Mahle (Previous Ranking: 1)

There isn’t any guessing about who should be starting Game 2 anymore. Since being acquired at the trade deadline, Tyler Mahle has pitched to a 1.24 ERA and 2.82 FIP over his first six starts. Not only has he already done enough to earn the job, but most of Braves country is probably feeling pretty thrilled with the idea of him being paired with Chris Sale at the top of the rotation entering the postseason.

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(Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire)

If Atlanta can take care of business inside their own division, the lowest they can be seeded is third. There’s still an outside chance of them sneaking into the top two spots in the National League and earning a first-round bye, but the Dodgers and Brewers have a pretty firm stranglehold on those spots for now, with the Braves 4.5 games behind Milwaukee and 3.0 games behind Los Angeles.

With three weeks remaining before the postseason, it’s time for the first edition of predicting the Braves’ playoff roster, which I will do weekly leading up to October.

Predicting The Braves’ Playoff Roster

Starting Pitchers

1. Chris Sale
2. Tyler Mahle
3. Grant Holmes
4. Reynaldo Lopez
5. AJ Smith-Shawver

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I’m doing this now with the assumption that the Braves will be in a three-game Wild Card series. So, there is obviously no need for five starting pitchers. Chris Sale and Tyler Mahle will pitch the first two games, and in the event of a winner-take-all Game 3, it will be an all-hands-on-deck approach. I imagine Grant Holmes would get the ball to start that game, but Lopez and Smith-Shawver have enough upside to make this roster as potential relief options.

Bullpen

1. Raisel Iglesias
2. Robert Suarez
3. Didier Fuentes
4. Dylan Lee
5. Brent Suter
6. Dylan Dodd
7. Victor Mederos
8. Ray Kerr

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The big assumption here is that Robert Suarez returns from injury in time to be added to the playoff roster. Based on all of the reports, it looks like that is going to happen unless there is a setback.

After that, most of these decisions feel cut and dried. The Braves could go with Martin Perez over Ray Kerr, Lopez, or Smith-Shawver. They might prefer a veteran over any of those guys, but I omitted him for the time being. If this were a five-game series, Perez would have been included.

Catchers

1. Sean Murphy
2. Drake Baldwin

Infielders

1. Ozzie Albies
2. Matt Olson
3. Austin Riley
4. Mauricio Dubon
5. Ha-Seong Kim

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The only question here is Ha-Seong Kim. He had a couple of moments over the last couple of weeks but has quickly come down to earth in a big way. I would have considered leaving him off, but I just don’t think there are any better options, and he’s already proven he can come up with big hits in a pinch.

Designated Hitter

1. Dominic Smith

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This is another instance where Smith hasn’t really done much to make the roster. He’s appeared in just one game this month, going 0-for-2 with a walk against the Phillies. However, I would love to see someone show me a better option.

Outfielders

1. Ronald Acuña Jr.
2. Lane Thomas
3. Mike Yastrzemski
4. Michael Harris II
5. Brewer Hicklen

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The top four here are obviously locks, and I think Brewer Hicklen is as well. He hasn’t played a ton this season, only 12 games. But in those 12 games, he’s hitting .364 with an OPS over 1.000. He also offers value as a pinch-runner, which is an underrated aspect of putting together a playoff roster.

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(Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire)

Tua Tagovailoa does not look like the answer, and Michael Penix Jr.’s injury history is beyond worrisome. Given this new regime had nothing to do with drafting the former Washington standout, he’s going to have to show a lot for the team to commit to him beyond this year.

The good news? Next year’s quarterback class is absolutely loaded, with Bleacher Report’s latest mock draft having the Falcons take Notre Dame’s CJ Carr with the 8th overall pick.

“Concern continues to grow in Atlanta as the Falcons try to find out whether Tua Tagovailoa or Michael Penix Jr. can be their long-term answer at quarterback,” Brent Sobieski writes. “Clearly, neither proved themselves in this scenario. The position’s top tier of prospects has already been chosen, but Notre Dame’s CJ Carr has a skill set that should serve him well as part of Kevin Stefanski’s offensive scheme.”

Carr was my pick to win the Heisman entering the season, and while his performance in Week 1 against Wisconsin wasn’t anything to write home about, he still ended the game with 239 yards through the air, tossing two touchdowns and no interceptions.

He’s not the freak athlete who’s going to burn defenses with his legs like you see a lot at the top of the first round these days, but he’s a surgeon in the pocket who understands where defenses are vulnerable and gets the ball out on time. He’s also got a big arm that he trusts to push the ball downfield and into tight windows.

Carr looks like a quarterback prospect who’s going to be taken in the first round if he decides to leave Notre Dame. However, there is going to be a lot of shuffling with top prospects this year. It really feels like there are at least five quarterbacks who could be in the conversation for the #1 overall pick depending on how this season shakes out.

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(Photo by Dan Sanger/Icon Sportswire)

That’s a testament to what has been a marvelous pitching staff, and that was the case again yesterday, as the Braves shut out the Nationals with five different pitchers taking the mound due to a lengthy rain delay.

Offensively, it was once again Sean Murphy who helped Atlanta strike first with a three-run homer, and then Ronald Acuña Jr. added a three-run shot of his own — the 200th of what’s already an incredible career for the 28-year-old out of La Guaira, Venezuela.

Another promising sign for the offense? Ha-Seong Kim added another hit to his tally, a roped double down the left field line, giving him four hits in his last two games and six in his last 16 at-bats. To put that in perspective, Kim had just five hits in his first 86 at-bats of the season — and this looks like something that might actually be sustainable.

He’s rightfully gotten a lot of grief this year, but he missed the first couple of months with an injury and the Braves didn’t exactly give him much time on the farm to find a rhythm. When he returned to the majors, we all know about the struggles, but again, the opportunities were limited. With a little confidence and a touch of increased playing time, Kim looks like an entirely different player than the one we saw a couple of months ago.

The same can be said about Sean Murphy. Since the Braves started giving him regular at-bats a little over a week ago, he’s hitting .393 with three home runs and a 1.254 OPS. Murphy has always been a guy who needs to play every day to find success with the stick, so it was quite surprising the Braves kept starting guys like Jim Jarvis over him — when one has a track record as an All-Star, and the other is a rookie with a sub-.600 OPS.

Thankfully, whatever the hell that line of thinking was has fallen by the wayside. Now Murphy and Kim — two outcasts many would have liked to see designated for assignment — lead the Braves into the most pivotal stretch of their season, beginning with a four-game set in Philadelphia that could essentially put the NL East to bed if it goes the right way.

That’s a storyline I never expected to be typing in September.

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(Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire)

As we sit here less than two weeks from the first snap of the season, the Falcons still aren’t ready to name a starting quarterback.

Falcons GM Ian Cunningham says the team has not identified it's Week 1 starting QB. "Not yet."

— Joe Patrick (@JoePatrick) September 2, 2026

Most assume it’ll be Tua or Penix under center in Week 1, and the decision really seems to come down to Penix’s health. Tua had every opportunity to take the job and run with it during the preseason, and he laid stinker after stinker.

If Penix were 100%, this probably wouldn’t be much of a decision. But he was only cleared for 11-on-11 work last week, and how comfortable he feels in a brand new offense is really unknown to the public. The Falcons know, however, and they’re probably pretty damn sure who’s starting Week 1. They just have no incentive to make the Steelers aware of their plans until the last possible second.

On Gervon Dexter, Cunningham said that when you can get a player of that caliber for that price, you pull the trigger.

Falcons GM Ian Cunningham on Gervon Dexter trade

"When you can get a player of Gervon's Caliber for the price we paid, we feel its in our best interest to do that."

— Darius Hayes (@dhayessports37) September 2, 2026

Cunningham also mentioned that Dexter is a late bloomer to the game of football, having spent his younger years more focused on basketball, and highlighted how big the combination of him and Maason Smith will be in the middle of the Falcons defensive front.

That will be a focal point come Week 1. The Falcons pass rush was the most promising storyline of the entire 2025 campaign. For two decades it was totally anemic, but they finally broke that stretch by finishing second in the league in sacks with a franchise-record 57.

So what does the new regime decide to do? Essentially blow the whole thing up. There are a ton of new faces across the defensive line who’ll be taking starting reps this season, and we should know pretty quickly whether this front office has an eye for talent at one of the most important position groups in the sport.

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(Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire)

Zach Harrison is back after clearing waivers. He’s been added to the practice squad along with Khalid Kareem and Jammie Robinson. In corresponding moves, Cameron Sample and Cobee Bryant have been released from the practice squad.

We have made the following roster moves:

– Signed Khalid Kareem, Zach Harrison and Jammie Robinson to PS

– Released Cam Sample and Cobee Bryant from PShttps://t.co/EMzAt5stq4 pic.twitter.com/fV0LaNXyAX

— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) September 2, 2026

The most notable addition is Zach Harrison, who was shockingly placed on waivers earlier this week after recording 4.5 sacks in seven games last season. It’s even more shocking that no team wanted to take a flier on him, which tells me there’s probably more to the story that we normal folks aren’t privy to.

Khalid Kareem is back with the organization after spending the last two seasons in Atlanta, appearing in six games total. Cameron Sample is out after failing to make the initial 53-man roster, and so is cornerback Cobee Bryant, who appeared in seven games last season for the Falcons after making the squad as an undrafted free agent.

It’s important to remember that everything is still very fluid right now. There will be a lot more moves before the Falcons take the field against the Steelers next Sunday.

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(Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire)

“There’s still time for Michael Penix Jr. to show he can be the guy moving forward, and the fact that he was finally cleared for 11-on-11 team drills last week after an offseason of injury recovery is a good sign,” Graziano writes. “But this is a new front office and coaching staff, different from the one that drafted Penix. Throughout the offseason, the sense we got was that the Falcons were leaning toward starting Tua Tagovailoa over Penix, even if both are healthy. The problem was that Tagovailoa struggled, and now Atlanta isn’t sure he’s the guy for this season, let alone the future.”

I’m not sure there was a soul inside the Falcons building that truly believed Tagovailoa was going to start games past this season. He has a lengthy injury history with concussions and was horrendous last season for the Dolphins. The only reason the acquisition made sense is because the timeline of Penix’s recovery was unknown, and Tua was signed to a veteran minimum deal. It was wise business by the Falcons, but nobody expected him to be the guy.

Penix, on the other hand, flashed at times during his first full season as a starting quarterback. There’s no way of really knowing what he could be at this level. The only thing we do know is that his injury history is extremely concerning. He’s already suffered five season-ending injuries, including three different ACL injuries, dating back to his college days.

Because of that, the Falcons opted to carry four quarterbacks on the roster! That’s not a sign of an organization that believes they have their next franchise quarterback in the building. I just can’t believe Graziano put this on paper and dared to call this bold. This might be the least bold take in the history of takes.

The Falcons haven’t had a franchise quarterback since Matt Ryan was traded to the Colts. I’m not sure if Graziano heard, but that was more than a half-decade ago, and Ryan is now the team’s President of Football. Of course there’s a very good chance they are in the market for a quarterback next offseason — even if there’s still a glimmer of hope that Penix could be much better than many expect once he’s 100%.

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(Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire)

Here’s how they’ll line up their pitching at Citizens Bank Park.

Braves-Phillies Probables

Friday: Chris Sale vs. Cristopher Sanchez
Saturday: Martin Perez vs. Zack Wheeler
Sunday: Tyler Mahle vs. Aaron Nola
Monday: Bryce Elder vs. Jesus Luzardo

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The Braves won’t be catching any breaks against a Philadelphia team that gets to line up its four best starters over this series, and it begins with a battle between two guys right in the thick of the Cy Young race.

The last time we saw Chris Sale toe the rubber, he struck out 11 in a complete-game shutout against the Dodgers. The Braves could need a similar performance Friday if they’re going to start the series on the right foot.

Saturday night features two veterans who couldn’t be more polar opposite. Zack Wheeler has been one of the most consistently great starting pitchers of the last decade — a 36-year-old still striking out nearly 11 batters per nine innings.

Perez isn’t going to do that, but he’s actually the one with the better ERA this season, 3.05 compared to 3.31. That’s remarkable considering the Braves designated him for assignment earlier in the year and every team passed on him, which is the only reason he found himself back in Atlanta. Without that chain of events, it’s probably not the Braves entering this series with a 4.0-game lead.

Sunday’s matchup is between two guys who are mirror images of each other right now. Tyler Mahle really struggled in San Francisco, but since the move to Atlanta he owns a 1.48 ERA over five starts. Nola wasn’t traded, but he was abysmal this year until recently — he’s allowed two earned runs or fewer in each of his last five starts, recording a 2.25 ERA.

Monday’s showdown is the biggest mismatch of them all. Bryce Elder has done a nice job showing up every five days and giving the Braves a reasonable chance to win, but he can’t hold a candle to Jesus Luzardo, who’s among the filthiest left-handers in the sport and having a career year — a 3.02 ERA with 11.1 strikeouts per nine.

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(Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire)

I’ve already made some necessary changes to my power ratings after seeing teams like NC State and TCU perform well below where I had them entering the season. Last week’s Stanford -3.5 winner needed some late drama, but I felt the result was deserved. The Cardinal controlled Hawaii for most of the first three quarters, built a 23-7 lead, and ultimately showed why I had them rated higher than the market entering the game. A fun, early-season winner. Now we move into Week 1, where the schedule gets much deeper. Here are my favorite bets of the week.

2026 record: 2-1

Colorado +7 @ Georgia Tech

I’m trusting my numbers on this one. My power ratings make Georgia Tech only a 4.5-point favorite here, so I see these teams as much closer than the market does. Getting a full touchdown with Colorado is enough for me to take a shot on the Buffaloes.

There is some urgency here for Colorado. The schedule gets difficult quickly, with trips to Northwestern and Baylor and a home game against Texas Tech all coming before the bye week. That puts added emphasis on Deion Sanders and his staff getting off to a good start and building some momentum before that stretch arrives.

I’m expecting a fairly significant step back from Georgia Tech after losing so many important pieces from last year’s 9-4 team, including both coordinators, OC Buster Faulkner (Florida) and DC Blake Gideon (Texas). Gone is QB Haynes King, who was the engine of that offense, and backup quarterback Aaron Philo transferred to Florida. Receivers Malik Rutherford and Eric Rivers are off to the NFL, and arguably the two best offensive linemen are gone as well, with Harrison Moore transferring to Florida and Keylan Rutledge becoming a first-round NFL draft pick.

That leaves Indiana transfer Alberto Mendoza taking over at quarterback. Maybe he turns out to be great, but I’m skeptical–if he were really viewed as a future star, it’s fair to wonder why Curt Cignetti was willing to let him leave Bloomington. Mendoza will also be working with a receiving corps that has plenty of questions after losing so much production. Georgia Tech brought in transfers from Elon, Bowling Green and Cal, and that’s a lot of projection at a position that was already hit hard by departures.

The defense has some pieces I like, but the turnover is significant there too. The defensive line lost its top three players, including one to the NFL and another to Ohio State. The secondary also lost its top four contributors, with three of them heading to the NFL. That’s a lot of new faces to break in at once, and I don’t love the matchup against a Colorado offense that should play fast and force Georgia Tech to defend the entire width of the field.

For Colorado, this is Julian Lewis‘ opportunity to take over the offense. The former four-star recruit steps into the starting role under new offensive coordinator Brennan Marion, who comes over from Sacramento State. Colorado lost some receivers, most notably Omarion Miller to Arizona State, but I really like what they added through the portal. DeAndre Moore comes over from Texas, Kam Perry arrives from Miami-Ohio, and Danny Scudero from San Jose State may be my favorite addition. Scudero feels like an ideal fit for this offense and should see plenty of targets out of the slot.

There are losses on the Colorado defense too, but I think some of the replacements could be upgrades. Ezra Christensen from New Mexico State and Santana Hopper, an All-AAC performer at Tulane, give them some interesting pieces along the defensive line. I also think the secondary has improved from a group that struggled badly last year. Boo Carter is a former four-star prospect from Tennessee with plenty of talent, and I really like the addition of Vanderbilt transfer Randon Fontenette at safety.

The travel is obviously a concern with Colorado heading east, but I think this line is being influenced too much by what these teams looked like a year ago. Colorado finished 3-9, while Georgia Tech went 9-4, and I think the market is carrying too much of that perception into this matchup. I expect Georgia Tech to take a step back after losing so many key contributors, while Colorado has upgraded in several important spots and should be much more competitive than it was a year ago. At a key number like +7, I’m willing to grab the points.

Arkansas State +11.5 @ Memphis

It’s pretty wild to already have a legitimate situational spot in Week 1, but I think we have one here fading Memphis. The Tigers are coming off a program-building 27-21 win at UNLV that gave the Charles Huff era an immediate jolt of energy. Memphis is suddenly one of the bigger Group of 6 stories in the country, with plenty of people already talking about a possible run to the College Football Playoff. And that’s exactly why I like Arkansas State in this spot.

Memphis has to come home after a long trip to Las Vegas, enjoy all the attention that came with last week’s win, and then somehow avoid looking ahead to a massive Week 2 trip to Boise State. A win on the blue turf would go a long way toward establishing Memphis as the top G6 playoff contender. That makes this feel like a classic sandwich spot, even this early in the season.

My power ratings make this Memphis -10.5, so I don’t show a massive numerical edge. This bet is more about the combination of matchup and situation. I’m also higher than the market on Arkansas State this season and think the Red Wolves are a legitimate longshot contender in the Sun Belt at 12-1 odds.

Butch Jones will hand the offense to Trey Owens, the former four-star recruit who began his career at Texas. For a first-time starter, he walks into a pretty favorable situation. Arkansas State returns a proven backfield, first-team All-Sun Belt receiver Chauncy Cobb, and an experienced offensive line.

That offensive line is especially important in this matchup. The Red Wolves return four starters up front and are anchored by first-team All-Sun Belt left guard Tristian Smith. Memphis’ defensive line was dominant last weekend and looks like one of the best units in the Group of 6, so Arkansas State having experience and continuity up front gives them a much better chance of staying on schedule offensively and keeping Owens comfortable since he’s not much of a running threat.

The bigger concern is on defense. Arkansas State is breaking in several new faces, particularly in the front seven, and there could be some early chemistry issues. But the secondary–which was a major weakness last season–looks more talented on paper after the portal additions, led by Kennesaw transfer Five Hamilton, who has a chance to be one of the better safeties in the Sun Belt. If even a few of those defensive additions hit (and I think they will), the ceiling for this team is much higher than it was a year ago.

Historically, teams making their season debut in Week 1 against an opponent that already played in Week 0 are 149-109 ATS (58%). Arkansas State has the fresher legs, while also getting the benefit of a full game of Memphis film before taking the field themselves.

This bet is ultimately built around a Memphis letdown. The Tigers are coming off an emotional road win, they’ve received a ton of praise all week, and they have one of the biggest Group of 6 games of the season waiting for them in Boise. Arkansas State has enough talent and experience on offense to keep this competitive, especially if Memphis comes out even a little flat. At +11.5, I will take the points.

Nevada +3 vs Western Kentucky

You’ve got to try to grab the full field goal with Nevada here, but I also think the Wolf Pack have a legitimate chance to win this game outright. I don’t hate a small moneyline sprinkle at all.

I’m lower on Western Kentucky than the market. The Hilltoppers lost five of their top six pass-catchers from last season, and the offensive line was hit even harder, losing eight of its top nine players. That unit was a major question throughout camp, and now it has to deal with what could be the strength of Nevada’s team.

The Wolf Pack defensive line has drawn a lot of praise this offseason, led by Dylan LaBarbera, who is the best player in this game. LaBarbera is up for Mountain West DPOY and has legitimate NFL upside. He could be a problem for a rebuilt WKU front. Nevada has also gotten positive reviews on its rebuilt secondary, with All-Mountain West corner Aiden Walker leading the way after what the staff has called a strong offseason.

Western Kentucky has questions at linebacker too after losing its top five players at the position, including Jaylen Wester and Koron Heyward. That gives Nevada a chance to find some success offensively even while it works through uncertainty at quarterback.

And I like the foundation around whoever wins that QB job, which could be returning sophomore Carter Jones. Nevada returns three starters on the offensive line, including all-conference tackles Jack Foster and Zach Cochnauer, while adding help on the interior through the portal. For an offense built around timing and rhythm, having a competent line is a huge difference from where this unit has been in recent years.

There’s also a regression angle here. Nevada was one of the unluckier teams in the Mountain West last season and finished with a conference-worst -12 turnover margin. Those things tend to move back towards zero over time, and I think there’s a good chance Nevada is better than last year’s record suggests while getting some positive regression with turnovers and close-game luck.

These two teams met last year when Nevada went on the road and led Western Kentucky 13-10 in the third quarter before the game got away from them late. The final score was 31-16, but it was misleading. Nevada actually slightly outgained WKU, lost the turnover battle 3-2, and the final margin was padded by a late pick-six thrown by the Wolf Pack. I think Nevada may be the better version of itself this time around when WKU has to make a long return trip west to Reno, which sits at more than 4,400 feet of elevation.

We also just saw Conference USA foe Jacksonville State make a long road trip and get overwhelmed by Mountain West team North Dakota State. Conference USA is still the weakest Group of 6 league in my view, and I’m not eager to lay points on the road with one of its teams in this kind of spot. At Nevada +3, I’m taking the points. I think this is much closer to a coin-flip game than the market suggests, and I wouldn’t be surprised at all if the Pack win outright late Saturday night.

Other Thoughts

Toledo +10.5 @ Michigan St –– Pat Fitzgerald is an uninspiring hire for Sparty–this team is bad. I like the coaching hire for Toledo, and the Rockets still have some good players. They can win in East Lansing.

West Virginia -20.5 vs Coastal Carolina — Rich Rodriguez has a roster he likes. They won’t contend for the Big 12 title or anything, but they’re much better than last year. Star RB transfer Cam Cook will run all over Coastal here. This could be very ugly.

Tennessee -46.5 vs Furman — Doesn’t this feel like 59-6, Vols? Heupel puts his foot down on these teams and wants to show off five-star QB Faizon Brandon.

Wyoming +3.5 @ Colorado St — One of my favorite offseason portal additions was new Wyoming QB Tyler Hughes from William & Mary. He should spark this offense that was dead last year. Jim Mora is a great hire in the long run for Colorado State, but I think they’re vulnerable in game one.

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(Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire)

That doesn’t appear to be the case based on the Falcons’ roster decisions, and even more so, he was spotted at practice for the first time on Thursday.

It would still be fairly shocking if we saw Bowman strap it up and play much during the Falcons’ Week 1 matchup against the Steelers, but he’s clearly not too far off, which is going to be a massive boost to a secondary that could be the story of the Falcons’ 2026 season — much like the pass rush was a year ago.

A.J. Terrell, Mike Hughes, Avieon Terrell, and Billy Bowman Jr. are a really quality group of top cornerbacks with a nice blend of experience and youth. Then on the back end, there are Jessie Bates III and Xavier Watts, who have the potential to be the best safety duo in the league this season. Even DeMarcco Hellams is a quality third safety option, and Bowman Jr. also has experience at the position.

This group could surprise a lot of people across the league this season who aren’t in tune with the Falcons’ roster.

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(Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire)

“Under president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos, the Braves eschewed the all-in move, instead upgrading around the margins by adding Tyler Mahle, Lane Thomas and Brent Suter,” Johnny Flores Jr. writes. “Consider the moves a massive success. Mahle, who arrived in Atlanta with a 5.13 ERA, has pitched to a 1.48 mark in five starts, going for at least six innings in four of them. Suter has a 1.26 mark as a multi-inning arm, and only Thomas has been middling, though he wasn’t anticipated to be a world-beater.”

Now it’s ESPN and MLB.com praising Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos, with ESPN ranking the Braves’ trade deadline the best of the bunch.

“The Braves’ deadline would stand out if the only move made by Alex Anthopoulos was to acquire starter Tyler Mahle from the Giants,” Bradford Doolittle writes. “That’s how good Mahle has been, posting a 1.48 ERA over five starts and rolling up 1.4 bWAR in his first month as a Brave. It’s not really out of nowhere. He has been a very good pitcher for a long time, including last season when he posted a 2.18 ERA in 16 starts for Texas. But he was just 3-9 with a 5.13 ERA for San Francisco before the trade. He allowed five runs in his last start for the Giants — the same number of runs he gave up over his first five starts for the Braves.”

Mahle’s the unquestioned prize of the trade deadline. The Braves saw something in him that nobody else in the league did and were able to acquire him for pennies on the dollar. They didn’t even have to give up a prospect to get him — all they had to do was pick up the remaining $2 million left on his contract for this season. Given how expensive high-quality starting pitching is to acquire at the trade deadline, this could go down as one of the best deadline deals in recent memory if Mahle goes on to pitch similarly come the postseason.

Unsurprisingly, the Mahle addition also received the top spot in MLB.com’s rankings of the most impactful trade deadline moves.

“The Braves were a Skubal suitor, but like every other club, they had to pivot after the jewel of the Deadline class was shipped to Los Angeles. Atlanta landed on the 31-year-old Mahle, who had a 5.13 ERA across 18 starts with the Giants and missed about a month of action earlier in the year due to a hamstring strain,” Brian Murphy writes. “Once the Deadline passed, he didn’t even make it onto our list of the top 25 trades, but he has been everything the Braves could have wanted for their injury-ravaged rotation.”

You really can’t argue about whether the Braves improved at the trade deadline. They are in a much better spot heading into October now than they were a month ago. Even the additions of Brent Suter and Lane Thomas have made an impact.

However, the question still remains whether the Braves did enough. Alex Anthopoulos had prospects at his disposal to do more, and there remain holes in the lineup, rotation, and bullpen that could have been patched up. If this team does come up just short in a series next month, it’s going to be a sickening what-if everybody is going to have to live with for a long time.

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(Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire)

That’s something that should make the next few years incredibly exhilarating. Even when the Braves had one of the worst-ranked farm systems, they still produced the likes of Spencer Schwellenbach, Didier Fuentes, AJ Smith-Shawver, Drake Baldwin, and several others. Imagine what could come next now that their farm system is moving up towards the top half of the league.

Prospect rankings courtesy of MLB.com.

10. Owen Murphy (2026/2027)

Owen Murphy has already made his MLB debut, appearing in three games with one start, and for the most part, he looked like a competent option. He has a great chance of being a significant piece of the Braves’ staff in 2027.

9. John Gil (2028)

A lot of people expected John Gil to be the Braves’ breakout prospect of 2026. That didn’t exactly come to fruition, but he still put up a more than decent campaign that’s led him to Double-A Columbus at just 20 years old, where he’s currently hitting .320 with an .825 OPS. 2027 will be a massive year for Gil. With a strong start, there’s an outside chance he makes his MLB debut next year, but 2028 is probably more likely.

8. Briggs McKenzie (2029)

We are just getting our first look at Briggs McKenzie this season, and it might not be long before the 19-year-old is regarded as the organization’s best pitching prospect. The Braves have never been hesitant when promoting their most talented arms, but he’s still at least a few years away.

7. Kaiden McCarthy (2030)

McCarthy was the Braves’ second-round selection in this year’s draft. His really big arm is going to be fun to watch coming up the system, but at 18 years old, it’ll be at least three more seasons before we see him in the bigs.

6. Jensen Hirschkorn (2030)

Pretty much copy and paste what I said about McCarthy right here. He’s another bright high school arm that the Braves took in the third round, but we really won’t have an idea of his trajectory until we see him pitch next season.

5. Alex Lodise (2027)

I’m all aboard the Alex Lodise train and believe there’s an outside chance we see him make his MLB debut next season. After a slow start to the season, he’s been arguably the Braves’ best offensive prospect over the last few months. He hit .343 in Rome after being promoted and is now hitting .310 in Double-A Columbus. It’s unclear exactly where he might play at the major-league level, but if he keeps raking, the rest will sort itself out.

4. AJ Gracia (2029)

The Braves’ first-round pick in this year’s draft, Gracia won’t play until next season, but given he’s a college bat, he should be up the soonest of all this year’s draft selections.

3. Tate Southisene (2028)

Southisene was in the running for prospect of the year in the organization before suffering a hand injury after being hit by a pitch. He’s just 19 years old and in his first full season of professional baseball, yet the Braves had no issue quickly promoting him to Double-A after he dominated in Augusta and Rome. Given the uncertainty around the middle infield in Atlanta moving forward, he’s on track to get a look in 2028.

2. Cam Caminiti (2027)

The top-ranked pitching prospect in the system has now made five starts in Double-A and owns a 2.13 ERA. Given his talent and the Braves’ history with their young arms, an MLB debut at some point next season feels probable.

1. Eric Hartman (2028)

Hartman has had a historic 2026 campaign, becoming the first minor-league player since Andruw Jones to record 25+ homers and 50+ steals in a season. He has the tools to become an All-Star caliber player, but he’s still just 20 years old and has struggled a bit since his move to Columbus. If he hits like he did in the first half of this season to start next year, he’ll make his MLB debut in 2027, but I would say 2028 is the safer bet.

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(Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire)

Braves-Phillies Probables

Friday: Chris Sale vs. Cristopher Sanchez
Saturday: Martin Perez vs. Zack Wheeler
Sunday: Tyler Mahle vs. Aaron Nola
Monday: Bryce Elder vs. Jesus Luzardo

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However, it has since been announced that Grant Holmes will replace Bryce Elder and pitch on Monday.

Because Holmes’ outing on Wednesday was cut short due to a rain delay, it should feel like he’s on extra rest come Monday.

But this decision also represents something a bit more. There has been nonstop talk about who the Braves will utilize to start games come the postseason. A lot of people have suggested Bryce Elder, but this should tell you everything you need to know. The Braves don’t seriously think Elder is capable of handling a playoff start. If they did, they wouldn’t have swapped him for Grant Holmes in the biggest series of the season to date.

That’s nothing against Elder. The Braves wouldn’t be in the position they are today without him, but the club has better options, and they clearly believe Grant Holmes is one of them.

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(Photo by Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire)

Tua Tagovailoa will start, with Cooper Rush and Jack Strand coming in afterwards.

Michael Penix Jr. will not play in Friday's preseason game against the Miami Dolphins.

Tua Tagovailoa will start. Cooper Rush and Jack Strand to come in after.

— Tori McElhaney (@tori_mcelhaney) August 26, 2026

For fans hoping Penix will be the Falcons’ starting quarterback come Week 1 — which is pretty much everyone who cares about this team — it isn’t a great sign, even if it’s not all that surprising.

Penix was just cleared for 11-on-11 work, with his first full practice coming Monday. Expecting him to be game ready this soon was probably wishful thinking, but I wouldn’t count him out of the race to start against the Steelers just yet.

A lot will depend on how Tua looks Friday. He was dreadful in the Falcons’ first preseason game, and the reports coming out of practice have been equally discouraging. If he doesn’t show up with a little more pep in his step for the final preseason contest, Penix could win the job by default.

That’s not something you want to hear this close to the start of the season, but it’s the state of the Falcons quarterback competition right now.

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Photo: Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire

However, there are also some really intriguing under-the-radar guys in the system having incredible 2026 campaigns — players who aren’t highly ranked but could become household names down the line.

David McCabe

A fourth-round pick in 2022, McCabe is an older prospect at 26 who’s dealt with a lot of injuries, specifically Tommy John surgery back in 2024 that essentially cost him an entire season of development.

Now two years removed from that injury, he’s having a season that’s put him back on the radar, hitting .282 with 16 home runs and a .962 OPS for the Double-A Columbus Clingstones over just 53 games. That earned him a promotion to Gwinnett, where he’s continued the nuclear stretch, recording a 1.190 OPS over his first four games.

The switch-hitting McCabe probably doesn’t have a long-term position in Atlanta. He’s a first baseman, and that spot is occupied for the foreseeable future. But the bat is all that matters here. He could carve out a role as a designated hitter if this offensive surge continues.

Daniel Brooks

Daniel Brooks is a graduate of Bishop England High School in Charleston, South Carolina — which just so happens to be the same high school I attended. He went on to play collegiately at College of Charleston and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Braves in July of last year.

Brooks didn’t make his debut until this season, beginning as a reliever, where he compiled a 0.65 ERA with 15.0 strikeouts per nine innings for the Low-A Augusta Green Jackets. He was good enough that the Braves promoted him to High-A Rome and decided to try him as a starter. So far, so good — Brooks tossed 4.1 innings of one-hit ball with six strikeouts in his first appearance for the Emperors.

Brooks recently made Baseball America’s list of the 20 hottest prospects.

“Brooks didn’t make his debut until May in the Florida Complex League after the Braves signed him as an undrafted free agent last July. He had a 6.17 ERA in the FCL, but the Braves still promoted him to Low-A Augusta at the start of June. Since then, he’s been one of the best pitchers in the minors, allowing two earned runs in 32 innings with 52 strikeouts and only eight walks. Before this week, Brooks was pitching in relief, but he moved into the rotation and made a pair of impressive starts. He struck out 10 in five scoreless innings with Augusta, allowing three hits and no walks. He was then promoted to High-A Rome, where he struck out six more in his debut, allowing only one hit and one walk. Brooks led all minor league pitchers in strikeouts this week, and evaluator feedback has been glowing. He’s got great size at 6-foot-7, 250 pounds, and he has a very high release. He relies on two pitches right now: a fastball that sits 92-94 mph and is very difficult to pick up and a mid-80s slider. Both pitches show considerable bat-missing ability, and his velocity and effectiveness have improved as the season has gone on. Even though Brooks is 23 and has only one outing above Low-A, he’s a very real prospect and should move into the Braves’ Top 30 in the offseason. (IC)”

Luke Sinnard

Luke Sinnard was someone we talked about a lot last season, as his big frame and swing-and-miss ability combined with his control made him a really unique prospect. Calling him under the radar might be underselling him — he’s around the top 10 according to most outlets. However, he’s missed most of this season with an abdominal injury, so it’s easy to forget about him.

Since returning, Sinnard been spectacular. He pitched to a 2.73 ERA for Rome, which earned him a promotion to Columbus, where he’s allowed just one run over 4.2 innings. Sinnard and Brooks are both names to keep a close eye on next season.

Blake Burkhalter

Relief pitchers never get the love they deserve when it comes to prospect rankings, but Blake Burkhalter looks like someone who’s going to have a long career in Atlanta. He’s currently in Triple-A Gwinnett, where he’s made 14 appearances and pitched to a 1.29 ERA with 10.3 strikeouts per nine innings.

Burkhalter’s stuff has looked so much better this season, with a rising fastball in the high-90s serving as his go-to offering, paired with a cutter and slider. He’s the type of prospect who could get a look in September as rosters expand, and his stuff is good enough that he could end up being a valuable piece of the Braves bullpen.

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(Photo by Brandon Sloter/Icon Sportswire)

UNC vs TCU, 1st Half Under 24.5

I like the first-half under here in Dublin with both offenses breaking in new quarterbacks and likely leaning on the run early.

UNC’s defense was actually solid last season — and was a huge reason for their success against the spread towards the end of the year. New offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino will likely try to establish the ground game with two solid rushers, Benjamin Hall and Demon June, before asking Wisconsin transfer QB Billy Edwards to push the ball downfield. I don’t trust Edwards against a TCU defense that should be a pretty solid unit. Quite frankly, I’ve just never been impressed by Edwards during his stops at Maryland and Wisconsin.

TCU is in a similar spot offensively, however. New offensive coordinator Gordon Sammis comes over from UConn, where his offenses played at a slower, more methodical pace. He’ll be breaking in Harvard transfer Jaden Craig — who I think will have a great year — at quarterback, and I expect TCU to lean on the run game and avoid putting too much on Craig early.

That combination — two new quarterbacks, two offenses likely emphasizing the run, and a neutral-site opener in Dublin — sets up well for a slower first half. The first-half angle also lets me avoid the possibility that these coaching staffs make adjustments at halftime and open things up in the second half.

Four of the last five games at Aviva Stadium have also finished with 45 total points or fewer. With all the new pieces on both offenses, two defenses I trust more than the offenses right now, and the added wrinkle of the overseas travel, I like the first 30 minutes to stay low scoring.

NC State +6 @ Virginia

This handicap starts off with the fact that Virginia was one of the luckiest teams in the country last year. The Cavaliers repeatedly benefited from turnover swings, special-teams breaks, and close-game variance en route to four extremely lucky wins where they were outplayed. I believe that close-game luck will turn around on them, and why not start in Week 0?

I see these teams as much closer to even than Vegas does — my ratings project Virginia -2.5. The Cavs are going through a lot of roster turnover, starting with quarterback, where Missouri transfer Beau Pribula takes over. Pribula was pretty up and down last season, with some rocky throws and some questionable decision making. I don’t see him as an upgrade over Chandler Morris.

Stud running back JaMari Taylor is gone, and they lose their best TE in Sage Ennis, who was a big factor in the pass game. Four of their top five receivers are gone and are replaced by three MAC transfers. While the transfers grade well, I’m skeptical of them jumping way up in competition and immediately producing like Trell Harris and Cam Ross did.

They’re also going through change on the defensive side, losing six of their top eight players from a good defensive line last season. I do like some of the adds in the secondary — mainly Brandyn Hillman from Michigan — but there is a lot of lost production from last year and I’m expecting a step back this season.

The Wolfpack return star QB CJ Bailey, who is destined to take a leap going into his junior season. This Wolfpack offense is catching this brand new UVA defense at the right time; I’d be a little more hesitant if they played later in the season when the defense has had time to build chemistry.

Jayden Scott is a solid running back, and Dave Doeren went down the road to add Davion Gause from UNC to create a good 1-2 combo. Harvey Dyson is a potential All-ACC player on the defensive line after transferring from Tulane. The linebacker room loses a lot, but I feel great about the secondary, which returns a lot of experience from last year. Adding cornerback King Mack from Penn State is a fantastic portal add, and he will contribute immediately.

NC State beat Virginia 35-31 last year in a back-and-forth affair, and I would expect something similar this time around. I have Virginia about the same as last year or taking a slight step back, with some negative turnover and close-game regression coming. Meanwhile, Dave Doeren has NC State in a prime position to take a step forward in 2026. Virginia is due for some close games to go against them, and this game could come down to who has the ball last. Catching six points is way too much for the Wolfpack, who have the better coach and quarterback. NC State can win it outright.

Stanford -3.5 vs Hawaii

I was a winner in this Week 0 matchup last year with a Hawaii +3 ticket as the Bows won outright 23-20. But if you take a deeper look, Stanford was the deserved winner in that game and played much better than Hawaii. I think this Hawaii team is worse than last year’s, and I know Stanford isn’t very good, but I do have the Cardinal improved from last year under first-year coach Tavita Pritchard.

Hawaii has been awful when leaving the islands and heading to play on the mainland under Timmy Chang — with a 4-18 record away from home! I like that Hawaii makes the long trip this year. And this is a matchup that favors Stanford well.

This Stanford offense may take some time to progress under new QB Davis Warren, and the Hawaii defense is just what the Cardinal want to see. The Rainbow Warriors lost a good chunk of key contributors in the secondary, but more importantly lose two All-Mountain West players on the defensive line. The two best linebackers are gone as well, and the best returner, Jamih Otis, has been dealing with complications from an ACL tear all offseason. This defense has a lot of new faces, and I expect a tougher, more physical Stanford offensive front to have success moving the ball with Micah Ford, one of the ACC’s more underrated running backs.

Hawaii will of course be showing off their run-and-shoot, up-tempo offense behind sophomore QB Micah Alejado. Alejado won Mountain West Freshman of the Year in 2025 and is perfect for Timmy Chang’s offensive system. However, Alejado missed all spring practice with a lingering ankle injury he dealt with most of last year. That means less time to mesh with his brand new wide receiver room in a system that relies on a lot of chemistry between QB and wide receiver.

There is a lot of unknown in this room after losing key pieces like Jackson Harris, Nick Cenacle, and Brandon White. Star receiver Profile Ashlock does return, but has been sidelined with a knee injury for all of fall camp. Reports are that he will miss multiple weeks, and his absence really lowers the ceiling of this receiver corps.

Stanford’s defensive strength is their back seven, led by All-ACC linebacker Matt Rose, LB Josiah Galvan, and DBs Brandon Nicholson and Jay Green. I like some of the returning pieces on this defense, which should be improved from last year. Overall, it doesn’t bode well for Hawaii, given all the new pieces and injury concerns, to be trying to attack the strength of this Cardinal defense.

New head coach Tavita Pritchard will be motivated to start his tenure off with a home win. And with Hawaii traveling to the mainland, breaking in so many new pieces around Alejado, and facing a Stanford defense whose strength matches up well with what Hawaii wants to do offensively, I’m comfortable laying the short number with the Cardinal in a game I project Stanford -6.5.

Other Thoughts

Jacksonville St @ North Dakota St (-7) — This originally opened NDSU -10 and Jax State has taken some money. No bet from me, but at anything less than -7 I would lean to NDSU at home in their first ever FBS game. This line has moved a little too far.

Sacramento St @ Eastern Michigan (-10) — I really like EMU this season. I have over 5.5 wins and 14-1 to win the MAC. This is Sac State’s first FBS game and they’re flying cross country. I don’t have a feel for this one, so I’m sitting it out.

New Mexico St @ Florida St (-31.5) — I see and hear a lot of people betting FSU here. I don’t hate it, but I’m a tiny bit higher on New Mexico State than the market is, so it’s keeping me away from this spread. I’d lean to the over 53.5 because I think the Aggies can score enough points. Feels like 42-17 final score.

Memphis @ UNLV (-4.5) — These are two teams I thought were overrated last year and got a lot of lucky bounces. I’m much lower on UNLV than the market is, and the comments from Mullen about the QB battle were not encouraging. I project UNLV -3, so I’d lean towards Memphis and the points in a back-and-forth game.

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(Photo by Ricky Bowden/Icon Sportswire)

The #Braves today claimed RHP Ricky Vanasco off waivers from the Detroit Tigers and optioned him to Triple-A Gwinnett.

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) August 26, 2026

Vanasco has appeared in five games this season for the Tigers, and the numbers are quite alarming, as he owns a 15.63 ERA, surrendering 11 earned runs over just 6.1 innings.

However, he’s had some decent numbers in Triple-A this season, posting a 2.53 ERA and striking out 11.5 batters per nine innings over 35 appearances.

It’s probably not likely we see much of Vanasco this year. If there’s one area the Braves have been solid all season, it’s the bullpen. Still, adding depth with major-league experience is always a plus to have in the organization in case of emergency.

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(Photo by Allan Dranberg/Icon Sportswire)

We haven’t seen any of that this year. Perhaps that’s a result of how some of those deals have turned out, but there are a couple of veteran players the Braves should probably be interested in extending before they hit free agency at season’s end.

Mauricio Dubon

I’ve been pounding the table for a Mauricio Dubon extension since the first couple of months of the season. He’s the perfect fit for this team, and his performance as the starting shortstop has been more than adequate. He’s the best player they’ve had at the position since Dansby Swanson departed in free agency, and there’s nobody in the farm system anywhere close to major-league ready.

Tate Southisene, Alex Lodise, and John Gil are all intriguing prospects. It’s possible two of them end up being the middle infield of the future in Atlanta. But as of right now, they’ve each only played a handful of games at the Double-A level. Acting as if any of them will be ready at any point next season — let alone Opening Day — just isn’t realistic.

That’s another reason Dubon is the perfect fit. He’s not going to be looking for a mega-contract, probably something in the two-to-three-year range at around $10-15 million per season. And in the event one of those talented prospects does pop during his next deal, Dubon has enough versatility to slide in wherever else he’s needed.

Maybe the lockout is what’s preventing some of these extensions from happening. Perhaps Dubon believes he can get a much bigger bag on the open market. But it would be really disappointing to see him walk out the door after just one season given how valuable he’s been.

Tyler Mahle

Hand up — I did not expect to be typing this when the Braves acquired Tyler Mahle at the trade deadline. He was a 31-year-old journeyman who had just posted a 5.13 ERA with the Giants.

However, the Braves saw something in him nobody else did, and it’s evident guys like Sean Murphy and Jeremy Hefner have done wonders helping him reach his full potential. The sample size remains small — it’s only been four starts — but if the trends continue, there should be mutual interest in both sides finding a new deal that works. We’ve seen the Braves acquire a player and then hand him an extension soon after. Tyler Mahle could be next in line.

Lord knows the Braves should be looking to hold onto any healthy starting pitcher they can find.

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(Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire)

Quarterbacks (3)

• Michael Penix Jr.
• Tua Tagovailoa
• Jack Strand

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The general consensus is that carrying three quarterbacks is a luxury, and the Falcons certainly don’t have the depth across the roster to afford it. That said, with the way Jack Strand has performed, he’s earned a longer look, and Atlanta really can’t afford another team poaching him off the practice squad.

If the Falcons believe there’s even a 1% chance Strand develops into a starting quarterback, he needs to be on the final 53. End of discussion. The last man on the roster isn’t going to make the Falcons Super Bowl contenders. There’s a much higher priority on finding the team’s next franchise signal caller.

Running Backs (3)

• Bijan Robinson
• Brian Robinson Jr.
• Tyler Goodson

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The Falcons running back room is loaded. Bijan Robinson is the best running back in football. Brian Robinson Jr. is an outstanding backup, and Tyler Goodson has had a fantastic preseason. I’d love to include Cash Jones here. The Georgia product has been productive throughout the preseason and is a great receiving threat out of the backfield, but there’s just too much talent in this room for him to get any reps.

Wide Receivers (5)

• Drake London
• Jahan Dotson
• Olamide Zaccheaus
• Zachariah Branch
• Chris Blair

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Of the wide receivers from a season ago, only Drake London and Chris Blair remain. It’s not a very inspiring group outside of London, but we could be talking about it a lot differently if Zachariah Branch establishes himself as the No. 2 in this room.

Tight Ends (3)

• Kyle Pitts
• Charlie Woerner
• Austin Hooper

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Kevin Stefanski loves using multiple tight ends, and this is a really strong position group for the Falcons. Kyle Pitts is looking to build off his bounce-back campaign from a year ago and establish himself as one of the game’s premier players at the position. Charlie Woerner is a mauler in the run game, and Austin Hooper returns to Atlanta as a viable second receiving threat.

Offensive Linemen (9)

• Chris Lindstrom
• Jake Matthews
• Matthew Bergeron
• Ryan Neuzil
• Jawaan Taylor
• Michael Jerrell
• Kyle Hinton
• Wanya Morris
• Corey Levin

Defensive Linemen (7)

• Brandon Dorlus
• Zach Harrison
• Maason Smith
• Da’Shawn Hand
• LaCale London
• Carlos Allen Jr.
• Chris Williams

EDGE Rushers (6)

• Za’Darius Smith
• Samson Ebukam
• Azeez Ojulari
• Cameron Thomas
• Cameron Sample
• Bralen Trice

Linebackers (4)

• Divine Deablo
• Kendal Daniels
• Christian Harris
• Harold Perkins Jr.

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All four of these guys could see a lot of the field on Sundays, and it looks as if rookie fourth-round pick Kendal Daniels might even start next to Divine Deablo. The one notable name missing is JD Bertrand, a fifth-round selection from the 2024 draft. Perhaps the Falcons give him one more look, but he’s been dreadful every time he’s touched the field over his short career, and this new regime isn’t the one that drafted him.

Cornerbacks (6)

• A.J. Terrell
• Avieon Terrell
• Darnay Holmes
• Mike Hughes
• C.J. Henderson
• Natrone Brooks

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The first four on this list are safe bets to make the roster. It feels like C.J. Henderson has done enough throughout the preseason to earn a spot, and the Falcons should value his experience compared to some of the other candidates. For the final spot, I went with Natrone Brooks, who offers some versatility as both a corner and a safety.

Safeties (4)

• Jessie Bates III
• Xavier Watts
• DeMarcco Hellams
• Sydney Brown

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Perhaps the Falcons’ strongest position group. Jessie Bates III and Xavier Watts combine to make one of the best starting duos in the league. DeMarcco Hellams is a solid third safety who’s received a lot of praise for his work in the preseason, and Sydney Brown has as well for his contributions on special teams, which should earn him one of the final roster spots.

Special Teams (3)

Nick Folk
Jake Bailey
Liam McCullough

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(Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire)

Following a nail-biter on Tuesday, one that was primarily a pitcher’s duel for most of the evening, Wednesday’s affair had a little bit of everything.

Matt Olson started the scoring with a screaming line drive down the right field line that narrowly stayed fair by striking the foul pole, his 37th home run of the season. But the Dodgers tied it the following inning and then took a two-run lead in the third when Tommy Edman left the yard against AJ Smith-Shawver.

For Smith-Shawver, it was his third start in the majors since undergoing Tommy John surgery last May, and the stakes were a little higher in front of a packed Truist Park crowd that felt a lot like a playoff atmosphere. It would have been easy for him to let things spiral the way they have in his previous two outings, but he finished strong with two scoreless innings, marking his longest outing of the season.

Before he exited, the Braves retook the lead in the fourth with a crooked number, and Sean Murphy then doubled that lead in the sixth with his first home run of the year — one of his three hits on the evening as he started back-to-back games for the first time all season. If that’s a sign of things to come, this Braves offense might finally climb out of the rut it’s been in for most of August.

The game still had a lot more twists and turns remaining. Dylan Lee came on in the seventh and failed to record a single out, allowing one run to cross and leaving the bases loaded for Didier Fuentes, who proceeded to walk the first batter he faced. It was another moment where things felt like they were about to get out of hand, but the 21-year-old did what he’s done all season, getting a fly out and a double play to end the inning without any more damage.

Doing it once wasn’t enough for Fuentes. He found himself in another jam in the eighth — this time of his own doing, loading the bases with two outs and Max Muncy stepping up to the plate. The two went back and forth for eight pitches, with Fuentes exclusively sticking with his fastball until the ninth offering, when he tossed a filthy splitter that left Muncy flailing his bat at a pitch in the opposite batter’s box.

The Braves would waste a golden opportunity in the bottom half of the inning, stranding runners at second and third with no outs. But the Dodgers went quietly in order in the ninth, setting the stage for most unlikely hero imaginable.

Tanner Scott looked as if he were going to breeze through with no problems. He forced Michael Harris II to ground out to first and then struck out Ozzie Albies for the first two outs, but a Lane Thomas double made things interesting.

Because the Braves had pinch-run for Sean Murphy earlier in the game, it forced Walt Weiss to pinch hit for pitcher Victor Mederos. With no better options, he turned to Ha-Seong Kim — and the $20 million man with a .066 batting average delivered one of the best moments of the season.

Ha-Seong Kim walks it off for the @Braves! pic.twitter.com/IWTZ9L6XEM

— MLB (@MLB) August 27, 2026

I’m not sure some of Hollywood’s best writers could come up with a script like that. There are very few scenarios where Ha-Seong Kim even finds his way into that game, let alone into the box with a chance to walk it off against the two-time defending champions.

It was something out of a movie, and thankfully, the script writers favored the Braves on this particular night.

With the win, Atlanta has now won three in a row and four of its last six — all against teams currently sitting in first place. It’s a testament to how quickly things can change in this game. A week ago, it felt like the Braves might be headed for a historic collapse. Now they feel like the class of the National League. Finishing off a sweep of the Dodgers on Thursday night would only add to that confidence heading into the final month.

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(Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire

The decision came in the wake of the injury to Jalon Walker, who tore his ACL and will miss the rest of the season, leaving the Falcons with a massive hole on the edge — especially with James Pearce Jr. set to miss the first eight games due to a suspension.

Expecting Smith to come in and carry the Falcons pass rush at this stage of his career probably isn’t realistic. He’s 33 and actually came out of retirement to join the team. However, that decision to leave the Eagles in the middle of last season had nothing to do with him having second thoughts about playing the game.

It had everything to do with his sick mother, which he explained in an extraordinarily vulnerable moment following Wednesday’s practice.

“I wasn’t supposed to retire,” Smith said, via Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. “I wasn’t going to tell the story, but I’m going to tell it. I got a phone call from my mom’s doctor telling me that she don’t have much longer to be on this Earth. I let the team know. Obviously they wasn’t trying to let me leave, but that was the only thing I had left — to retire. So I retired.”

It’s a picture-perfect never-judge-a-book-by-its-cover moment. On the surface, Smith abruptly retired in the middle of the season while playing for a team with Super Bowl aspirations. In the sport of football, a lot of people would call that quitting.

So when the Falcons signed Smith, it was natural to question how much he still loved the game. In football, if you’re ever seriously thinking about retiring, it’s usually too late. There aren’t many successful players out there with one foot already out the door.

Then Smith tells his heartbreaking side of the story — one that’s going to make him a fan favorite around Atlanta very quickly. He said his mother always wanted him to play here, given the Falcons’ proximity to his hometown of Montgomery, Alabama.

“My mom — rest her soul, man — she always wanted me to be in Atlanta with the Falcons,” Smith said, via Marc Raimondi of ESPN.

Prior to retiring, Smith recorded 10 tackles, three quarterback hits, and 1.5 sacks in five games for the Eagles. In his last full season, half of which was spent under Kevin Stefanski in Cleveland, he had nine sacks — a total that would have ranked second on the Falcons last year.

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(Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire)

The veteran catcher, who has spent most of the season on the IL, played in back-to-back games for the second time all year. A move that paid significant dividends, as Murphy recorded three hits, including a home run that ultimately proved to be the difference in Atlanta’s thrilling win over the Dodgers.

But was that a one-off, or should we expect to see more of Murphy moving forward? Walt Weiss addressed exactly that ahead of Wednesday’s game, via Mark Bowman of MLB.com.

Walt Weiss indicated Sean Murphy will be his catcher for at least half of the remaining regular season games.
Benefits:
1) Consistent playing time should improve Murphy's offensive production
2) Baldwin's legs can stay fresh when he spends time as the DH
3) Murphy is one of the… pic.twitter.com/6rnzi0qwZ5

— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) August 27, 2026

Sometimes in this business, you have a take and it takes months to be proven right. Other times it happens a lot quicker.

I’ve written a few times over the last couple of weeks about how the Braves needed to give Sean Murphy more playing time, especially when the alternative was running out guys like Jim Jarvis, who were providing next to nothing.

Murphy isn’t the most beloved player in Braves country right now, and that’s understandable. The Braves traded a fan favorite in William Contreras to get him, paid him a bunch of money, and he hasn’t held up his end of the bargain — even if a lot of that comes down to injuries.

But he’s still a valuable piece who could end up playing a huge role down the stretch, both for what he does behind the plate and for the upside in his bat. He just needs the playing time.

When Murphy does get some runway, the results can come in a hurry. Even last year, when he hit below the Mendoza Line across 94 games, he had two separate months where he posted an OPS above .900.

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April 2025: .990 OPS
July 2025: .925 OPS

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Murphy isn’t going to rake like that consistently, but that version of him exists — and it isn’t even the best part of what he brings to the table. The difference between him and Drake Baldwin calling a game has been night and day. There’s a reason the Braves pitching staff has been even better since Murphy returned from the IL, and it’s exactly what made Atlanta’s front office fall in love with him in the first place.

If the Braves had a true mashing DH on his way to 30-plus homers, this would be an entirely different conversation. But they don’t, which allows Baldwin to slide into that role and Murphy to play where he’s most valuable.

It’s nice that Walt Weiss is finally seeing the light, because it could end up being a significant factor in how far this club goes come October.

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(Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire)

The list is, admittedly, pretty lackluster outside of a few names, but most of them should be on the Braves’ radar, especially with so much money coming off the books.

Mark Feinsand’s Top 10 2027 MLB Free Agents

1. Tarik Skubal
2. Michael King
3. Randy Arozarena
4. Jazz Chisholm Jr.
5. Seiya Suzuki
6. Brandon Lowe
7. Clay Holmes
8. Casey Mize
9. Nick Martinez
10. Luis Arraez

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Atlanta was in on Tarik Skubal before he was moved to the Dodgers at the trade deadline, but it would be pretty shocking to see the Braves meet his demands in free agency. Most expect he’ll push for a deal in the $400 million range.

The more realistic targets are guys like Michael King and Clay Holmes. Holmes, in particular, makes a lot of sense given the success he had under Jeremy Hefner when the two were together in Queens.

Casey Mize is an interesting name, but the Braves reportedly had very little interest in acquiring him at the deadline. If that’s true, it’s hard to believe he does anything down the stretch that makes them reconsider and hand him a healthy contract come the offseason.

Left field is another place where the Braves should be looking to upgrade this winter. It’s been a problem area in Atlanta for years, and there’s just no way they can enter another season relying on Jurickson Profar. The Braves would be wise to send a message by cutting him this offseason. Getting suspended twice in a two-year span is unacceptable.

Arozarena is having a monster year for the Mariners and has had some huge moments in the postseason over his career. He’d be a perfect fit in Atlanta, and Seiya Suzuki would be another home run signing. He’s done nothing but rake since signing with the Chicago Cubs, boasting an .823 OPS over his five-year career. If the Braves were able to land either one, their lineup would look like the best in baseball.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. is another intriguing name because of his defensive versatility. Perhaps the Braves see him as an option who can play all over the diamond next season before settling in at second base when Ozzie Albies‘ contract is up. Chisholm has always spoken very fondly of Atlanta — though I’m not sure he’s much of an upgrade over Albies. Arozarena and Suzuki are much more clear fits.

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Photo: Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire

This could be a very impactful Falcons rookie class

The Falcons didn’t have a first-round pick in this year’s draft because of the James Pearce Jr. trade a year ago, so expectations should be tempered on just how impactful the 2026 rookie class can be in year one. However, they’ve largely been responsible for the most positive takeaways of the entire preseason.

Zachariah Branch is already a household name in Atlanta after his breakout season with the Georgia Bulldogs a year ago. He was taken in the third round, but he’s been raved about by his peers all summer.

“I’m just excited for him,” London said of Branch, via Josh Kendall of The Athletic. “The world is going to see.”

Branch is going to have every opportunity to play as a rookie. The Falcons wide receiver room is Drake London… and not much else, featuring Jahan Dotson and Olamide Zaccheaus as the second and third options. Those are respected veterans who aren’t going to give away their jobs easily, but if Branch is as talented as he believes himself to be, he could easily be the second option very early in the season.

Linebackers Kendal Daniels and Harold Perkins Jr. appear to be on their way to making an immediate impact as well. They were two of the few bright spots in the Falcons’ first preseason game against the Broncos, and both have been getting plenty of run with the ones throughout practice — with Daniels getting comfortable wearing the green dot.

“Kendal and Perk are way ahead of what I was expecting from rookies,” Divine Deablo said, via Josh Kendall of The Athletic. “Obviously they have to keep it up, but I’m excited. They don’t mess up a lot. They are on their P’s and Q’s, for sure.”

Deablo will be the key to the Falcons’ second level this season. When he went down a year ago, the entire defense took a step back. But with Kaden Elliss now back in New Orleans, everything else is up for grabs. The Falcons could be calling on both Daniels and Perkins a lot when the ball is snapped for real against the Steelers in Week 1.

Expect a lot of blitzing

The Falcons pass rush took two pretty much unrecoverable blows in the span of a week. Jalon Walker went down with a torn ACL, and the announcement of Pearce’s eight-game suspension followed soon after. Both first-round picks had a profound impact on a unit that went from the bottom of the league in sacks to second, setting a franchise record with 57.

There’s no replacing those two. The Falcons did add Za’Darius Smith, a veteran with 70.5 career sacks. That’s going to help, but if this team is going to avoid falling back into the cellar when it comes to getting after the quarterback, Jeff Ulbrich is going to have to blitz like crazy.

The good news is that’s something Ulbrich loves to do. The Falcons blitzed the second-most of any team last season at 33%, and I expect that number to climb closer to 50% this year. Without a creative scheme, this defense is going to be toast against quality quarterbacks.

Michael Penix Jr. is the starting quarterback for the Falcons

Michael Penix Jr. still hasn’t been cleared for 11-on-11 work, so expecting him to start Week 1 might be premature. However, simply by sitting out, he’s winning the quarterback competition. That’s how bad Tua Tagovailoa has been so far. He was horrendous in limited work against the Broncos, and the results from joint practice against the Colts sound very similar.

This was always going to be a case of: if it’s close, it goes to Penix. He’s the young quarterback on a rookie deal who could conceivably still be a franchise cornerstone. The Falcons are going to want to see what they have in him, and unless Tagovailoa takes massive strides over the next several weeks, that’s exactly what’s going to happen once Penix is cleared.

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(Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire)

A week later, that lead is down to just 4.5 games. FanGraphs still has Atlanta’s postseason odds at 99%, but the division is a lot more up in the air at 80.4%. And being honest about how this club has played over the last couple of weeks, along with the schedule ahead, I’m not sure the Braves should even be considered that big a favorite.

By now, you’ve probably heard about what the next week brings. Atlanta has a pit stop in Chicago for a one-game makeup against the first-place White Sox before back-to-back series against the top two seeds in the National League. They head to Milwaukee this weekend before welcoming the Dodgers to Truist Park at the beginning of next week.

That’s not a stretch any other club is jealous of, but it’s also an opportunity. The Braves remain in the mix for a first-round bye — 2.5 games behind the Dodgers and 4.0 behind the Brewers. With a couple of series wins, they’ll be back in the conversation for the No. 1 seed. With a couple of series losses, the NL East lead could be down to a game or two with an entire month left to play.

Nothing gets easier in September, either. They have matchups with the Cubs and Rays — two of baseball’s best teams — and another series with the Astros, who will be fighting for their playoff lives.

More important than all of that, though: the Braves play the Phillies seven times in the final month. No matter what happens the rest of the way, if they don’t take care of business against their division rival, they run the risk of the NL East crown staying in Philadelphia for one more year.

It all sets up for a wild ride down the stretch, something not many people expected to be saying a week ago. But just as easily as that lead shrunk to 4.5 games, it can grow back toward double digits. Baseball is a wonky game full of highs and lows — and contrary to popular belief, the Braves have been among the best in the sport against good teams.

Atlanta is 4-2 so far against the Brewers and Dodgers. They’re 5-1 against the Phillies, and overall, they’re 32-24 against teams over .500. The Braves aren’t going to shy away from anyone, even if the last couple of weeks have cast a lot of doubt on how far this team can go.

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(Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire)

Michael Penix Jr. still hasn’t been cleared for 11-on-11 work after tearing his ACL last season. He says he can essentially do everything from a physical standpoint with the knee, but there’s a mental side that’s sometimes more difficult to overcome.

“I want to start,” Penix said. “I want to start the first game of the season. But at the end of the day, it’s about how I feel. So there’s not really a timeframe on it…

“A lot of it is mental. Physically, I got a good ACL. The doctors did what they needed to do. I can go out there and do anything. But mentally, you hesitate, and it’s like do I trust it?”

You’d think essentially missing all of training camp and most of the preseason would put him behind the eight ball, but this might be the first quarterback competition ever won simply on the basis of how horrendous the opposition has performed. Tua Tagovailoa really struggled in the Falcons’ initial preseason game, and the reports from practice haven’t been much more encouraging.

The sample size is small, so it’s fair to say Tagovailoa still has the edge. But it’s starting to feel like this is Penix’s job to lose whenever he’s fully cleared. This was always going to be a competition where if it’s close, Penix gets the nod. He’s the unproven guy on a rookie deal who could conceivably be the organization’s first franchise quarterback since Matt Ryan — who, ironically, is now the team’s President of Football. The number one goal should be finding out what they have in Penix, unless Tagovailoa very clearly gives the Falcons a better chance to win.

None of that can happen until Penix is fully cleared, though, and that could be right around the corner. The third-year quarterback said following joint practices on Thursday that he has a call scheduled with his doctor soon, where they’ll figure out the next steps.

“I know that call will be coming up soon,” Penix said, via the Falcons’ official website. “Talk to my doctor, see where he thinks I am, see how he feels about everything and then we will go from there.”

Some credit should be given to Penix for his honesty with the media throughout this process. He’s been extraordinarily vulnerable, but it’s also created some confusion about who’s actually making the decisions. Is he the one holding the timeline back because he’s not mentally ready to take hits on the surgically repaired knee? Or is it the doctor’s call?

None of this is how Atlanta drew it up. But the outcome might end up being the right one anyway. The Falcons need to know whether Michael Penix Jr. is a franchise quarterback, and they were never going to find that out from the sideline. That call with his doctor might be the most important thing that happens this entire preseason.

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(Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire)

That’s exactly what we’ve seen Kiley McDaniel do over at ESPN. He just updated his list of the top 100 prospects in all of baseball, and four Braves were included — roughly on par with what you’ll see anywhere else. However, where they ranked is what makes it intriguing.

#89 Cam Caminiti

Considered by many a top-three prospect in the Braves organization, Cam Caminiti is the lowest-ranked Brave in the top 100. The 20-year-old is in his second full professional season after being taken in the first round a couple of years ago, and he’s already reached Double-A, where he just turned in one of the best performances of his career. Over six innings against a loaded Montgomery Biscuits lineup, he allowed one run on three hits and a walk with seven strikeouts. With a strong start to his 2027 campaign, the conversations about his MLB debut will begin.

#80 Conor Essenburg

This is the first time I’ve seen Conor Essenburg included on a top 100 list, and I love it. Because of all the success guys like Eric Hartman and Tate Southisene have had, Essenburg has flown quietly under the radar — but his performance for Augusta was anything but quiet. Over 59 games, he blasted 14 home runs with a .990 OPS, earning a promotion to High-A Rome. The power and the arm are very impressive, but the plate discipline is what really stands out. He’s walked 76 times in 79 games this season, leading to a .417 on-base percentage.

#33 Eric Hartman

Hartman has slowed down pretty considerably since a first half that saw him hit 20 home runs and steal 30 bases. However, the tools are still too incredible to ignore. He’s a legitimate five-tool athlete who could be at least a 20/20 guy at the major-league level down the line. The question is whether his offense will translate as he continues to move through the system. McDaniel clearly believes it will.

#30 Tate Southisene

To see two young Braves prospects inside the top 33 in all of baseball is a breath of fresh air. This is Southisene’s first full professional season since being taken in the first round of the 2025 MLB Draft, and at the time, most “draft analysts” were calling it a reach.

It certainly doesn’t look that way anymore. In about half a season, Southisene has moved up two levels, all the way to Double-A Columbus. Unfortunately, he’s been sidelined for the last couple of weeks after taking a pitch off his hand. But even if that’s the end of his first campaign, what a wild success it’s been. As a 19-year-old, he’s hit 12 homers with 45 stolen bases and an .876 OPS over 90 games.

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(Photo by John Adams/Icon Sportswire)

Nothing is guaranteed anymore, especially for a team showing off a ton of flaws with a schedule as difficult as anybody’s down the stretch — featuring meetings with the Phillies, Dodgers, Brewers, Cubs, Astros, and Rays.

A Regressing Bullpen

From the start of the season, the Braves bullpen was the one area they could rely on every night. It’s still the strongest aspect of the team, but some chinks in the armor are beginning to reveal themselves.

Dylan Lee has posted a 4.00 ERA over the last month. Raisel Iglesias has a 4.80 ERA dating back to May 26th. Didier Fuentes is inexperienced and pitching in a completely new role. And there have to be some pretty major concerns surrounding Robert Suarez — even if he’s still expected to return this season, he’ll have missed close to three months. There’s no telling what he’ll realistically provide, which forces the Braves to figure things out on the fly.

It’s still the least of Atlanta’s concerns, but the fact that Alex Anthopoulos didn’t add a reliever better than Brent Suter at the trade deadline is an abomination, especially considering the problems the club faces with the rotation.

A Slumping Lineup

If I had told you following the trade deadline that the Braves would go on to lose eight of twelve in the middle of August, you probably would have cursed out the pitching staff. Instead, the rotation and bullpen have been more than adequate over this stretch. It’s the offense costing them games.

The Braves are averaging a hair over three runs per game over the last two weeks, and the lineup is being shuffled daily in an attempt to find the right combination. It’s still not the club’s most glaring weakness, but again, this is an area that deserved more attention at the deadline.

There’s more than one way to skin a cat. All the focus was on Anthopoulos adding starting pitching, but if he didn’t like any of the options, he needed to add to his team’s strengths. One more bat would alleviate a lot of the concerns with this group — though at the end of the day, guys like Acuña, Riley, and Albies simply have to be better more consistently. If that doesn’t happen, the Braves never had much of a chance of going very far in October anyway.

A Confusing Rotation

I call the rotation confusing because on paper, this is by far the weakest link on the roster. And yet they don’t seem to be having many issues.

Bryce Elder and Martin Pérez have been mostly brilliant. Tyler Mahle has been the best addition of the entire trade deadline thus far, pitching to a 1.45 ERA over three starts. AJ Smith-Shawver looked really good in his first start back. And then of course there’s Chris Sale, who’s in the conversation for the best pitcher in baseball.

The performances of Mahle and Smith-Shawver in particular should inspire some confidence heading into the most important stretch of the season. That said, everybody should still be questioning whether the Braves’ starting pitching can hold up against the best competition. It just feels like this group is built to collapse at some point. It’s a matter of when.

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Photo: Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire

Reynaldo López will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Gwinnett on Sunday

— Chad Bishop (@MrChadBishop) August 21, 2026

Reynaldo Lopez has been out the last four weeks with knee inflammation. Prior to that, he made 24 appearances this season with 11 starts, pitching to a 3.64 ERA and 4.32 FIP over 71.2 innings.

The club has remained consistent on Lopez being a starting pitcher, but with so little time to ramp up and the arms already ahead of him on the roster, it would be pretty surprising if they chose to stretch him out fully. More than likely, he’ll join the Braves bullpen when he returns — a place where he’s had a lot of success over his career.

In 158 appearances as a reliever, Lopez owns a 3.03 ERA over 187.2 innings, and his ability to go multiple innings could prove valuable down the stretch.

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(Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire)

Today's starters #bravescountry pic.twitter.com/mhQMCrpSYN

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) August 20, 2026

Walt Weiss has been changing things up on a daily basis trying to find the right combination, but I question what’s so difficult to see here. The only switches should be coming in left field, with Lane Thomas starting against southpaws and Mike Yastrzemski starting against right-handed pitchers.

Outside of that, this is the best lineup in every single aspect.

The shortstop position has been a subject of conversation. The Braves seem to be forcing Jim Jarvis to be something he’s not, starting him when right-handed pitchers are on the mound. Jarvis brings some chops defensively — though I’m not sure he’s better than Mauricio Dubon. The issue is his offense. He offers next to no power and is hitting just .125 with a .353 OPS over his last 21 games. There’s no amount of defense that makes up for those numbers, especially when the Braves have a proven quality option in Dubon.

Using Dubon at shortstop also opens the DH spot for Drake Baldwin, allowing Sean Murphy to start behind the plate.

And I really don’t know what the Braves are trying to do with Murphy. If he’s healthy, he should be starting damn near every night. He’s by far the better defensive catcher. He’s also better at calling games than Baldwin. And if Murphy can ever find a rhythm with the stick, he gives the Braves offense so much more upside than any other option.

This is a guy who, even in a down season a year ago, accrued 2.5 WAR over just 94 games, hitting 16 home runs with a .704 OPS. In a good season? Murphy has recorded an OPS north of .803 three different times in his career. At this very moment, the Braves have exactly one player in their lineup — Matt Olson — with an OPS higher than that.

So, seriously, what the hell are we doing here? I know Murphy has had a rough go of it over the last three years, dealing with a plethora of injuries. But the Braves should be using these final six weeks as a runway to see if they can get him going offensively.

If Weiss were sitting Murphy to create opportunities for a young stud oozing with upside, it might make a lick of sense. But we’re talking about Jim Jarvis — a guy who was barely ranked as a prospect and has shown nothing to suggest he’s around the corner from a breakout offensive campaign.

This is the one decision I can’t wrap my head around. Unless he isn’t healthy enough to play most days, Sean Murphy should be behind the plate. He’s a player who could really change the outlook of the Braves going into the postseason.

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(Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire)

If you’re new to this series, this is all about attempting to figure out who could potentially start Game 2 of a playoff series behind Chris Sale — and after three weeks, it feels like we’re finally getting some separation at the top.

Removed From Rankings: Spencer Schwellenbach

We’re now three weeks into August, and there hasn’t been a single positive update on Spencer Schwellenbach. Even if he began a rehab assignment today, it would be almost impossible to start him in any kind of postseason setting. His season is likely finished — a disappointing thing to say about one of the Braves’ most talented arms.

5. Bryce Elder (Previous Ranking: 5)

Elder really hasn’t done a lot wrong this entire season. He’ll have a blowup start here and there, but it’s typically sandwiched between three or four quality outings. That was the case again this week. After giving up seven runs his last time out, he bounced back with six innings of one-run ball against the Diamondbacks.

However, we also learned that Elder has been battling a knee injury. He hasn’t pitched in five days and isn’t on the schedule over the next four. Given the Braves have yet to place him on the IL, it doesn’t appear to be anything serious, but it’s hard to move him up this list with that unknown.

4. Martin Pérez (Previous Ranking: 4)

Pérez’s scoreless inning streak ended this week, as he allowed four runs in the first inning against the Twins. However, he settled in and gave the Braves a chance to win, tossing his next four innings without allowing a run. There remains a very good chance we see him pitch come October in some capacity, but he’s highly unlikely to get the ball in Game 2.

3. Grant Holmes (Previous Ranking: 3)

It’s a good sign for the rest of the group when Holmes carries a no-hitter into the seventh inning and still doesn’t move up a spot on this list. Atlanta’s own Kenny Powers will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in the postseason — whether that’s as a starter or a reliever.

2. AJ Smith-Shawver (Previous Ranking: 1)

Box scores be damned — Smith-Shawver was mostly brilliant in his return to the majors this week. He had so much more command of his splitter and seemed a lot more confident in all of his offerings. The upside with Smith-Shawver remains head and shoulders above everyone else on this list. If he puts it all together coming down the stretch, there’s no doubt who should get the ball in Game 2. But because of the way the guy ahead of him has pitched, I need to see a little more before Smith-Shawver retakes the top spot.

1. Tyler Mahle (Previous Ranking: 2)

An argument could be made that Tyler Mahle has been the best trade deadline acquisition of anyone thus far. After 6.2 innings of two-run ball against the Twins this week, he now has a 1.45 ERA in a Braves uniform and is averaging more than a strikeout per inning. For now, I’m leaning into the narrative that the Braves saw something in Mahle they could fix, and the results are speaking for themselves. We’ve seen it time and time again with this organization. Regression is undoubtedly coming, but right now, Mahle would get the ball in Game 2.

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Photo: David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire

Tyler Goodson Earns Roster Spot

The party really got going when Tyler Goodson busted one outside and took it 49 yards to the house for the first touchdown of the afternoon, giving the Falcons a 10-3 lead. He’d finish with 59 yards on six carries, adding one catch for four yards.

Running back is one place on the roster where it’s very difficult for fringe guys to make an impact. Bijan Robinson will likely touch the ball around 30 times a game, and Brian Robinson Jr. is a very competent backup who’ll handle the rest of the load. But depth is always important, and Goodson has proven throughout training camp and the preseason that he’s a football player who belongs on the Falcons’ final 53-man roster.

The Jack Strand Game

The Falcons brought in Cooper Rush for depth purposes due to Michael Penix Jr.’s injury, and Rush had a decent game, going 10-of-11 for 86 yards. But the star of the show was Jack Strand. The undrafted rookie completed 12 of his 17 passes for 217 yards and a touchdown. He also added another score on the ground, carrying the ball nine times for 22 yards.

The Falcons quarterback competition got real after the game, when it was announced Penix has been fully cleared for 11-on-11 work. With him and Tua in the fold, quarterback is another position where it’s tough for someone to crack the roster. But Strand has been a bright spot in both preseason games. I expect the Falcons try to keep him around, whether that means carrying three quarterbacks or stashing him on the practice squad.

Defensive Depth

A lot of the reports out of joint practices had good things to say about the Falcons defense, and that showed up in the game on Saturday.

C.J. Henderson had some really impressive plays at corner early on, as the former ninth overall pick looks like he’s cemented himself as quality depth at the position.

Undrafted free agent Carlos Allen Jr. had a huge week, impressing at joint practices and coming up with a couple of big run stuffs in the first half. That’ll go a long way as he makes his case for a roster spot on the interior defensive line — a weak spot for the Falcons a year ago.

But the most fun player to watch on defense over the first two preseason games has been rookie fourth-round linebacker Kendal Daniels. He just flies around the field, and with the way things are trending, there’s a chance he could start alongside Divine Deablo. At the very least, he’ll immediately have an impact on special teams. You’ll be seeing Daniels a lot come Sundays.

Fun Guy Kevin Stefanski?

Kevin Stefanski isn’t the kind of guy who’s going to win over the fan base with his press conferences — quite the opposite of his predecessor Raheem Morris, who could sell ice to an Eskimo with his three-piece suits and million-dollar smile. But he showed a little personality when he channeled his inner Mark Richt and encouraged the team to rush the field after the first touchdown of the game.

Kevin Stefanski channeling Mark Richt and Knowshon Moreno!
The coach told Falcons players he was good with an excessive celebration penalty when they found the end zone … but just the one pic.twitter.com/etS4aQhBWX

— Justin Felder (@Justin_FOX5) August 22, 2026

Of course, the stakes were a bit different when the Bulldogs did it a couple of decades ago in a highly contested rivalry game against the Gators. But the players loved it, and that’s the kind of small gesture that goes a long way in the locker room. Hopefully the vibes stay that high when the Falcons head to Pittsburgh in a few weeks.

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(Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire)

Michael Penix Jr. hadn’t been cleared for 11-on-11 work, and Tua Tagovailoa delivered some very uninspiring performances in the public eye — highlighted by a 3-for-5, 22-yard showing in the preseason opener against the Broncos that also featured multiple mishandled snaps. He doesn’t look like someone with much high-level quarterback play left in him, but without legitimate competition, he appeared to be the Falcons’ starter by default heading into a Week 1 matchup with the Steelers.

That changed this weekend. Following a really impressive win over the Colts in the Falcons second preseason game, Kevin Stefanski told reporters that Penix has been fully cleared.

Falcons HC Kevin Stefanski told reporters that QB Michael Penix Jr. now has been cleared to return to 11-on-11 work.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 22, 2026

A month ago, it felt like Tagovailoa was a shoo-in to begin the season as Atlanta’s starter. He had every opportunity to take the job and never look back. Instead, he may have just handed it to Penix while Penix was sitting on the sideline.

This was always going to be a situation where the Falcons leaned toward the younger quarterback if the competition was close. This isn’t a team that’s a serious Super Bowl contender. Their No. 1 priority is — and has been for the last decade — finding a franchise quarterback who can finally pull this organization out of the purgatory it’s been in since trading Matt Ryan.

Penix may or may not be that guy. He showed promising flashes last season before going down with the ACL injury, but the overall sample size remains far too small to say anything concrete. The Falcons want to see what they have in him, and the thought was that a veteran like Tagovailoa would provide legitimate competition. It hasn’t quite worked out that way to this point, but it’ll be interesting to see how the temperature changes now that both guys are a full go.

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(Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire)

The 35-year-old veteran signed a minor-league contract with the club during the offseason and looked like a massive long shot to make the team out of Spring Training. That all changed when Hurston Waldrep, Spencer Strider, and Spencer Schwellenbach went down with injuries. It left the Braves with several massive voids to fill, and nobody believed Pérez was good enough to alleviate those concerns long-term — not even the people inside the organization who signed him.

After three more than decent performances to start the 2026 campaign, posting a 3.14 ERA, the Braves somewhat surprisingly designated him for assignment. What followed might have been one of the most important moments of the entire season: Pérez cleared waivers. Not only did the Braves fail to fully appreciate what he had to offer, but there wasn’t another team in the league that thought he could make a positive impact either.

That’s pretty remarkable considering just about every club is looking for quality starting pitching.

Pérez understandably wasn’t pleased with the decision, but ultimately he and his agent felt it was best for him to return to Atlanta — and all the decision-makers should be thanking their lucky stars it turned out that way. Outside of Chris Sale, nobody has been more reliable week to week than Martin Pérez, which continued Tuesday with six scoreless innings. And the Braves needed him to be that good.

The offense mustered just one hit through the first seven innings, leading to only two runs. But they got a bit of insurance with two outs in the eighth, as Matt Olson crushed his 35th home run of the season off the Chop House, tying him for the league lead.

Olson deserves MVP consideration, even if he’s not going to beat out the likes of Shohei Ohtani and Pete Crow-Armstrong. But Tuesday belonged to Pérez, who now has a scoreless innings streak of 18.0 — a run that includes a start where he carried a no-hitter into the seventh-inning a couple of weeks ago.

For the season, his ERA has now dropped below 3.00. He’s accrued nearly 3.0 WAR, and if the postseason started tomorrow, there’s a strong case he should get the ball in Game 2 behind Chris Sale. It’s one of the best stories of the season, and a primary reason the Braves are waving to a Phillies team that’s miles behind in the rearview mirror.

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(Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire)

That wouldn’t be an issue in a lot of places. But for a team that’s cycled through quarterbacks the way Atlanta has, many of them inexperienced, it never made a whole lot of sense — and the team usually suffered through the early part of the season because of it.

Kevin Stefanski isn’t going to make that same mistake. He told the media on Wednesday that the starters will play Friday against the Broncos, with Tua Tagovailoa making his Falcons debut under center. Stefanski added that the goal is for them to play around 10 snaps.

Kevin Stefanski said starters will play one series to ten plays in Friday's preseason game, and from there they will rotate some guys in and out. Tua Tagovailoa will start. (And the plan is subject to change dpeneding on practice today).

— Joe Patrick (@JoePatrick) August 12, 2026

Not everybody should be treated the same when it comes to preseason playing time. Bijan Robinson probably should be wearing street clothes. He’s got nothing to prove, and the risk far outweighs the reward of getting him a few extra live reps.

Tua Tagovailoa probably doesn’t need a ton of action either. He’s a veteran who’s started a lot of games, but greasing the wheels in a new offensive system has its benefits.

Stefanski recognizes that, and said the plan for each player is different. Some starters could see a lot of action throughout the preseason, while others will be handled with more caution. It’s all about having a plan to get each guy ready for Week 1.

As far as who’s starting in the Falcons’ opener against the Steelers, Stefanski isn’t ready to commit to anybody just yet. However, the longer Penix goes without being cleared for 11-on-11 work, the more likely it is we see Tua under center to begin the season.

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(Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire)

Lopez is dealing with minor knee inflammation and is already throwing bullpens. He could be back within a week and will almost certainly be joined by Smith-Shawver, who’s eligible to be recalled Friday and just turned in a near-perfect outing for the Gwinnett Stripers, allowing one baserunner over 5.1 innings with seven strikeouts.

Suarez is further away. He’s been dealing with elbow inflammation since mid-June, and the Braves have taken things extraordinarily cautiously with him. It’s likely going to be at least a few more weeks before we see him back in Atlanta. He hasn’t even started throwing bullpens yet, but the expectation is he’ll return at some point this season.

Because rosters expand to 28 players in September, allowing the Braves to carry an extra pitcher, let’s say for now that only two spots will need to be opened up for the returns of Lopez and Smith-Shawver. Here’s who’s on the bubble.

Danny Young

For a long time, the Braves were in desperate need of another left-handed reliever behind Dylan Lee. However, the emergence of Dylan Dodd and the addition of Brent Suter at the trade deadline have severely diminished that need. Young has some intriguing stuff, but he’s been hit hard this season, carrying a WHIP north of 2.000 to go along with a 6.35 ERA and 6.96 FIP over 15 appearances. It feels like his days are numbered with the major-league club.

Victor Mederos

Sometimes professional baseball isn’t fair. Take out a July 22nd outing in which Mederos surrendered four runs in just a third of an inning, and he’s pitched to a 2.00 ERA over 18 innings this season, many of them in big moments.

But looking at the active roster, it’s tough to see the Braves going in another direction. They’re not going to give up on one of their starting pitchers, and the rest of the bullpen has all but cemented its spots for the remainder of the season barring injury. Given Mederos has options, he’s an obvious candidate to head back to Gwinnett. However, I have a feeling this won’t be the last we hear from him this season.

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Photo: Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire

Penix taking things more slowly than some others coming back from similar injuries shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. This is already the third torn ACL of his football career, and while physically he might be at 100%, the mental barrier for someone who’s dealt with that many injuries is a much harder one to clear — something he explained in a recent interview with Cam Newton.

“I want to start,” Penix said. “I want to start the first game of the season. But at the end of the day, it’s about how I feel. So there’s not really a timeframe on it…

“A lot of it is mental. Physically, I got a good ACL. The doctors did what they needed to do. I can go out there and do anything. But mentally, you hesitate, and it’s like do I trust it?”

My experience in the medical field may be lacking, but the way Penix’s injury was being discussed through the media never made a lot of sense. If he can move around and do everything in 7-on-7s, there shouldn’t be much structural concern left with the knee.

This interview brings everything full circle. There’s nothing wrong with Penix physically. He’s just not there mentally yet — not to the point where he can play without thinking about it. And that can be read as both a positive and a negative.

The good news is he’s healthy. The bad news is we’re talking about a player who’s dealt with a slew of major injuries this early in his career, and the mental barriers that come with that aren’t easy to overcome.

However, what Penix is describing is completely normal, and anyone who’s torn an ACL will tell you the same. Physical clearance and psychological clearance are two entirely different finish lines. And Penix’s situation is uniquely difficult. This isn’t a guy processing one bad break. He tore his ACL twice at Indiana before this one. When you’ve had your knees give out on you three separate times, “do I trust it?” isn’t paranoia. It’s pattern recognition. His body has taught him a lesson that his doctors can’t simply un-teach with a clean MRI.

That matters for a quarterback more than most positions. A hesitant quarterback is a compromised quarterback. If Penix is thinking about his leg instead of his second read, if he’s bailing from clean pockets or hitching before he steps into a throw, the physical talent doesn’t translate.

What does it mean for Atlanta? In the short term, it settles the quarterback question — Tua starts, and probably holds the job for a while. But the longer implication is murkier. The Falcons still don’t know what they have in Penix, and every week he spends in 7-on-7s is another week they don’t find out. At some point this organization has to make a franchise-altering decision about whether he’s the guy, and they’re currently gathering almost no information to base it on.

There’s a version of this that works out. Penix gets fully cleared, spends a few weeks getting his confidence back in practice, and by midseason he’s playing free. That’s the outcome the Falcons need, and it’s not unrealistic — plenty of players cross that mental threshold once they take a hit and get up fine.

But there’s also a version where this lingers. Where the hesitation never fully leaves, and Atlanta finds itself back at square one at the most important position on the field.

Either way, Penix deserves credit for the honesty. Plenty of players in his position would have said all the right things and pushed to be out there Week 1 regardless of how they felt. He didn’t, and given his injury history, it’s probably the smarter approach. It just doesn’t make the Falcons’ situation any clearer.

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(Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire)

Spencer Strider and Hurston Waldrep, both dealing with elbow inflammation, will avoid going under the knife and begin throwing programs this week.

Walt Weiss says he can’t count on Spencer Strider or Hurston Waldrep pitching again this year. But both will at least start a throwing program this week. This is at least encouraging regarding the possibility of them being available next season. Waldrep got multiple opinions…

— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) August 10, 2026

That’s a fantastic update — but not one that’s going to have a massive impact on this season. It’s highly unlikely either Waldrep or Strider pitches again for the Braves in 2026, but had they needed surgery, they’d have missed all of next year as well.

I’ll still leave the door open ever so slightly for Strider to make an appearance down the stretch and potentially build a case for the postseason roster, though. He’s really struggled as a starter since undergoing InternalBrace surgery back in 2024, but maybe the Braves give him a quick look for an inning to see if he could bring anything to the table as a reliever. Long-term, the club still views him as a starting pitcher — but there’s no chance of him making an impact in that role this season.

Spencer Schwellenbach is a little ahead of those two. He began his throwing program in June and has tossed a handful of bullpens. However, the chances of him returning this season grow grimmer by the day. He still hasn’t begun a rehab assignment, and the fact that he hasn’t suggests he’s not quite feeling 100%.

The door shouldn’t be closed entirely on him pitching at all this year. Like Strider, Schwellenbach could get a look in a relief role. But the chances of him stretching out and making starts are inching closer to zero with each passing day. He’d have to begin a rehab assignment within the next 10 days to receive serious consideration.

Of all the Braves’ injured arms, Reynaldo Lopez is by far the most likely to return this season. He’s dealing with knee inflammation and is already throwing bullpens. Within the next week or so, he could be activated. The bigger question is how the Braves decide to use him the rest of the way.

It feels pretty obvious he should be used out of the bullpen. Chris Sale is the clear-cut No. 1. Martin Pérez, Tyler Mahle, and Grant Holmes aren’t going to lose their spots with the way they’ve performed recently. AJ Smith-Shawver is going to get a chance to start. And that still leaves Bryce Elder.

The Braves could roll with a six-man rotation the rest of the way to keep everyone fresh, given how healthy their lead in the division is. But there’s really no place for Lopez in the rotation anymore, and he’s had success throughout his career as a reliever.

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(Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire)

Martin Pérez was brilliant against the Mets, tossing six more scoreless innings in the win. And on the farm, AJ Smith-Shawver essentially guaranteed himself a start with the major-league club next week, going 5.1 innings and allowing just one hit with seven strikeouts over 95 pitches.

AJ Smith-Shawver on Tuesday for Gwinnett in Norfolk: 5 1/3 IP, 1 H (an infield single to the leadoff batter), 7 Ks, 0 BB, 95 pitches (65 strikes), one "hard-hit" ball pic.twitter.com/Arw1Cbxej0

— Chad Bishop (@MrChadBishop) August 12, 2026

Smith-Shawver made his season debut a couple of weeks ago against the Mets, but because he was the 27th man for a doubleheader and the Braves were desperate for fresh arms, they felt it was best to option him. That meant he had to spend 15 days in the minors before being recalled — a window that expires Friday.

Had that not been the case, Smith-Shawver likely would have continued ramping up with the major-league club. It’s worked out pretty well for the hard-throwing 23-year-old, though. Over five starts with the Stripers, he owns a 1.66 ERA with 10.4 strikeouts per nine innings, and yesterday was by far his most complete outing. He maintained his intensity all the way to his final pitch and showed much better control of his splitter, his go-to off-speed offering.

The upside with Smith-Shawver is something the Braves don’t have anywhere else on the roster outside of Chris Sale. When he’s right, he looks like the frontline starter the club was hoping to add at the trade deadline, flashing a heater that can touch triple digits and pairing it with an intriguing mix of secondary stuff he continues to fine-tune.

In an ideal world, he’ll prove he belongs in the postseason mix over the next six weeks. The idea of squeezing 4-5 innings out of him in a potential Game 2 and then following it up with another hard-throwing youngster in Didier Fuentes is very appealing — and it might be the Braves’ best shot at making a deep run come October.

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(Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire)

Walt Weiss updates the status of setup man Robert Saurez, saying Suarez is scheduled to begin throwing Thursday

— Chad Bishop (@MrChadBishop) August 12, 2026

Suarez has been out since mid-June, so he still has quite a lengthy process ahead before rejoining the club. He’ll slowly build up until he’s ready to throw bullpens, and he’ll likely need at least a few rehab appearances after that.

The good news is he’s a reliever. He doesn’t have to be stretched out the way a starting pitcher would over an entire month. Once he’s throwing bullpens, he’s much closer to contributing almost immediately.

The Braves still believe that will happen sometime this season, and for Alex Anthopoulos’ sake, they better hope so. If Robert Suarez doesn’t pitch again this year and the Braves didn’t add to their bullpen at the trade deadline, it will go down as a horrendous missed opportunity. The pairing of Suarez and Raisel Iglesias is vital to Atlanta’s hopes of getting back to the World Series and winning for the first time since 2021.

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(Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire)

Sources: Jorge Mateo has agreed to a Major League deal with the Tampa Bay Rays.

— Francys Romero (@FrancysRomero) August 13, 2026

It’s impossible to know what kind of conversations occurred behind closed doors, but I wouldn’t have minded keeping Mateo in the organization — and there’s a pretty good argument he never should have been designated for assignment in the first place.

Ha-Seong Kim is rotting on the bench simply because the Braves paid him $20 million in the offseason. It’s certainly not because of anything he’s done on the field, where he’s been worse offensively, defensively, and on the bases than just about everybody on the roster. At least Mateo offered plus defense and elite speed for those moments when a pinch runner is needed.

On top of that, Jim Jarvis has cooled off considerably after a hot start, and it’s fair to wonder how much longer he should stay on the major-league roster. He’s still young, so if he isn’t going to start most nights, he’s better off continuing to develop in Gwinnett.

In 65 games for the Braves this season, Mateo hit .240 with four home runs and a .665 OPS. Most of that production came over the first couple of months, though. Since June 2nd (30 games), he hit just .120 with a .330 OPS in 53 plate appearances.

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The 26-year-old right-hander has yet to make an appearance this season after undergoing elbow surgery during Spring Training. He began throwing in June and has progressed to bullpen work, but Weiss said Wednesday that Schwellenbach still isn’t feeling quite like himself, calling it an “uneven road back.”

Braves manager Walt Weiss says that Spencer Schwellenbach is having an "uneven road back." Schwelly threw a few bullpen sessions over the last month.

— Barrett Sallee (@BarrettSallee) August 12, 2026

Given Schwellenbach’s age, how important he is to the future of the organization, and the fact that he’s still not feeling 100%, there’s really no reason for the Braves to push things much further this year. It’s already highly unlikely he makes much of an impact. Even if he started a rehab assignment tomorrow, he wouldn’t be ready to rejoin the major-league club until mid-September.

Perhaps things take a turn for the better in the coming weeks. An appearance this season can’t be ruled out entirely just yet, but doubtful is probably the most appropriate way to describe it at this point.

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(Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire)

Removed From The Rankings: Didier Fuentes

Things could change over the final six weeks, but it’s become evident the Braves aren’t likely to stretch out Didier Fuentes and use him as a starter this season. That’s completely understandable given the impact he’s had in relief, and with the way some of these other arms have performed, there’s no reason to push their luck. Fuentes can have just as much impact as a hybrid reliever who can go multiple innings as he could as a starter.

6. Spencer Schwellenbach (Previous Rank: 7)

Schwellenbach remains last on the list simply because there’s still no telling whether he returns this season. With each passing day it looks less likely, because it’s going to take him at least a month to get fully stretched out, and then he’d have to prove he’s deserving of pitching in such a high-pressure situation. If Schwellenbach doesn’t begin a rehab assignment over the next week or two, he’ll be taken off this list entirely.

5. Bryce Elder (Previous Rank: 6)

Elder has had a really good season for the Braves. He’s stayed healthy and given the club a chance to win more often than not every five days. There’s a lot of value in those types of pitchers, but anybody trying to convince you he should be starting a playoff game is lying through their teeth. Elder didn’t reinvent the wheel this offseason. He made some adjustments that have led to better results, but he isn’t going to strike out a lot of batters, and much of his success depends on some fortunate luck. Hope is not a strategy come the postseason, and if he’s who the Braves are banking on in October, they’re in a lot of trouble.

4. Martin Pérez (Previous Rank: 4)

Pérez has done everything possible to work his way up this list, currently amid an 18-inning scoreless streak, but he actually holds his spot this week because of what the guys in front of him have done. I have Pérez and Elder in the same bucket. Neither is going to overpower opposing lineups, and both need some BABIP luck to find success, but they’re solid innings eaters at the back of the rotation who can get the job done in a pinch. That’s not exactly the profile you want starting a playoff game.

3. Grant Holmes (Previous Rank: 5)

Holmes is coming off his second consecutive outing allowing zero runs over six innings, and he boasts a 2.18 ERA over his last nine starts. Walt Weiss probably shouldn’t be thinking of him as an option who’ll go very deep into a playoff game, but he should feel confident in Holmes squeezing out anywhere from three to five solid innings.

2. Tyler Mahle (Previous Rank: 3)

What a Braves debut it was for Tyler Mahle after he was acquired at the trade deadline, tossing six shutout innings with nine strikeouts against the Yankees in the Bronx. If he keeps putting together outings like that, there will be no question about who’s starting behind Chris Sale come the postseason. But I’m going to need to see it more than once before naming him the surefire Game 2 option.

1. AJ Smith-Shawver (Previous Rank: 2)

AJ Smith-Shawver made just one start for the Braves before he was optioned, but that decision was more out of necessity than about his performance. He’s looked great since returning from Tommy John surgery, most recently tossing 5.1 scoreless innings for the Stripers on Tuesday while allowing just one baserunner with seven strikeouts. When it comes to upside, nobody on this list holds a candle to Smith-Shawver, and the thought of him starting Game 2 with Didier Fuentes relieving him is the current best-case scenario for the Braves.

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(Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire)

Lopez was scratched from his last start with knee inflammation. There was little indication of exactly what went wrong, but it doesn’t appear to be serious. He’s already begun a throwing program and doesn’t anticipate this being a very long IL stint.

Spoke to Reynaldo López en Español. He said he’s begun a light throwing program and that he expects the it to be a short stint on the IL.

— Jesús Cano (@Jesus_Cano88) August 6, 2026

How the Braves handle the rotation the rest of the way will be very interesting. Smith-Shawver will surely get a look as a starter when he returns given his upside. It would be difficult to move Holmes or Elder to the bullpen after the way they’ve performed recently, even if Holmes has had a lot of success in a relief role during his time with the Braves.

Lopez has as well, and I’d guess that’s where the Braves put him when he’s ready. That still leaves six guys, but it’s very possible the club chooses to ride a six-man rotation down the stretch to ensure everybody stays healthy. The Braves are probably going to be very cautious with Chris Sale, knowing that if something happens to him, their season is likely over.

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(Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire)

Smith-Shawver has already made his season debut for the major-league club after undergoing Tommy John surgery last May, and most recently turned in a really strong appearance for the Gwinnett Stripers. He should be back with the Braves within the next couple of weeks.

Schwellenbach’s situation is the most concerning of the bunch. His 2025 campaign ended with a fractured elbow, and he was supposed to be ready for the start of this season before a setback required surgery to remove loose bodies in that same elbow. He’s thrown a handful of bullpens to this point, but serious questions remain about whether the Braves push him to return at all this season, even if they could desperately use another starting pitcher.

Suarez’s injury falls somewhere in the middle. He was placed on the IL in mid-June with elbow inflammation. Further tests revealed no structural damage, and from the sound of it, this seemed like something he’d return from within a few weeks.

It’s now been close to two months, and Suarez still hasn’t thrown a bullpen. That’s not a great sign for someone this impactful. Over 31 appearances, he owns a 0.56 ERA in his first season with the Braves, pitching almost exclusively in high-leverage situations.

The expectation is that he should still return this year with plenty of time to ramp up before October, and Walt Weiss attempted to provide some clarity on the timeline.

“The philosophy there is we want him to be 100% pain-free before he starts to ramp up again,” Weiss said, via Gabe Burns of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “At this point of the season, we just can’t afford a setback. If he were to have a setback, his season is probably over. So we’re just really making sure he’s 100% when he steps on the mound again so he can sprint to the finish line.”

Burns also reported that the pain in Suarez’s elbow is minimal at this point, and all of this lines up with something Alex Anthopoulos said earlier this week about the situation.

“This is about October,” Anthopoulos told Suarez, making sure there were never any thoughts in his mind about trying to rush back.

It’s too early to panic. There are still a couple of months before the Braves take the field for playoff baseball, and it sounds like they’re taking every precautionary measure possible. But if we don’t see Suarez start throwing over the next month, the alarms will be sounding — because not only do they need him healthy, they need him pitching like the dominant relief arm he was before the injury.

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(Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire)

However, let’s be very clear about something: the Braves acquiring more arms at the deadline was never about August. The division is already well in hand, and the team’s playoff odds sit at 99%. It was always about putting together a staff that was fully loaded for October, giving this incredibly talented team the best chance at lifting the Commissioner’s Trophy — and until that’s decided two months from now, nothing should change your mind about what the Braves did or didn’t do.

I’m worried about Bryce Elder starting in an elimination game and giving up a crooked number before the Braves offense even steps to the plate, leaving Truist Park feeling more like a funeral home than a playoff atmosphere. I’m worried about having a 3-1 lead on the Dodgers and failing to close it out, then spending the next six months wondering how the Braves would have surely been World Series champions if they hadn’t been so hyper-focused on hoarding prospects.

What I’m not worried about is a couple of games in August against the Miami Marlins. So let’s save the congratulations for when things really matter. Then we’ll know if the Braves made the right decision.

What we can all mostly agree on right now is that this team is capable of winning a World Series and is getting healthier than it’s been all season at exactly the right time. But if they’re going to overcome their lack of starting pitching, at least a few of these critical developments will have to go their way.

Austin Riley Stays Hot

Most likely, the Braves are going to have to slug their way to a World Series, and they certainly have the lineup to do it. Their 8th and 9th hitters in last night’s game were both former All-Stars.

Of course, Murphy has struggled over the last couple of seasons and has played in only five games this year, but when he gets hot, he has the type of power to carry an offense.

Riley is an entirely different beast, though. He was a perennial MVP candidate not long ago and one of the most talented offensive players in the league. Injuries have taken their toll of late, but he finally seems to be finding a rhythm, hitting over .300 with an .898 OPS in 18 games since the All-Star break. If he performs like that come October, the Braves are going to be tough to beat.

Didier Fuentes — The Next Ian Anderson

Obviously, Didier Fuentes and Ian Anderson are two entirely different pitchers when it comes to their respective repertoires. Fuentes is far more talented and will hopefully have a much more successful career. But October is where legends are made, and for that one fall month back in 2021, nobody could touch the 23-year-old Anderson, who allowed just three runs over four starts, including five hitless innings against the Astros in the World Series.

I’m not sure the Braves are going to consider stretching Fuentes into a starter over the final couple of months, because he’s been so damn good out of the bullpen. But at the very least, I expect them to use him as a hybrid arm who can go multiple innings in the biggest situations. Over the course of a series, he’s going to be relied on just as much as Anderson was — and probably in higher-pressure moments. If Fuentes proves just as cold-blooded, the Braves will be in good shape.

A Break In The Injury Department

This is the most important of them all, and the Braves really need it to break in two ways. Most importantly, Anthopoulos’ lack of action at the deadline left the club with a razor-thin margin for error. One injury to a major piece of this pitching staff, and their World Series chances plummet toward zero.

On the other side of things, it would be real nice if a couple of injured arms returned and made a significant impact. Robert Suarez has been out with elbow inflammation since mid-June — can he still be the dominant setup man he was over the first few months? Can AJ Smith-Shawver, who will probably rejoin the team in the next couple of weeks, make an impact? And, of course, is there any chance Spencer Schwellenbach returns and looks anything like the guy who took the league by storm as a rookie?

If two of those three become significant contributors come October and the Braves avoid any other major injuries, they can challenge anyone.

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That hasn’t really been the case in Atlanta, for a variety of reasons. Neither of the Falcons’ potential starting quarterbacks entered camp healthy. Tua Tagovailoa is dealing with a minor back injury, while Michael Penix Jr. is still weeks away from being fully cleared following the ACL injury he suffered last season.

And to really add insult to injury, Jalon Walker went down in practice earlier this week. Immediately, it felt as if the energy had been sucked out of Flowery Branch. Practice was called early. Walker buried his face in a towel as teammates embraced him, and he was carted off the field. Within hours, the ACL tear was confirmed and he was ruled out for the season.

Not only will the Falcons be without Walker, but James Pearce Jr. is also expected to receive a hefty suspension from the league following his domestic violence incident during the offseason. Atlanta now has a dire need to add to its EDGE room — but that’s not the blockbuster trade ESPN has in mind heading into the season. They believe the Falcons are better off selling, accumulating draft picks as the new regime focuses on the future.

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49ers receive: S Jessie Bates III, 2028 sixth-round pick
Falcons receive: 2027 third-round pick

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This might be the fourth different outlet I’ve seen suggest the 49ers trade with the Falcons for safety Jessie Bates III, and it’s not without reason.

Bates has been a star in Atlanta, named All-Pro in two of his three seasons with the team. This is a piece the Falcons can’t afford to lose if they’re trying to win now — but how much is this team really thinking Super Bowl?

The Falcons don’t know who their quarterback is going to be in Week 1. The defense just lost arguably its most promising young piece. They have $38 million in cap space going unspent, a number that’s expected to skyrocket next year, when they might have a better idea of the future at quarterback. And perhaps most notably, this is a new regime that doesn’t really have any pressure to win right away, even if Atlanta would desperately like to break a postseason drought dating back to 2017.

The Falcons aren’t Super Bowl contenders. They’re fringe playoff contenders in a weak division at best. Given that Bates is entering the final year of his contract and probably doesn’t have many seasons left in the league, acquiring a valuable top-100 draft pick and moving him to a contender does make sense — whether that’s now or closer to the midseason trade deadline.

The connection between Bates and former Falcons head coach Raheem Morris also adds another layer to the conversations. He’s now the defensive coordinator in San Francisco, so this is a hypothetical trade that could definitely pick up some steam at some point.

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They were after the very few true ace-type pitchers on the market, targeting Tarik Skubal, Jacob deGrom, and Logan Webb. If they weren’t able to land someone they viewed as a game-changer, they were perfectly fine standing pat — which is essentially what happened, with the only addition being Tyler Mahle, who’s nothing more than a mid-rotation starter.

When it came to Skubal, the most high-profile option on the market, it really came down to the Dodgers and the Brewers. According to Ken Rosenthal, the rest of the offers didn’t come close, even if Atlanta was willing to part with just about every young player in its system.

“The Braves never got close to a deal for Skubal, even though they made virtually all of their young players available, including right-handers AJ Smith-Shawver and JR Ritchie,” Rosenthal reports. “The same was true for the Chicago Cubs. Infielder Jefferson Rojas, the prospect they sent to the New York Mets for right-hander Clay Holmes and outfielder Tyrone Taylor, is not at the level of Hope.”

The Dodgers deal did feel a little light, and while perhaps there were ulterior motives that had nothing to do with landing the best possible package, there’s one thing worth remembering: beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

On paper, the Braves might have been able to match the Dodgers’ offer by including AJ Smith-Shawver and Eric Hartman. But if Detroit’s scouts were blown away by Zyhir Hope, that’s what matters. Prospect rankings are a useful evaluation tool, but not every organization views things the same way.

As far as deGrom is concerned, the Braves had all but a done deal in place to bring him to Atlanta — until he refused to waive his no-trade clause. Rosenthal reported that earlier this week and has since had multiple executives confirm a deal was essentially finished. The last hurdle was deGrom’s approval.

“After that story appeared, two executives said a trade almost certainly was in place,” Rosenthal continues. “The execs, granted anonymity for their candor, pointed out that teams do not approach players about waiving no-trade clauses so close to the deadline unless something is done.”

That’s going to sting for a long time if the Braves fall just short of the World Series this year. The club has been in pursuit of a frontline starter to pair with Chris Sale for years, and they finally had one on the way before it was nixed at the last minute. That’s another thing outside their control — but it doesn’t mean the Braves shouldn’t have pivoted elsewhere to find someone who could help support such a top-heavy rotation.

According to Rosenthal, they considered those options — like José Soriano, who was eventually dealt to the Blue Jays — but felt the prospect cost didn’t line up for someone they didn’t view as a difference-maker.

“The Braves also were involved in discussions for right-hander José Soriano and other starters, according to a person briefed on their talks. But other than Skubal and deGrom, they did not view those pitchers as difference-makers, or even better than what they had.”

Ultimately, whether the Braves were right or wrong will be made clear to the entire world when October baseball comes around. The starting pitching staff has been more than adequate during the regular season and is pitching some of its best baseball right now amid an eight-game win streak. But the playoffs are an entirely different beast.

Will Atlanta’s rotation hold up enough to get them over the top? We’ll find out in two months.

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Rookie Jim Jarvis did enough to win the starting job while Ronald Acuña Jr. was out. Acuña’s absence forced Mauricio Dubon into the outfield every day, which opened the door for Jarvis. Now Acuña is back, Dubon has shifted into his normal super-utility role, and while the Braves recently said Jarvis is the team’s primary shortstop, it might be time to reconsider.

Jarvis is fantastic defensively. That’s been his calling card since the minors and it’s carried over nicely to the top level. Offensively, there have been signs, particularly in Triple-A this season, where he hit .313 with 29 extra-base hits in just 76 games before being promoted. That success carried over to Atlanta for a brief stretch, but it’s slowed considerably over his last 12 games, in which he’s hitting just .143 with a .382 OPS.

It’s pretty evident the Braves’ best lineup right now has Mauricio Dubon manning shortstop. But then there’s Ha-Seong Kim, who the club refuses to move on from despite him offering nothing all season. He has played in only 27 games because of various injuries, and has somehow managed to hit .068 with an OPS+ of -30, which I didn’t even know was possible over a sample size that large.

If Kim is going to be on the roster, though, the Braves are best off giving him at least a few opportunities at shortstop for a couple of reasons. First, he could be a quality addition to the lineup if he reverts to the player he’s been his entire career. And if he doesn’t, the Braves will know it’s time to cut bait, because he offers next to nothing on the bench.

He can’t change a game with one swing. He’s not better defensively than Jarvis or Dubon. He’s not a guy you call on to swipe a bag. That roster spot could be put to much better use if Kim isn’t starting — who cares whether the Braves paid him $20 million in the offseason.

The next couple of months will be an interesting watch at the position. If the playoffs started today, it’s hard to imagine anybody other than Dubon starting at shortstop. Both Jarvis and Kim are running out of opportunities to prove otherwise.

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The 19-year-old — he turns 20 tomorrow — recently received the call to Double-A after what was quite possibly the best start of his professional career, one in which he struck out 14 batters and allowed just one run over 6.2 innings.

Caminiti’s debut for Columbus wasn’t quite as dominant. In fact, it took just one batter for him to be welcomed to the Southern League, as Josh Adamczewski homered to begin the game.

Left-on-left against a top 50 prospect in the game, Josh Adamczewski cranks the first pitch of the game 100 mph off the roof of a building in right.

He is good. pic.twitter.com/fRLJdhJAsX

— Curt Hogg (@CyrtHogg) August 6, 2026

Caminiti settled down from there, though. He allowed just one more run over the next 5.1 innings and struck out three — two of which came against Adamczewski, so there was a nice little battle between the two top prospects.

At this very moment, Caminiti is the one pitcher in the Braves system who’s shown true frontline starter potential if everything goes right. The organization has worked on a ton of things mechanically with him this season, which is why the surface-level numbers aren’t exactly eye-popping, but that’s what this entire process is about — taking a prospect with immense upside and molding him into the player you believe he can be.

Caminiti has done a very nice job handling this season, and when he’s at his best, flashing a legit six-pitch mix, it’s easy to see why the entire baseball world is high on his potential.

The next calendar year is going to be big for him. He’s inching closer to the majors, and the Braves have never been hesitant to call up their prospects. If he starts flashing his best stuff with more consistency, we could see him in Atlanta as early as next season.

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Ronald Acuña Jr. led the way with a couple of home runs. They weren’t exactly his typical screamers — one of them actually the result of Marlins players running into each other on the warning track — but they all count the same in the box score.

Matt Olson added a double to go along with his 32nd home run of the season. The two extra-base hits now have him leading all of baseball in extra-base knocks, just ahead of Houston’s Yordan Alvarez, who’s likely to go on and win the MVP in the American League. That’s the kind of season the Braves first baseman is having as he closes in on 40 home runs with a lot of baseball still left to play.

Michael Harris II and Mauricio Dubon also did something pretty unique, recording hits in three straight innings.

But just because the pitching staff didn’t need its A-game doesn’t mean it took the night off. Martin Perez looked great over three innings, allowing just one walk with three strikeouts before he was unfortunately removed due to a lengthy rain delay. The bullpen then covered the next six on the way to an 11-3 win — the club’s eighth straight victory.

And it’s not as if the Braves are winning by the skin of their teeth. The Nationals and Marlins barely put up a fight, with Miami never leading at any point in the series. This might be the best baseball we’ve seen in Atlanta all season, and we’re talking about a team that’s won 70 games in early August and sits 25 games over .500.

A much stiffer task awaits this weekend, however, as the Braves travel to New York for an interleague battle with the Yankees — which is where we’ll get our first look at Tyler Mahle. The trade deadline addition is set to make his Braves debut on Friday night, followed by Chris Sale on Saturday and Grant Holmes in the series finale.

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Both Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. are less than 100%. The back injury for Tua is minor, and he’s participating in practice. Penix, on the other hand, hasn’t even begun 11-on-11 work, and it could be a few more weeks before that happens as he recovers from the torn ACL he suffered last season.

Additionally, Jessie Bates III and Zach Harrison are also dealing with injuries. Bates has missed the last few practices, but Kevin Stefanski did provide some positive news — it’s a minor back issue, so it shouldn’t be long before we see the All-Pro safety back on the field.

Harrison has been dealing with a knee injury dating back to last year, which landed him on Injured Reserve for the final two months of the season. His absence was a big one for the Falcons, as he was amid a breakout campaign in his third season, recording 22 tackles and 4.5 sacks. With Walker out for the year, having as many disruptive bodies as possible across the defensive line is paramount. Hopefully Harrison will be ready to roll when the Falcons take the field in Week 1 against the Steelers.

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We have made the following roster moves:

– Released Troy Andersen
– Signed Kristian Wilkersonhttps://t.co/qPic7TsZA5 pic.twitter.com/bBDhmd8BSK

— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) August 7, 2026

Andersen was the 58th overall pick, and his story is a frustrating one. The Falcons bet on his athleticism — a guy who came out of a small town in Montana and went to Montana State, but had ridiculous speed for his size. It was a project pick, one where Atlanta believed they could mold him into one of the premier linebackers in the league.

Over his four years with the team, there were flashes — most notably a 2024 game against the Saints in which he had 16 tackles and a pick-six, earning NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors. But he could never stay healthy, and that was ultimately his downfall. Over the last three seasons, he played in just nine games, with a lingering knee injury forcing him to miss the entire 2025 campaign.

Given his rookie contract was up, it was a bit surprising the new regime didn’t cut ties immediately, but they apparently wanted to see what he could provide if he showed up to training camp healthy. He couldn’t, beginning camp on the PUP list, which led to this move.

It really is a disappointing story. Andersen had the talent to carve out a long career, but his body hasn’t been able to hold up, and this very well could be the end of the line for him.

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(Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire)

Holmes on the hill pic.twitter.com/jtjTjbGMNL

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 30, 2026

Once again, Drake Baldwin will hit leadoff, one of the few players who’s had success with the stick in recent days. Ronald Acuña Jr. is back in the second spot, which could be something we see the rest of the way as Walt Weiss tries to break up the left-handed hitters at the top of the order.

But the big story is obviously Riley’s absence. He gets the night off after a miserable series in New York in which he went 0-for-10 with eight strikeouts. It’s been one step forward and three steps back for Riley all season. He seemed to finally be finding a groove, and then he turns in a five-game stretch where it doesn’t look like he’s ever seen major-league pitching before.

For what it’s worth, this is unlikely to be something that lasts more than a couple of games. The Braves aren’t going to give up on the highest-paid player in franchise history this early — no matter how atrocious he’s been. However, giving Austin Riley a day or two off to clear his head can’t hurt at this point.

(Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire)

Is it enough to earn him a spot back on the roster? I’m not sure, but it’s a decision that has to be made over the next 24 hours. His 20-day rehab stint expires today, meaning the Braves either have to bring him back to Atlanta, designate him for assignment, or move him in a trade.

If the Braves eat almost all of the remaining money he’s owed, it’s conceivable there would be some interested parties across the league, but it would be foolish to act like the market is going to be robust. The most likely scenario is they decide who could be more valuable for the rest of the season: Kim or Jorge Mateo.

Mateo offers tremendous speed on the bases and is better defensively, but the offense has really fallen off a cliff since the start of June. He’s hitting just .120 with a .330 OPS over his last 53 plate appearances. Those are still better numbers than Ha-Seong Kim produced, of course, but there’s no question the monetary aspect will hold some weight in these conversations. The Braves are going to want to see if they can get anything out of the $20 million investment they made in the offseason.

What absolutely should not be on the table is optioning Jim Jarvis. I know losing Kim or Mateo means thinning the overall depth at the position, but Jarvis has provided the first spark at shortstop we’ve seen since Orlando Arcia‘s first half in 2023. His playstyle is infectious, he’s been tremendous defensively, and he’s sporting a 104 OPS+ — 4% above league average — over his first 24 games. The Braves should be riding that wave as long as they can, because it looks like they may have found an incredible diamond in the rough.

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Those could come at the trade deadline or internally, with AJ Smith-Shawver and Spencer Schwellenbach really being the last beacons of hope inside the organization. The former made his season debut earlier this week, allowing a couple of runs over 4.1 innings. It was a positive step for Smith-Shawver, one the Braves are hoping he can build on over the next two months. He certainly has the repertoire to start a playoff game down the road if everything clicks.

Schwellenbach isn’t as far along, but it looks like he could begin a rehab assignment in the very near future. He threw several bullpens down in Florida and is now throwing more in front of the Braves in Atlanta. Provided there are no setbacks, a return in early September feels like a realistic timeline for one of the most talented arms in the organization.

Schwellenbach said his velocity is returning after being unable to top 90 mph in throwing sessions before undergoing surgery in Feb.

He said facing hitters and game situations will be another uptick – and another test – as will adding all his pitches. A stress test if you will. https://t.co/SkJwi1GF9X

— Grant McAuley (@grantmcauley) July 31, 2026

The update on Hurston Waldrep isn’t as encouraging, however. He’s been shut down after feeling discomfort in his elbow during his last start for the Gwinnett Stripers. Walt Weiss didn’t want to confirm anything, but anytime a pitcher is getting multiple opinions — especially when it comes to elbow injuries — it’s never a good sign.

Weiss said Hurston Waldrep is still being evaluated and getting multiple opinions. The assumption over the past couple weeks has been he’s done for the season. So, the update will likely just provide a sense of when he could pitch again in the future.

— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) July 31, 2026

Waldrep isn’t going to pitch again this season. The only question is whether the injury keeps him out for all of next year as well — a massive blow for someone who really enjoyed a breakthrough in 2025.

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I’ve covered this year’s trade deadline from just about every angle, but one I’m not sure I’ve discussed enough is which prospects they should actually consider moving. It’s something I feel very strongly about, because the answer is easy: the Braves should be willing to trade every single pitching prospect in their organization.

From Cam Caminiti all the way down, they should have no hesitation about moving them if they’re getting an impact player back, and the reasoning is quite simple.

The Braves have been hoarding pitching prospects for over a decade. The entire rebuild was built on drafting and developing pitching, yet the number of those pitchers who’ve actually contributed to the team’s success has been minimal.

Seriously, think about the last decade of Braves baseball. How many homegrown pitchers have had a significant impact for multiple years?

The answer is one: Max Fried. And it’s not because the Braves can’t develop pitching. They’ve produced numerous frontline starters like Michael Soroka, Spencer Strider, Kyle Wright, and Spencer Schwellenbach. Unfortunately, drafting and developing is only half the battle when it comes to pitchers. Keeping them healthy has been an entirely different story.

This isn’t unique to the Braves, either, even if they’ve probably had worse luck than most organizations. Keeping pitchers healthy these days is nearly an impossible task. Almost every single arm is headed for a 12-month absence at some point early in their career.

So why treat any of them like they’re sure things?

If I’m the Braves, I’m aggressively shopping every single prospect arm in the organization in return for a proven frontline starter who can make an impact now. They’re much better used as trade chips than as guys you’re counting on to deliver in the future.

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The mumblings surrounding the Braves — as per usual — are extremely minimal. They always operate quietly, and they’re extremely difficult to get a read on. However, Ken Rosenthal did have an exciting nugget for Braves fans in his latest piece for The Athletic, saying Atlanta is among a handful of teams showing “strong interest” in Freddy Peralta.

“The Chicago Cubs, Tampa Bay Rays, Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies are among the clubs showing strong interest in Peralta, according to people briefed on the situation. Rotation-needy teams are, however, casting wide nets in their respective searches,” Rosenthal writes.

I’ve said it probably fifty times over the last month, so why not one more: I have a hard time believing the Mets are going to do business with the Braves unless Atlanta is willing to pay a significant tax. They’re two of the biggest rivals in the sport.

That said, Peralta is an obvious fit for a Braves club desperate for starting pitching. He’s having a career-worst campaign after finishing fifth in the Cy Young race a season ago, boasting a 4.99 ERA over 22 starts — but most believe a lot of that has to do with the Mets. And as someone who’s watched that organization fall over itself continuously for the last 25 years, I’m not going to argue against that stance. The stuff is still there for Peralta to be a frontline starting pitcher at 30 years old.

Given Peralta is in the final year of his contract, he’s almost certain to be moved before Monday night. The asking price shouldn’t be astronomical, but again, the Braves are likely going to have to pay more than any other club.

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(Photo by Chris Arjoon/Icon Sportswire)

Falcons signed guard Matthew Bergeron to a contract extension. pic.twitter.com/MnhcAfogBJ

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 1, 2026

The exact figures of the deal haven’t been released, but according to the team’s official website, the extension will keep Bergeron in Atlanta through the 2030 season.

Bergeron has undoubtedly been one of the better draft picks of the previous regime, especially among guys taken outside of the first round. He’s been a starter from day one at left guard and has played in all but two games over his first three seasons in the league.

“Matthew is the type of player you build around,” general manager Ian Cunningham said, via the Falcons team website. “He’s establishing himself as one of the top young guards in the NFL, and his toughness, consistency and leadership have made him a cornerstone of our offensive line and the culture we’re building in Atlanta.

“Extending players like Matthew reflects our commitment to investing in the trenches and building a strong foundation for the future. We’re very excited he will be a Falcon for years to come. We also appreciate Chase Callahan for his professionalism, communication and partnership throughout this process.”

Despite the team’s overall lack of success from a wins and losses standpoint, the offensive line has been a strength over the past several seasons, particularly on the interior. This extension ensures the Falcons’ menacing guard duo of Bergeron and All-Pro Chris Lindstrom will both remain in Atlanta for at least the next three seasons.

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UPDATE: Mike Garafolo is reporting that is a $96 million extension for Bergeron over four years — a massive deal for the 26 year old from Canada.

The #Falcons and G Matthew Bergeron have agreed to terms on a four-year, $96 million contract extension, sources tell me and @JFowlerESPN.

The 38th overall pick in 2023 gets $60 million guaranteed in a deal done by @Chase_Callahan of @excelfootball. pic.twitter.com/HwbDfp3sVJ

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) August 1, 2026

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Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough for the Braves to keep him on the roster. The club announced today that Hernández has been designated for assignment, recalling James Karinchak from Gwinnett.

The #Braves today recalled RHP James Karinchak to Atlanta and designated RHP Elieser Hernández for assignment.

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) August 1, 2026

I say “again” in the title because this is now the second time Hernández has been designated for assignment after a brilliant performance, simply so the Braves could have a fresh arm in the bullpen. He’s now thrown six innings this season, picking up a win and a save in his two appearances. Those kinds of performances should be rewarded, not punished because the rules essentially give the Braves no other choice.

Hopefully Hernández clears waivers for a second time and makes his way back onto the major-league roster. He’s played a key role in the Braves’ second-half surge, which now has them leading the Phillies by eight games in the NL East.

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Because of that, the Falcons pivoted to veteran Jawaan Taylor, who inked a one-year, $5 million contract to protect the blind side of whoever Atlanta starts under center. Taylor’s been a reliable starting right tackle for the last seven seasons, spending time with the Jaguars and the Chiefs, and what stands out most about him is his durability. He’s never played fewer than 12 games, and has appeared in 16 or more in six of his seven years in the league.

However, Taylor did enter training camp with an undisclosed injury. Thankfully, Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski eased some concerns on Friday by calling it minor and saying Taylor could be back practicing within a week.

#Falcons Kevin Stefanski says OT Jawaan Taylor is working hard to return. He's hoping to have him back soon, possibly within a week.

— Kevin Knight (@FalcoholicKevin) July 31, 2026

Taylor might not be an All-Pro at the position, but he’s certainly a much better option than what the Falcons trotted out last year in the wake of injuries to both McGary and backup swing tackle Storm Norton. Atlanta was down to its third-string right tackle before the first snap of Week 1, forcing Elijah Wilkinson into the starting role, where he appeared in all 17 games.

For most offenses, right tackle is a spot where teams can get by with below-average play and still be alright. That’s not the case for the Falcons, who will be featuring a left-handed quarterback under center for the second year in a row — whether it’s Michael Penix Jr. or Tua Tagovailoa.

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It’s been reported by several MLB insiders that the Braves would like to add a right-handed bat to their outfield mix, which makes sense given the production they’ve gotten out of left field — a position that was supposed to be occupied by Jurickson Profar. His suspension has really hurt the club, forcing Mike Yastrzemski into more of an everyday role, which was never the plan when they signed him in the offseason.

Acquiring someone to at least platoon with Yastrzemski should be the goal, but it’s a position group that appears extraordinarily thin at this year’s trade deadline, and nearly half the league is looking for the same thing. It could end up being very costly.

Now, I’m not saying the Braves should be seriously considering Andrew McCutchen for that role. He hit just .192 in 37 games for the Rangers before his release. But Atlanta didn’t sign him to sell some extra tickets in Gwinnett. He’s in the organization for a reason, and if he keeps raking, there’s a chance we see the veteran at some point over the final two months.

At the very least, it’s a cool story anytime a 39-year-old who’s accomplished just about everything imaginable is willing to gut it out on the farm in hopes of one last opportunity. He’s certainly doing all he can at the moment to keep that dream alive, whether it’s with the Braves or another club.

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Braves updates:

Spencer Schwellenbach had four bullpen sessions in Florida and is back in Atlanta to throw in front more bullpens of the Braves.

Robert Suarez is still just playing catch.

Weiss said there will be conversations about what shortstop looks like when HSK returns

— Jesús Cano (@Jesus_Cano88) July 31, 2026

Suarez has been out since mid-June with what the Braves are calling elbow and forearm inflammation. Further tests revealed no structural damage, but the fact that it’s been six weeks and he’s still nowhere close to returning is raising some red flags. Even when he does come back, there’s no telling whether the Braves will be getting the guy who was downright unhittable over the season’s first couple of months — pitching to a 0.56 ERA over 31 appearances.

That certainly has to factor into the equation heading into the deadline. The Braves’ bullpen is seemingly taxed every single night, forcing them to turn to fringe roster guys in high-leverage situations every other game. It feels like they have to operate as if whatever they get out of Suarez the rest of the way is icing on the cake.

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The game should have been signed, sealed, and delivered in the ninth, but Ozzie Albies let a groundball go right through his legs, allowing the tying run to score and sending the game to extras. The Orioles then had a golden opportunity to steal one in the tenth, loading the bases with nobody out. However, a double play followed by a pop out meant there was going to be an eleventh inning.

Austin Riley gave the Braves the lead with a single, and then the struggling Tyler Kinley — of all people — got the job done for the save, even if it didn’t come without stress. Walt Weiss opted to load the bases with two outs, putting the go-ahead run in scoring position, so the Braves could get the matchup with backup catcher Sam Huff, who’s sporting a .329 OPS on the season. It couldn’t have worked out better, as he grounded out to third for the final out of the game.

The gutsy wins are starting to pile up, but the man who deserves a tip of the cap in what was otherwise an ugly affair is Dylan Dodd. He was once again magnificent in relief, needing just 11 pitches to cover 1.1 innings, which lowered his season ERA to 1.99 over 31.2 innings.

Dodd was an afterthought coming into the 2026 campaign. He converted to the bullpen last year and had some decent success in limited opportunities, but nobody was expecting this. He’s blossomed into somebody Walt Weiss can trust in just about every situation, and this emergence gives Alex Anthopoulos some options going into the trade deadline.

The Braves definitely need at least one reliever, especially with the uncertainty surrounding Robert Suarez, who’s been out for the last six weeks with elbow inflammation. But with Dodd stepping up as a more than reliable arm from the left side, Anthopoulos doesn’t have to solely focus on adding a southpaw. It’s probably still preferred, but there’s certainly more flexibility than existed before.

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(Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire)

But after the rotation, there’s some debate about where most of their attention should be focused. For the longest time, a right-handed hitting outfielder — preferably one with some pop — would have been second on the list. It still might be, but the bullpen all of a sudden looks like it needs some pretty considerable TLC.

Robert Suarez hasn’t made an appearance in close to six weeks after being placed on the IL with elbow inflammation, and Walt Weiss said earlier in the week he’s still not close to returning. Even if the expectation is he’ll be back well before the postseason, there’s concern over whether he’ll be the same guy who posted a 0.56 ERA this season.

Suarez’s absence, combined with the rotation’s inability to go deep into games, also seems to be taking a toll on Didier Fuentes, Dylan Lee, and Raisel Iglesias. They’re pitching a ton of stressful innings and appear to be running on fumes — not a great sign with still more than two months left in the season.

The reality of the situation is the Braves aren’t likely to land two starters before the August 3rd deadline. It’s a seller’s market, prices are going to be high, and Alex Anthopoulos has never been one to overpay. Getting one is probably the best we can hope for, which would still leave a ton of questions in the rotation.

Those questions can be overcome in October, but only with an elite bullpen. The Braves don’t have that right now — not even close — and the addition of a healthy Robert Suarez alone won’t be enough. They need to add at least one reliever capable of pitching in high-leverage situations, and could probably really use two. It’s quickly become an area that can’t be overlooked at the trade deadline.

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(Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire)

The Braves are promoting Tate Southisene to Double-A per sources.

— Geoff Pontes (@GeoffPontesBA) July 26, 2026

Even I’m a bit surprised by this one. Not because Southisene isn’t deserving — he’s been unbelievable — but for a prospect this young to take this big a step in his first professional season just isn’t something you see very often.

Southisene began the campaign with the Low-A Augusta Green Jackets, but it didn’t take long for the organization to realize he needed to face better competition. Over 51 games, he hit a hair under .300 with eight homers, a league-leading 36 steals, and a .929 OPS.

The promotion to High-A Rome didn’t go smoothly right off the bat. He did record four hits in his first four games, but overall, it took a couple of weeks for him to get his feet under him. That changed once July arrived. He’s now hit safely in 13 of his last 15 games, with five multi-hit performances over that stretch.

The combination of power and speed is extremely intriguing. Southisene is a terrific athlete, a natural in the batter’s box, and now he’s just a couple of steps away from the majors.

In a recent interview, Alex Anthopoulos referred to one prospect who was close to untouchable. Many assumed that was Eric Hartman, who just posted a 20/30 first half in Rome. But maybe we’ve underrated just how high the organization is on Southisene. He’s a year younger, and he’s the one getting the first call to Columbus — even though it likely won’t be long before he’s joined by Hartman and others.

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Now, keep in mind there’s a lot more that goes into trade value than just who’s the best player in baseball. The contract tied to a player is often even more important, and age and projectability are two significant factors as well. Surprisingly, only three Braves made the list — Ronald Acuña Jr. at #43, Michael Harris II at #41, and the Brave with the highest trade value according to FanGraphs, Drake Baldwin, coming in at #31.

“Baldwin is the second of the three catchers in this group, which means you’ll have to wait for tomorrow to see who I like most out of the trio (or just guess, I don’t think it’s a huge mystery),” Ben Clemens writes. “The latest in a long line of Atlanta prospects who have comfortably outperformed their draft pedigree and exploded onto the big league scene, he became the team’s primary catcher when former Trade Value stalwart Sean Murphy started last year on the IL and he hasn’t looked back.”

Dillon Dingler was the catcher ranked just ahead of Baldwin that Clemens was referring to, and that’s not unfair given how Dingler has performed this season. That said, I think we might be having a different conversation had Baldwin not suffered an oblique injury in the middle of the season. Not only did it keep him out of the lineup for more than a month, but he really struggled to find his footing once he returned. That’s not the case any longer. Over his last 18 games, Baldwin is hitting close to .400 with an OPS approaching 1.200.

Ronald Acuña Jr. coming in at #43 is definitely going to turn some heads. Clemens even noted the lowest he’s ever had him on this list before is 11th, and had him first back in 2020. But at this very moment, Acuña’s trade value is nearly impossible to judge. A lot of teams wouldn’t even seriously consider engaging in conversations with the Braves because of the asking price and his injury history. On the flip side, it only takes one team willing to gamble on the talent, and there would certainly be a handful of clubs willing to take that risk.

If the Braves ever were to entertain offers, I’m pretty confident they’d still get whatever the hell they wanted — more than they would for Michael Harris II or Drake Baldwin.

Speaking of Harris, what a difference a year makes. He couldn’t hit water in the ocean a season ago, but one minor adjustment to his stance in the second half led to much better results that have carried into 2026. He looks like one of the best center fielders in baseball again, and the Braves have him under team control through 2032. He’ll be much higher on this list next year if the success continues.

The only somewhat surprising omission from the Braves’ perspective is Matt Olson. That’s obviously due to his age — he’s 32. But this is arguably the best first baseman in baseball, and he’s under team control through 2030 at a more than palatable $22 million per season. He’d command an absurd haul if the Braves were to make him available right now.

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(Photo by Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire)

The reality is guys like Martin Perez, Bryce Elder, Reynaldo Lopez, and Grant Holmes were never supposed to make this many starts. The Braves entered Spring Training expecting a lot from Spencer Schwellenbach, Hurston Waldrep, and Spencer Strider — a trio that’s provided absolutely no value thanks to injuries and inconsistencies.

The fact that the Braves are six games ahead of the Phillies for first place in the NL East, with several pitchers having unexpected career years, is a testament to the impact Hefner’s had on the club — something Phillies star Bryce Harper apparently saw coming when it was announced Atlanta had stolen him right from under the fingertips of the New York Mets.

In a recent podcast appearance alongside Mookie Betts, Harper gave Hefner the ultimate compliment while throwing some shade at the team in Queens — always a fun activity, even coming from one of the Braves’ biggest rivals.

“Once Jeremy Hefner left (the Mets) and went to the Braves… I was like oh no….crap”

-Bryce Harper on the Braves hiring Jeremy Hefner. pic.twitter.com/T2IVrbiVOe

— MattOlsonsBurner (@ChoppinBravos) July 25, 2026

As a whole, the Braves pitching staff ranks third in the National League in ERA at 3.67, an incredible turnaround from last year, when the team ranked 11th and was giving up nearly a run more per game.

Jeremy Hefner came to Atlanta with a reputation as one of the brightest young pitching minds in the game — a title that’s proving to be well deserved. Now it’s time for Alex Anthopoulos to do his job at the trade deadline and get this guy some real firepower to work with.

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(Photo by David John Griffin/Icon Sportswire)

The Braves’ needs are obvious. They should be in the market for every frontline starting pitcher available, they need another middle-of-the-order bat, and with concerns surrounding the future of Robert Suarez, another high-leverage reliever has climbed toward the top of the priority list as well.

Given Atlanta has the sort of prospect capital at the trade deadline that they haven’t had in the past, there’s little reason for them not to address each of these in some form or fashion. With that in mind, here’s my trade deadline wish list, featuring a dream trade target for the Braves at every position of need — and I’ve included a backup option, because the reality is they likely aren’t going to go the blockbuster route on three separate occasions.

Starting Pitcher

Dream: Tarik Skubal

Backup: Kevin Gausman

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The Tigers just dropped two out of three over the weekend to the Royals, and the rumblings continue to grow that they’re leaning toward trading Skubal. The Braves have been named a favorite by some MLB insiders, and they’ll certainly be involved in conversations, but most believe a move to Los Angeles is inevitable as the Dodgers aim to become the first National League team to repeat as champions three years in a row.

I’m all aboard the Skubal train, and I haven’t been afraid to shout it from the rooftops for months. If the Braves pair Chris Sale with Skubal at the top of their rotation, they shouldn’t be scared of anybody come October — not even the Dodgers. The rumored prospect capital it would take to acquire him — since he’s a rental — also isn’t that daunting.

Of course, there’s risk. The Braves could trade a solid piece of their future rotation for Skubal and still fall short of winning a championship. But this team needs a true frontline starter, and I’m tired of them wasting opportunities with this core because they’ve been unwilling to acquire one. Plus, by acquiring Skubal, the Braves also deny the Dodgers another generational arm to throw at them in the postseason.

If Skubal isn’t available or goes elsewhere, Gausman isn’t a terrible backup plan. Since he’s on an expiring contract and having a bit of a down year, the prospect cost should be minimal, but he’s still a guy who can be trusted in a playoff setting. There’s familiarity between him and Atlanta, and he was really good for the Blue Jays last year on their run to the World Series.

Outfield

Dream: George Springer

Backup: Heliot Ramos

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I’m very intrigued by the idea of taking a flier on George Springer. He’s another veteran on an expiring contract from Toronto who shouldn’t cost a haul to acquire, and the potential upside is immense.

Springer is hitting just .231 with 11 home runs and a .711 OPS on the season. Perhaps age is finally catching up to him, but he’s only a year removed from posting a .959 OPS, and the results have been much better of late. Over his past 26 games, he’s hitting .286 with an .815 OPS. At the very least, Springer could serve as a platoon piece against left-handed pitching, and he’s been a demon in the postseason, with an .880 OPS for his career.

Heliot Ramos being the backup option is a sign of just how weak the outfield class is at this year’s deadline. Still, he has an .850 OPS for his career against left-handed pitching, and he’s under team control for pennies through 2030.

Bullpen

Dream: Adrian Morejon

Backup: A.J. Minter

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Of course, the ideal dream candidate to address the bullpen would be Mason Miller. But I don’t think the Padres are going to trade him, and if they did, it’s highly unlikely the Braves would give up multiple top-100 prospects for a relief pitcher. That just isn’t Alex Anthopoulos’ M.O.

That said, the Braves could look to San Diego for another one of their relievers — left-handed Adrian Morejón. He’s an elite setup man in the final year of his contract, which makes him much more likely to be traded. Over the past three seasons, Morejón owns a 2.65 ERA over 184 appearances.

As a backup plan, I wouldn’t be opposed to a reunion with A.J. Minter. The injuries have been worrisome, and he’s struggled as of late, but he still owns a 2.18 ERA over 35 appearances since the start of the 2025 campaign. Given he’s also a rental, the prospect cost should be minimal.

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(Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire)

“Scouts have flocked to Braves minor league affiliates,” Cano writes. “High-A Rome, which has the best crop of talent to offer, had scouts from the Padres, Detroit Tigers and Athletics in attendance this weekend.”

Rome features most of the Braves’ top prospects in the organization — headlined by Eric Hartman, Cam Caminiti, and Tate Southisene (though Southisene has just been promoted to Double-A Columbus). Those are the top three prospects in the Braves system. It would take a blockbuster deal for any of them to be included, but the Emperors’ lineup also includes John Gil and Isaiah Drake — two extremely talented and athletic prospects oozing with upside.

Playing a little game of connect the dots, the Padres, Tigers, and Athletics all have something they can offer when it comes to the Braves’ biggest needs.

Tarik Skubal could be the frontline starter the Braves have been missing if they wanted to swing big, but Casey Mize wouldn’t be a bad consolation prize. The Padres could potentially be looking to move Mason Miller or other core pieces, but even someone like Adrian Morejón — a dominant left-handed setup man on an expiring contract — could really boost the Braves bullpen.

Oakland doesn’t have nearly as many high-profile pieces to trade, but Tyler Soderstrom could be high up on Atlanta’s radar. Left field has been a weak spot for the team over the last several seasons, in large part because of the two suspensions to Jurickson Profar. The addition of Soderstrom could put an end to that now and in the future. He recently signed a seven-year, $86 million extension with the Athletics, which keeps him under team control through 2033 at a very palatable rate for someone who’s become a 3-4 WAR player.

A lot still needs to be sorted out over the next several days. Teams like the Padres and Tigers aren’t quite sure whether they’re buying or selling — or both. But come the weekend, we should start seeing some significant trades come to fruition.

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(Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire)

The #Braves today returned OF Ronald Acuña Jr. from his rehabilitation assignment and reinstated him from the injured list, and optioned OF Brewer Hicklen to Triple-A Gwinnett.

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 27, 2026

A couple of new developments have really helped the offense turn back on since the All-Star break. For about six weeks, the Braves got absolutely nothing offensively behind the plate. Drake Baldwin missed a month with an oblique injury, and when he returned, it took some time for him to find his footing.

That’s changed in July. Baldwin has hit safely in all but five games this month, sporting a .341 average with six home runs and a 1.017 OPS.

We’ve also seen a second-half surge from Austin Riley. He has four multi-hit performances over his last ten games and has reached base in eight of them, to go along with three homers, a .308 batting average, and a .921 OPS. This comes after a dreadful first half in which he struggled to hit over the Mendoza Line and sported a .618 OPS.

Those are massive developments, but nothing compares to the addition of a healthy Ronald Acuña Jr. He’s still the best player on the team. His mere presence makes things infinitely more difficult for opposing pitchers — and easier for his teammates hitting around him. Acuña’s return also gives Walt Weiss more flexibility with his lineup card, allowing Mauricio Dubon to fill in at shortstop or in the outfield as needed rather than using him strictly as an everyday outfielder.

But the excitement doesn’t stop at the major-league level. It was reported yesterday that Tate Southisene is headed to Double-A Columbus. It’s the second promotion for the 19-year-old first-round selection from a year ago, as he continues to make a case for the title of the organization’s #1 prospect.

That move opened up a spot for Alex Lodise — the Braves’ second-round selection from the 2025 draft — in High-A Rome, where he’ll look to keep tearing the cover off the baseball. Following a slow start, the former Florida State Seminole now has 21 home runs with an .826 OPS on the season.

As I tweeted yesterday, it is expected that Alex Lodise is promoted to High-A Rome this week.

— Gaurav (@gvedak) July 27, 2026

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(Photo by Chris Arjoon/Icon Sportswire)

By matching Jones' sheet, the Nuggets face a $32 million increase in current luxury taxes ($36M to $68M) and enter the second apron. They are deep in tax bills but could shed money via trades in season.

Next Denver order of business: Navigate retaining RFA Peyton Watson while… https://t.co/N5arhPRTjM

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 27, 2026

A first-round selection four years ago, taken 30th overall, Watson has slowly worked his way into a really respectable starting-caliber player. He’s coming off a breakout campaign in which he averaged 14.6 points per game on 49% shooting from the field and 41% from three-point range, to go along with 4.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists.

The Hawks currently sit at around $196 million in payroll. That’s $4 million under the luxury tax threshold and $13 million below the first apron. In the past, we’ve never seen ownership willing to go into the luxury tax, despite constant promises that they would be willing to for the right pieces. Perhaps they’re starting to see the light with the direction this club is headed, but Atlanta also has to make some subtractions from their current roster to shed salary.

The Hawks already have 17 players on their roster. Adding Watson would make it 18, meaning they’d need to get rid of three players. Some obvious candidates to be dumped are Corey Kispert, Buddy Hield, Devin Carter, and Ryan Nembhard — with some of those contracts being much easier to move than others.

Atlanta is much deeper on the wing with the additions of Aaron Wiggins and Lu Dort this offseason, but Watson’s length, perimeter shooting, and overall upside make him a very intriguing fit. The Hawks have a lot of bullies who are going to make things tough on opposing offenses as they grind through an 82-game schedule, but they need more guys who can knock down shots from behind the arc, or there are going to be a lot of ugly affairs at State Farm Arena.

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There’s a lot of work to be done in Atlanta if this team wants to challenge the Dodgers come October, with starting pitching the top priority. The Braves desperately need a true frontline arm to pair with Chris Sale at the top of the rotation. Without one, it’s hard to imagine a deep postseason run.

Tarik Skubal

Braves receive: Tarik Skubal
Tigers receive: AJ Smith-Shawver, John Gil, and Lucas Braun

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I could have easily swapped in JR Ritchie for AJ Smith-Shawver — that’s probably what most Braves fans would prefer to give up — but if Skubal is available, the competition for his services is going to be immense.

AJ Smith-Shawver is the kind of piece that should really pique Detroit’s interest. He’s super young with a ton of upside, and he’s major-league ready — something the Tigers, who aren’t out of the playoff race, will covet.

John Gil is thrown in as a sweetener, and a pretty good one at that. He’s had a bit of an underwhelming season so far, but the tools are still really exciting. He has incredible range defensively, elite speed on the basepaths, and has really grown into some power. This is a package that should interest Detroit.

Casey Mize

Braves receive: Casey Mize
Tigers receive: JR Ritchie and Alex Lodise

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Casey Mize is another Tigers frontline starter on an expiring deal. He’s not Tarik Skubal, but he shouldn’t be viewed as a consolation prize — he’s amid a breakout campaign in which he owns a 2.70 ERA and 2.59 FIP over 16 starts.

The asking price for Mize will be lower than Skubal’s, but Ritchie and Lodise is still a really intriguing package. The former is another major-league-ready starter who’s already gotten a cup of coffee in the majors, and the latter is a second-round pick from last year who just earned a promotion to High-A Rome after slugging his 21st home run of the season. Not a bad haul for a rental starting arm.

Mize is also the type of pitcher the Braves would have a decent chance of retaining, while Skubal would almost certainly walk at the end of the season.

José Soriano

Braves receive: José Soriano
Angels receive: Eric Hartman, JR Ritchie, and Owen Murphy

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I’ve had my eye on José Soriano since the start of the season, knowing the Angels would likely be sellers and could blow up their entire roster at the deadline. They don’t have to force anything, given he still has two more years of affordable team control remaining, but for the right offer they should be open for business.

Soriano is having a really good season for the Halos — a 3.29 ERA over 22 starts. But I don’t even think that does his stuff justice. Under the wing of Braves pitching coach Jeremy Hefner, he could be a superstar in Atlanta for years to come.

Because Soriano has several more years remaining on his contract, it’s going to take something that blows the Angels away to consider moving him at this deadline. This would be that kind of deal.

Hartman is the top prospect in the Braves organization and ranked inside the top 50 overall. JR Ritchie and Owen Murphy are two major-league-ready starting pitchers who could occupy spots in the Angels’ rotation for years to come. It’s a lot, but that’s the cost of doing business when discussing frontline starters with multiple years of control.

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(Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire)

As always, he’s never going to give too much away or talk explicitly about any specific deals, but Anthopoulos is typically a relatively straight shooter, and he didn’t hesitate to acknowledge that this Braves roster can improve in all areas leading up to the deadline.

“We can add in all areas, right,” Anthopoulos said to Jim Bowden on MLB Network Radio. “We’re definitely not a complete team. I think we’ve got the upside to be a complete team, but we can add rotation, bullpen, bats. And as much as we all like to say, ‘I need to get this, I need to get that,’ as you know very well Jim (Bowden) from all the trade deadlines you’ve been involved in, sometimes you have to take what ends up being available.”

The Braves’ top priority entering the deadline will be the rotation. It’s become an abject disaster, and the potential solutions internally are dwindling. They’ll be involved in every conversation for frontline starting arms, but the number available will be minimal, and the price tags are going to be sky high.

That’s why waiting this long to make a move is always a dangerous game, especially with the expanded playoffs creating fewer opportunities for buyers. But it’s the bed Anthopoulos made when he didn’t go after a starting pitcher during the offseason — despite saying on several occasions it was the club’s top priority. Nobody should be shocked if the Braves exit the deadline without acquiring a starter, and Anthopoulos essentially acknowledged as much.

“You might want a starter, if that doesn’t show up, maybe you need to make the offense better, maybe you need to make the bullpen better,” Anthopoulos continued. “I think it’s been pretty obvious that if there is a playoff caliber starter out there that we would jump at that. If there’s a reliever, we would jump at that. We see it all the time in the playoffs with all of the off days, not that many guys are going deep in terms of starts, and having a deep bullpen is pretty important. We’ve seen teams play bullpen games in the postseason as well because of the off-days.”

I’ve long believed the Braves don’t really have much of a choice but to be ultra-aggressive in pursuing any frontline starting pitcher who becomes available — which could even mean overpaying for the right arm. But in light of these recent comments, it’s fairly evident that doing so is far from a foregone conclusion.

I’m a big believer that if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it’s probably a damn duck. Anthopoulos has never been shy about showing the world who he is when it comes to adding starting pitching. He doesn’t believe in the current market value for frontline arms, which is why the Braves have always avoided those kinds of deals. And if he wasn’t willing to pay the price during the offseason, it’s hard to believe he’s going to do so now when the market is even more inflated.

Anthopoulos’ philosophy on modern-day bullpens being far more impactful in the playoffs is spot on, and the Braves already have a very good bullpen as currently constructed. There’s a world where he sees that as the more viable source of innings come October, and adding even more firepower to the group could let them piece things together in a unique way behind Chris Sale. It puts a lot of pressure on Sale, and Walt Weiss to pull all the right strings, but it does sound like his preferred course of action — which history backs up as well. The last time the Braves acquired of starting pitcher of significance at the trade deadline was Kevin Gausman all the way back in 2018.

The offense also can’t be forgotten. The lineup has shown some very positive developments over the last couple of weeks, hinting at a return to the juggernaut it was in the first two months of the season. Austin Riley seems to be finding his footing. Drake Baldwin appears to have put the oblique injury in the rearview. Ronald Acuña Jr. is expected back within a week or so, and even Jim Jarvis has sparked some real life into the back of the lineup as the club’s starting shortstop.

Still, there’s a clear and obvious need for another middle-of-the-order bat to limit how often Walt Weiss has to turn to Mike Yastrzemski and Dominic Smith. Both are fine players in limited stints, but neither should be tasked with playing every day. Just a little more juice could put the Braves offense over the top — enough to carry this team to the NL East crown on its own.

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(Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire)

According to Braves beat reporter Mark Bowman, Perez will be back this week, set to start Wednesday against the Padres.

Braves probables vs. Padres
Monday: Elder
Tuesday: Lopez
Wednesday: TBA (The Bionic Arm, aka Martin Perez)
Thursday: Sale

— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) July 19, 2026

Perez hit the Injured List with a forearm contusion after being struck by a screaming line drive off the bat of Juan Soto. He’s eligible to return Tuesday, and the Braves are hoping he comes back as the guy who really helped carry the rotation during the first two months, not the version that struggled over his last three starts.

The reality is Perez is probably closer to the pitcher we saw right before he hit the IL than the alternative, but he’s still a professional-type veteran who should be able to give the Braves some competitive innings while they continue to sort things out.

Smith-Shawver offers a lot more upside. He tossed 4.2 scoreless innings with five strikeouts in his last start over the weekend with the Gwinnett Stripers. His pitch count is up to 72, and the repertoire looks just as good as it did before Tommy John surgery, touching 100 MPH on the radar gun on several occasions.

Expectations always have to be tempered when discussing pitchers coming off significant arm injuries, but Smith-Shawver is making that difficult with the way he’s performing throughout this rehab assignment. Alex Anthopoulos said the plan is for him to push his pitch count north of 80 his next time out, and after that, they’ll decide whether he’s ready to rejoin the major-league club.

Because Smith-Shawver still has options, the Braves don’t have to rush him back. But with the way he’s looked, another strong start next time out might force their hand.

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Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire)

He threw just 36 pitches, and the velocity was down across all of his offerings.

Hurston Waldrep’s velo was down and he was removed after 36 pitches while pitching for Gwinnett yesterday. He’ll be further evaluated. Weiss said it’s concerning any time a pitcher has to be removed. Waldrep had arthroscopic elbow surgery in February

— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) July 20, 2026

After undergoing surgery during Spring Training, Waldrep worked his way back to the majors and made three appearances for the Braves, recording an 8.44 ERA over 10.2 innings. It’s unclear whether the discomfort began while he was in Atlanta or if it’s something that popped up more recently.

Waldrep made some adjustments to his repertoire last year, and it led to him becoming one of the Braves’ breakout stars during the second half of the season. In 56.1 innings, he posted a 2.88 ERA and averaged nearly a strikeout per inning. He entered the 2026 campaign expected to be a staple in Atlanta’s rotation. That, of course, hasn’t happened, and now there are real concerns about whether he’ll be available for the remainder of this season — or next year, for that matter.

Hopefully, it’s nothing more than inflammation and some extra rest is all that’s needed. We’ll have more when further updates come in.

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(Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire)

The Atlanta #Braves today announced the club has signed each of its 21 picks from the 2026 First-Year Player Draft: pic.twitter.com/a0on94wgrP

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 20, 2026

AJ Gracia and Carter Beck were both taken in the first round. The Braves received the extra pick as compensation from the Prospect Promotion Incentive, earned when Drake Baldwin took home the NL Rookie of the Year award last year.

Atlanta’s draft strategy closely mirrored the one they used in 2025, focusing on athletic prospects willing to take signing bonuses under slot value early. They then turned around and used the money they saved on high school arms who needed some convincing to forgo college baseball.

Kaiden McCarthy and Jensen Hirschkorn — the Braves’ second- and third-round selections — each received signing bonuses above slot value, with Hirschkorn’s near-$4 million bonus standing as the highest ever for a player selected outside the first round. That was enough to convince the 6-foot-7 hurler to choose professional baseball over his commitment to LSU.

The Tigers probably aren’t too happy with the Braves right now. That’s now the second consecutive year Atlanta has swooped in with a massive signing bonus to steal one of LSU’s highest-rated commits, with Briggs McKenzie being the other example.

Atlanta has done a fantastic job under Alex Anthopoulos drafting, signing, and developing young talent. The signing part is an often forgotten piece of the puzzle, but it’s the sign of a front office that doesn’t overlook any details.

Of the members of the 2026 draft class, three were featured among the Braves’ top 10 prospects — AJ Gracia (#5), Kaiden McCarthy (#7), and Jensen Hirschkorn (#8) — according to Kiley McDaniel of ESPN.

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Photo: David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire

MLB Trade Deadline note: The A’s have received inquiries on their MLB outfielders. (They have 5 on the active roster and Clarke on the IL.) The scenarios would involve the A’s trading an outfielder in exchange for young pitching. @MLBNetwork pic.twitter.com/BBgOdiDCjy

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 19, 2026

It’s been well documented that the Braves have a dire need for rotation help, but they also have a logjam of young, talented arms they’re eventually going to have to make decisions on.

AJ Smith-Shawver, Spencer Schwellenbach, Hurston Waldrep, JR Ritchie, Didier Fuentes, Owen Murphy, Spencer Strider, and Bryce Elder are all starting pitchers with MLB experience, 27 or younger, and under team control for multiple seasons. That’s eight guys, and it doesn’t even include older options like Reynaldo Lopez, Chris Sale, and Grant Holmes — or any of the up-and-coming prospects moving through the system. The reality is there aren’t enough spots for all of them, and some trades will eventually have to be made.

Several of these arms should draw interest from a small-market team like the Athletics, who operate with a limited payroll — and Oakland has a few outfield/DH options that could substantially improve the Braves lineup in return.

Lawrence Butler

Lawrence Butler looked like he was on his way to becoming a star for the Athletics after hitting 22 home runs and stealing 18 bags over 125 games in 2024. But his production has dipped tremendously since, hitting just .193 this season and accumulating -1.4 WAR in 91 games. He’s probably not the type of trade candidate the Braves should be banking on to help put them over the top this season, but taking a flier on his talent could be worth the gamble. Butler is an Atlanta native and a childhood friend of Michael Harris II — perhaps a move back home could unlock his potential.

Tyler Soderstrom

Tyler Soderstrom had a breakout campaign for the Athletics a season ago, hitting 25 home runs with an .820 OPS on his way to a 3.8-WAR season, and he’s been even better this year. Over 87 games, he’s already recorded 2.5 WAR and is on pace for around 30 home runs.

There are some split concerns, however. At home, Soderstrom has a near-1.000 OPS, while on the road that number drops to .673. Still, he’d be an upgrade over what the Braves currently have in Dominic Smith and Mike Yastrzemski — even if the Braves would probably prefer to add a right-handed bat rather than another lefty.

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(Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire)

I asked the question last week, though — is there any prospect the Braves should view as untradable? Alex Anthopoulos answered that yesterday in an interview with 680 The Fan, saying nobody is completely untouchable, but there is one guy the Braves would have a tough time letting go.

“Off Limits? No,” Anthopoulos said. “We actually had a meeting today talking about that exact scenario. It depends, right? Most times at the deadline the rentals are the guys that are available in trades, meaning guys on expiring contracts… But look, there might be some surprising controllable guys, meaning guys with more than one year of club control that we kind of went around the room and said is there anybody — because we know we’re going to get asked this — there’s probably one guy that we’d have a hard time with.

“But do we have a slam dunk, like somebody we think is a Hall of Famer right now, no. We have some guys we think are really good. I think the tricky part for us is we always want to win in the current year, but we’re trying to keep this sustainable. We have a core, we have a very good core, but that core is aging… If you want to not have a rebuild, you need some young guys to replenish.”

So, who is the mystery man Alex Anthopoulos is talking about?

If he’s talking strictly about current prospects, the best guess has to be Eric Hartman. The 20-year-old is amid a historic campaign for High-A Rome — one in which he recorded 20 homers and 30 steals in the first half. Baseball America already has him up to the 25th-ranked prospect in all of baseball after entering the season unranked.

However, Tate Southisene is another one the Braves would have a really tough time parting with, and I wouldn’t overlook Cam Caminiti either. He entered the season as Atlanta’s #1 prospect, and while most outlets have him relinquishing that title, the Braves might not feel the same way.

Perhaps Anthopoulos isn’t talking about a current prospect at all, though. The Braves have multiple prospects who’ve graduated recently, and if he’s including them in this conversation, my best guess would be Didier Fuentes. He’s a young arm who’s already become an integral piece of the Braves bullpen — not a bad floor for a guy who just turned 21. But his ceiling is so much higher as a potential frontline starter.

Inquiring teams will be trying to pry Didier Fuentes away as part of potential blockbuster deals. He’s probably the player the Braves will get asked about most at this year’s deadline, and I’d assume the club has very little interest in moving him.

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(Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire)

It’s a move that really solidifies the Hawks’ defensive outlook, which should carry the team through the regular season, but Onsi Saleh isn’t done quite yet. At the very least, there have to be a couple of subtractions to get the club down to 15 players before the end of the offseason.

Updated Atlanta Hawks Roster

PG: CJ McCollum, Kingston Flemings, Ryan Nembhard, Devin Carter
SG: Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Aaron Wiggins, Buddy Hield
SF: Dyson Daniels, Lu Dort, Corey Kispert
PF: Jalen Johnson, Asa Newell, Zuby Ejiofor, Mo Gueye
C: Onyeka Okongwu, Jock Landale, Henri Veesaar

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There’s still a lot to work out in terms of who starts where, but it’s evident the Hawks have severely improved their depth to the point where they now have too many guys. My guess is Buddy Hield isn’t on the roster by the time the season starts, and one of Ryan Nembhard or Devin Carter could be out the door as well.

CJ McCollum and Dyson Daniels will probably handle a lot of the early work at point guard. Even if it’s not their natural position, they both offer enough playmaking to make it work, and having Jalen Johnson as a point forward gives the starting five another primary ball-handler.

However, the ultimate goal is for Kingston Flemings to start sooner rather than later. He was the 8th overall pick in a loaded draft class, and the expectations for him are much higher than they ever were for Zaccharie Risacher coming into the league, despite the fact that Risacher was drafted first overall. It’ll be intriguing to see how the Hawks bring him along. He’s mature beyond his years and should have an instant impact on the defensive end and as a floor general.

The one area that still looks concerning, however, is the center position. The Hawks are essentially running it back there, and while Onyeka Okongwu is a very valuable piece, there are certain centers he just can’t hold up against defensively because of his size. A healthy Jock Landale will help, and Zuby Ejiofor could surprise some people, but the Hawks will likely have to add more size if they want to compete with the bigger teams across the Association.

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(Photo by Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire)

Apparently, back in 2021, the Braves had a deal in place at the trade deadline that would have brought Kyle Schwarber to Atlanta as they desperately searched for lineup help following the injury to Ronald Acuña Jr. Anthopoulos thought it was done, but it ultimately fell through — something he believes was likely tied to the division rivalry between the Nationals and the Braves.

“We thought we were getting Schwarber from the Washington Nationals at the time,” Anthopoulos said. “Mike Rizzo was the GM, good guy, very successful GM, World Series winner, very accomplished. I thought we were done, I thought we had a price, we agreed, but it’s not done until it’s done. And it didn’t get done. I think being in the division was a challenge.”

When that happened, Atlanta quickly pivoted to Jorge Soler, and I guess you could say everything worked out about how it should have.

The Braves added four outfielders at the 2021 trade deadline — Joc Pederson, Jorge Soler, Eddie Rosario, and Adam Duvall — and it’s really amazing just how significant an impact each of them had on the club’s World Series run.

Joc Pederson brought the vibes. He changed the energy of not just the clubhouse but the entire city, and it really seemed to turn the tide as the club struggled to find momentum. He also delivered some memorable Joctober moments, with critical home runs against the Brewers and Dodgers that helped get the Braves back to the World Series.

Eddie Rosario went on to win NLCS MVP, recording 14 hits in just six games, including three home runs. Adam Duvall hit 16 home runs in just 55 games after being acquired, then added three more in the postseason, including two in the World Series. And, of course, Jorge Soler went on to win World Series MVP.

There’s not a single Braves fan on the planet who’d change anything about how things worked out, but I don’t think the team would have been much worse off with Schwarber, who was eventually traded to the Red Sox, where he also tore the cover off the ball. It would have been interesting to see how things played out from there. Perhaps the Braves would have re-signed Schwarber, which could have led to some very different results between Atlanta and Philadelphia in the years that followed.

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Elder was making just his second start of July. He’d been rested to work through some mid-season fatigue, which may have contributed to some less-than-stellar results. He entered the night with an 8.47 ERA over his previous seven starts, having allowed ten home runs over that stretch. But Monday looked a lot more like the guy who was pitching like a legitimate Cy Young candidate over the first two months of the year, allowing just two earned runs on five hits with four strikeouts over six innings.

It was enough to give the Braves the lead, thanks to home runs from Ozzie Albies and Michael Harris II — two guys in the middle of outstanding bounce-back campaigns after forgettable 2025 seasons, fresh off representing Atlanta in the All-Star Game.

Well, at least Albies did. It’s still a complete and utter shame that Michael Harris II wasn’t given an All-Star nod. He had better numbers than at least one of the National League’s starters, and plenty of the reserves. The All-Star Game has very little credibility these days, and you’d think, since the game means absolutely nothing, Major League Baseball would make things right and ensure snubs like this don’t happen. Who cares if there are a few extra guys on each roster?

Robbing Harris of that experience is criminal, but he seems to be taking it the right way — on a war path to begin the second half. He’s hit safely in all four games, with three multi-hit games and a couple of home runs. Ever since he made adjustments to his swing around this time last year, he’s become one of the best all-around outfielders in the game, and eventually he’s going to get recognized properly for it.

But as good as Elder, Albies, and Harris were, the performance of the night might have come from Victor Mederos. In a one-run game with a severely depleted bullpen, Walt Weiss turned to him for the final 2.1 innings, and he delivered with a near-flawless outing. It capped off a pretty damn good week for the 25-year-old, who’s had only a few cups of coffee in the majors over his career — one in which he became the first pitcher to record a hit since 2021 and picked up his first save.

On Tuesday, the Braves will look to make it back-to-back series wins as Reynaldo Lopez faces off against Walker Buehler.

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Photo: Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire

Acuña’s role is defined. Alex Anthopoulos didn’t mince words about the idea of him becoming the primary DH — that’s not happening. He’ll continue as the club’s everyday right fielder, which gives the Braves lineup so much more flexibility. Drake Baldwin can DH on his off-days, and it also allows Mauricio Dubon to play shortstop more regularly if needed.

That alone gives the position a much more positive outlook, but Jim Jarvis‘ play since his call-up has sparked some optimism as well, and even Ha-Seong Kim is showing signs of life during his rehab assignment. He’s hit safely in four of six games, has three extra-base hits, and more than anything, is hitting the ball hard again.

More encouraging is that 4 of the 7 balls Kim has put in play for Gwinnett have had an exit velo of 98.7 mph or higher. Just 6 of the 49 balls he put in play for Atlanta were hit that hard. It’s AAA pitching, but that’s what we have to evaluate for now. As for defense, Dubón and… https://t.co/meuPArXmR0

— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) July 20, 2026

Everybody should still have their reservations about Ha-Seong Kim. He spent the first six weeks on the IL and came back looking like the worst player in baseball, hitting .068 over 73 at-bats. A few decent games on the farm against far lesser pitching isn’t going to make anybody forget that, but on the off chance he does find his footing over the last couple of months, it could be a massive addition to the Braves lineup.

Still, it’s going to be an uphill battle for Kim to earn playing time at all. Jim Jarvis has been a breath of fresh air in his absence, and even if he begins to falter, Mauricio Dubon should get most of the starts at shortstop. Kim is going to have to do a lot to prove he deserves play, and there might not even be enough time left for him to earn that chance.

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Photo: Chris Arjoon/Icon Sportswire

The level of excitement surrounding the two couldn’t be on more opposite ends of the spectrum. The Braves are a completely different team without Ronald Acuña Jr., and not in a good way. Since he went down on June 9th, Atlanta has lost 19 of 29 games. He’s desperately needed back in the lineup, but don’t expect the Braves to push anything. They must do everything in their power to ensure he’s healthy for the home stretch, and he’s now injured the same hamstring twice.

On the other hand, Braves fans could probably do without Ha-Seong Kim playing another game for the team — and they may get their wish. He’s straight up robbed the Braves of $20 million after signing a one-year deal in the offseason, hitting just .068 over 73 at-bats this season without a single extra-base hit.

Given that Jim Jarvis has looked pretty damn good in a small sample size, this rehab assignment is Kim’s last chance to prove he deserves a roster spot at all. Perform or a DFA is in his near future, but yesterday was an encouraging start, as he homered and added a single in three at-bats.

Also of note, veteran Andrew McCutchen — who signed a minor-league contract with the Braves — was part of the game as well, going 0-for-2 with a walk.

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(Photo by Allan Dranberg/Icon Sportswire)

A lot has changed since then, with those options are dwindling fast. Spencer Strider is on the IL following yet another elbow injury. It feels highly unlikely he returns this season, and even when he was on the mound, he wasn’t effective. There’s no reason for the Braves to rush him back.

Martin Perez showed signs of severe regression before the All-Star break, then joined Strider on the IL with a forearm contusion. He should be able to return this season, but he’s really nothing more than an innings eater at this point in his career. The same can be said about Bryce Elder and Grant Holmes — fine at the back of the rotation, but not arms that are going to carry the Braves to a division title, let alone a World Series.

The real hope lied with the young arms and the guys coming back from injury. So far, it’s just been a reminder that relying on those types of options is a recipe for disaster.

JR Ritchie doesn’t quite look ready — at least not to be a featured piece at the top of a rotation. Hurston Waldrep returned, got smacked around while flashing zero control of his repertoire, and is now back in Gwinnett. AJ Smith-Shawver is next in line, likely to rejoin the club sometime this month. He’s flashed some really impressive stuff during his rehab assignment, but this is a 23-year-old with 15 MLB starts under his belt coming off Tommy John surgery. He shouldn’t be expected to be the club’s saving grace.

Every single option outside of Chris Sale is a hope and a prayer as the second half approaches. It’s left the Braves with no choice but to aggressively pursue starting pitching at the trade deadline — which is always extraordinarily expensive, and they might need more than just one arm.

There is one internal option they haven’t given a fair look, however: Didier Fuentes, who Jeff Francoeur believes should make his way back to the rotation in the second half.

Jeff Francoeur believes the Braves should begin stretching out Didier Fuentes as a starter.

"The need right now outweighs the role that he's had."

Frenchy says he'd like to see Atlanta build Fuentes' innings now with an eye toward making him a full-time starter. pic.twitter.com/GrAhBygXn7

— 680 The Fan (@680TheFan) July 13, 2026

This is a topic I’ve discussed at length before, and as the season has progressed, it’s only become more evident the Braves could use an arm like Fuentes in their rotation. He has legitimate frontline starter potential and should be oozing with confidence given the way he’s performed out of the bullpen.

That said, there’s a compelling argument on the other side — the one against messing up a good thing. Didier Fuentes has been an absolute weapon in relief, a guy who can get big outs no matter the situation. Losing him in that role would be a blow to the bullpen, and there’s no guarantee he’d immediately adjust to starting.

It’s also not easy to stretch out a starter mid-season. The Braves would likely have to begin that process over the All-Star break, then give Fuentes some starts in the minors before recalling him to join the rotation. Dreaming about his repertoire in the rotation without acknowledging everything it takes to get there is just that — a dream. It’s something the Braves will undoubtedly consider, but they might wait to see how things shake out at the trade deadline before making such a drastic decision with one of their brightest young arms.

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(Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire)

San Francisco Giants

Best Fits: Robbie Ray, Jung Hoo Lee

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At 41-55 in the much more competitive National League, there’s no debate about whether the Giants are selling, and they have a couple of pieces that could really interest the Braves.

Robbie Ray is a rental, and Alex Anthopoulos typically isn’t keen on giving up worthwhile prospects for a few months of production, but beggars can’t be choosers. Ray will be one of the best pitchers moved at this year’s trade deadline, boasting a 3.38 ERA — a number that’s continued to improve in recent weeks. Over his last eight starts, he’s 5-0 with a 1.88 ERA.

Lee could offer an upgrade in the outfield. He’s a tremendous contact bat that’s hitting over .300, but he doesn’t offer much pop, and the fact that he’s left-handed won’t be as attractive to the Braves. It’s an option, but Lee certainly won’t be at the top of the list.

New York Mets

Best Fits: Clay Holmes, Freddy Peralta, A.J. Minter

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I have a hard time believing the Mets would be willing to play ball with the Braves at the deadline, but Alex Anthopoulos is at least going to make some calls.

Clay Holmes and Freddy Peralta would both be massive upgrades to the rotation, though each comes with concerns. Holmes is recovering from a fractured fibula and isn’t expected back until August. Peralta, on the other hand, is amid a career-worst season and is a rental. I don’t see the Mets getting a ton in return for either, but the upside alone will attract a number of suitors in this market.

The familiarity between the Braves and Minter makes him an obvious fit, especially given Atlanta’s need for another high leverage left-handed reliever. He’s amid a tremendous bounce-back campaign, recording a 1.42 ERA over 19 appearances after suffering a season-ending injury a year ago. It’s unfortunate he’s playing for the Mets, because a reunion makes way too much sense.

Cincinnati Reds

Best Fits: Spencer Steer, Eugenio Suarez

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The Reds don’t have a ton to offer, but Steer is the kind of right-handed outfield bat teams will be targeting at this year’s deadline because of the scarcity. He’s not an All-Star by any means, but he’s posted a respectable .755 OPS since the start of the 2023 season, including a .749 mark this year. It wouldn’t be the worst idea for the Braves to pair someone like him with Mike Yastrzemski.

Suarez is the definition of a lottery ticket. He’s amid a miserable year, hitting just .208 with 11 home runs and a .672 OPS. However, he had 49 home runs in 2025 and 30 the year before that. The Braves need another right-handed power bat that can serve as a designated hitter, and it doesn’t hurt that Suarez can play third base in case Riley continues to struggle. Given the likely cost in prospect capital, he might be worth taking a flier on.

Colorado Rockies

Best Fits: Mickey Moniak

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Moniak is having a solid year for the Rockies, hitting .278 with 15 homers and a .900 OPS, and he comes with another year of team control. However, it’s hard to gauge how much of it is real improvement and how much is a product of playing half his games at Coors Field. The splits would suggest it’s mostly the ballpark, as he owns just a .667 OPS on the road this season.

Kansas City Royals

Best Fits: Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, Lane Thomas

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The Royals, one of the league’s most disappointing teams this season, might want to hang on to starting pitchers Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo, both of whom are under team control through 2027. But in this kind of seller’s market, it may make more sense to cash in once they start hearing offers.

Wacha might not be an ace, but he’s a workhorse more than capable of starting a playoff game. He leads the American League in innings pitched, recording a 3.77 ERA over 119.2 innings. Lugo hasn’t been nearly as effective — a 4.56 ERA over 104.2 innings — but he’s a decent mid-rotation starter who will eat innings. He’s also pitched as both a starter and reliever, which could give the Braves options come the postseason.

Lane Thomas is a name Braves fans should be familiar with from his time with the Nationals. He’s cut from a similar cloth as Spencer Steer — nothing sexy, but a right-handed bat that owns a career .727 OPS and shouldn’t cost much to acquire.

Los Angeles Angels

Best Fits: Jose Soriano, Reid Detmers, Jo Adell

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Of all the for-sure sellers, the Angels offer the most intriguing group. Jose Soriano would fit wonderfully behind Chris Sale in the rotation, and he’s not a free agent until 2029. The same can be said for Reid Detmers, only he reaches free agency after next season.

In the outfield, Jo Adell will attract a lot of suitors because of his extra year of team control and his upside. He’s a former 10th overall pick who hit 37 homers in a breakout year last season but has never quite been able to put it all together. Perhaps a change of scenery could do him wonders — I’d expect the Braves to call on him.

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(Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire)

The hard-throwing right-hander began his rehab assignment at the beginning of the month. In his first two outings, he was unhittable — touching 100 MPH on the radar gun and showing off impeccable control as he worked his way up to 46 pitches.

That was in Low-A Augusta, though. In his first rehab start for the Gwinnett Stripers, against stiffer competition, the results weren’t nearly as encouraging. He made it through just 2.1 innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits and three walks while striking out only two.

The good news is Smith-Shawver ramped his pitch count all the way up to 58 — which, at this stage, is what really matters. Taking some lumps along the way after returning from Tommy John surgery is expected. How he responds his next time out, when he should throw around 70-75 pitches, will give the Braves a much better idea of when he might be ready to contribute in Atlanta.

Because Smith-Shawver still has options, the Braves don’t need to rush him to the majors the way they recently did with Hurston Waldrep. They can let him iron things out in Gwinnett for as long as they’d like until they feel he’s ready. On the flip side, they’re running out of internal fixes for the rotation — and of all the options, Smith-Shawver might have the most upside. He probably won’t have to show much for the Braves to give him a shot.

Smith-Shawver will likely make at least two more starts over the next week or so as he continues to build up his pitch count. At that point, the Braves will consider bringing him up. It might feel a bit rushed, but that’s the position Alex Anthopoulos put this club in when he opted not to spend a dime on starting pitching during the offseason — despite claiming it was the team’s top priority.

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(Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire)

Can Austin Riley provide anything offensively?

Austin Riley’s decline has been brutal to watch. He’s gone from a perennial MVP candidate to a replacement-level player over the span of three seasons, and while the injuries he’s dealt with the last two years explain some of it, the excuses are starting to run thin the deeper we get into this season.

The Braves aren’t going to bench Riley, no matter how loudly a certain portion of the fan base wants them to. He’s owed far too much money over far too many years for that to even be on the table — but more than that, this team needs the best version of Riley to compete with the National League’s elite. There’s no better third baseman walking through the door at the deadline. The Braves just have to pray he finds some semblance of his old self in the second half. If he does, nobody’s going to remember what happened from late March through July.

Who is going to save the rotation?

The Braves rotation needs a savior — several, really — and the situation only looks bleaker as the season wears on. Alex Anthopoulos pushed all his chips in on rookies and arms returning from serious injuries, and it’s backfired. He’s the only one who can save face at the trade deadline. The Braves have to add at least one frontline starter, but that’s a tall order in its own right, especially in a severe seller’s market.

And if you’re expecting Atlanta to add two impact starters over the next few weeks, I’d suggest waking up from that dream and easing back into reality. Anthopoulos hasn’t acquired a notable starting pitcher at the trade deadline since 2018 — and it’s not as if the Braves haven’t needed rotation help before. I do expect one addition given everything that’s transpired the last few seasons, but the reality is someone internally needs to step up and establish himself as a playoff-caliber starter.

Reynaldo Lopez flashed some encouraging signs heading into the break. Hurston Waldrep did not, though he was probably rushed to the majors in the first place. AJ Smith-Shawver is set to return this month, and Spencer Schwellenbach could be back at some point too. There’s also the option of shifting Didier Fuentes into the rotation for the second half. None of them are proven, and it’s entirely possible they all flop — but the only way the Braves are viewed as legitimate championship contenders is if at least one of them pitches to his full potential.

How will the Braves fix the outfield?

The Braves were dealt a raw hand when Jurickson Profar was suspended for PEDs again right before the start of the season. It forced them to lean on Mike Yastrzemski and Dominic Smith far more than they ever intended, and while each has had his moments, neither is good enough to be starting every day. Atlanta has to upgrade — and aggressively pursuing multiple bats at the deadline should very much be on the table.

It’s best to have options. That’s how the Braves operated in 2021, when they acquired four outfielders following the devastating season-ending injury to Ronald Acuña Jr. Anthopoulos doesn’t need to be chasing All-Stars, even if that would be nice. Two undervalued players with some upside who deepen the roster would do just fine.

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(Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire)

The three teams I’ve been watching closely as the trade deadline approaches are the Red Sox, Twins, and Tigers. The Braves have already been linked to a couple of players on those clubs — namely Tarik Skubal and Sonny Gray. But unless they struggle over the next few weeks, I’m not sure any of them are going to be eager to sell.

The Tigers may have dropped their last two games heading into the break, but they’ve still won 9 of their last 12. That leaves them 6.5 games back in the AL Central and just 3.5 games out of the final wild card spot.

There’s still a chance Detroit trades Tarik Skubal to the highest bidder, especially in a seller’s market, because they know their odds of winning the World Series are slim and he’s almost certainly leaving in free agency. However, there’s now a very real scenario where he goes nowhere — which would only make things more competitive for teams trying to buy starting pitching at the deadline.

The Red Sox have a slew of really intriguing trade candidates at just about every position of need for the Braves, highlighted by Jarren Duran, Sonny Gray, and Aroldis Chapman. The problem is they no longer look like a team that’s even going to consider selling. They’re winners of nine straight heading into the All-Star break and sit just 0.5 games back of the final AL Wild Card spot.

The same can be said about the Twins. Everybody has their eyes on Byron Buxton and Joe Ryan, but Minnesota held onto them at last year’s trade deadline. If they were willing to take that chance then, they’ll almost certainly do so again. They’re only three games back in the division, and even though they’re a game under .500, they’re currently tied with the Mariners for the final playoff spot.

It’s really a nightmare scenario for the Braves, who need to add significant pieces in several areas. Almost the entire AL may not be open for business, creating a scarcity of options for what could be 20 teams looking to buy. Prices will be sky high — and we know how Alex Anthopoulos feels about overpaying for anything, even when it’s in the organization’s best interest for competing this season.

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(Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire)

Acuña is still playing in the Florida Complex League. Once the second half gets underway, we’ll likely see him move up to Gwinnett pretty quickly, but it’s evident the Braves aren’t going to rush anything. He’s served as the DH in each of his three games so far. We’ll hopefully see him in the field soon, but it’s looking like he’ll miss at least the first week of the second half, and it could even be a couple of weeks before we see him back in Atlanta.

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(Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire)

Kevin Gausman

Even sitting six games under .500 and in last place in the AL East, I’m not convinced the Toronto Blue Jays are going to sell. They came just one game shy of winning the World Series a year ago, still feature a talented roster, and have a very aggressive ownership group. It also doesn’t hurt that the rest of the American League is a dumpster fire, keeping them within striking distance of the final Wild Card spot.

But if they do sell, Kevin Gausman would surely be on his way out the door. He’s in the final year of his contract, and even if he isn’t the Cy Young candidate he once was, he’d instantly become the second-best starting pitcher on the Braves roster and someone they could feel confident handing the ball to in a playoff game. Gausman owns a 4.33 ERA over 112.1 innings this season, but his 3.65 FIP suggests some positive regression could be on the way in the second half.

Interestingly enough, the last time Anthopoulos actually pulled off a mid-season trade for a starting pitcher, it was for Kevin Gausman — all the way back in 2018.

A.J. Minter

The Braves and Mets making trades isn’t something that’s happened often, and it’s not likely to happen many more times going forward. But maybe there’s a world where the two sides could find common ground on a smaller deal for a reliever who has plenty of fond memories of his time in Atlanta.

Minter joined the Mets in free agency a couple of offseasons ago and has been plagued by lat injuries ever since — one of which forced him to miss 13 months. But when he’s been on the mound, he’s been the same dominant reliever he was for most of his career, posting a 1.50 ERA over 32 appearances since joining New York, including a 1.42 mark this season.

The Braves bullpen has been the one area of the team that hasn’t faltered very often, and it’s only going to get stronger when Robert Suarez returns from the Injured List. Still, the need for another high leverage left-handed reliever to pair with Dylan Lee is legitimate. You’d have to imagine Anthopoulos will at least make the call on Minter, even if those conversations don’t get very far.

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(Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire)

Braves Updated Top 10 Prospects

1. Tate Southisene
2. Eric Hartman
3. Cam Caminiti
4. Owen Murphy
5. AJ Garcia
6. Briggs McKenzie
7. Kaiden McCarthy
8. Jensen Hirschkorn
9. John Gil
10. Alex Lodise

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For the first time in a while, the Braves’ top 10 features more position players than pitchers. Most prospect outlets have Eric Hartman as the #1 prospect in the organization after his remarkable 20/30 first half in High-A Rome. He’s an unbelievable athlete with real power who’s also outstanding in the outfield — a true five-tool talent who should really get tested in the second half with a move to Double-A.

Nobody should have much of an issue with Southisene taking the top spot, though. In his first full season of professional baseball after being drafted in the first round, he posted a .929 OPS with 30 steals in Low-A Augusta, earning him a promotion to Rome. Things proved a little tougher there initially, but he’s begun to pick it up significantly, recording a hit in five of his last six games, including three multi-hit efforts.

Caminiti entered the season as the Braves’ #1 prospect and hasn’t really done anything to lose the top spot. Hartman and Southisene have just been that good. Owen Murphy is now with the major-league club, and we’ll get a real good look at him this weekend as he makes his first MLB start against the Rangers.

The fifth spot is where we see the first member of this year’s draft class, AJ Garcia. The outfielder is coming off a monster season for the University of Virginia, hitting .354 with 14 home runs and an OPS north of 1.100. The Braves went underslot with both of their first-round picks, with the clear intention of targeting high school arms in the second and third rounds — which turned into Kaiden McCarthy and Jensen Hirschkorn.

Hirschkorn was particularly pricey, which is what it took to convince him to sign instead of heading to Baton Rouge. The nearly $4 million signing bonus he received is the largest ever for a player taken outside of the first two rounds.

“There’s not a whole lot [Hirschkorn] can’t do,” Braves vice president of amateur scouting Ronit Shah said, via Mark Bowman of MLB.com. “He’s athletic. He’s a big-time basketball guy. We’re really excited to see what he can do. He throws a ton of strikes. We saw him in the summer at a big-time event, the Area Code Games. He struck out nine guys in three innings. It’s hard to do better than that.”

The top 10 is rounded out by a couple of shortstops. John Gil looks the part of someone who could be starting in Atlanta for a long time, but his 2026 has been somewhat underwhelming to this point compared to his teammates. In 82 games, he’s hitting .247 with 11 home runs and a .733 OPS.

Alex Lodise, the Braves’ second-round selection last year, was another player who looked sluggish earlier in the year. That’s changed considerably over the last month, though. He has 10 homers in his past 22 games and is now sporting an .805 OPS on the season.

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Braves vs. Rangers

Friday: Chris Sale
Saturday: Owen Murphy
Sunday: Grant Holmes

— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) July 15, 2026

Given the issues in the rotation, this is something I expected the Braves to do — and that was before Murphy threw three perfect innings against the Cardinals over the weekend with three strikeouts.

He’s looked very encouraging over his first two appearances out of the bullpen, and now we’ll see if he can carry that success into his more natural role as a starter.

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Hartman is making history just a couple of years after being drafted in the 20th round. He secured a 20/30 first half, vaulting himself from unranked all the way to the 25th-best prospect in all of baseball, according to Baseball America.

Southisene — a first-round pick out of high school last year — has also cracked the Top 100 after a stellar start to his first full professional season. He hit .297 with eight home runs, 36 stolen bases, and a .929 OPS before earning a well-deserved promotion to High-A Rome.

But neither of them is the Braves’ hottest prospect right now. That honor belongs to a member of Southisene’s draft class: second-round selection Alex Lodise.

Lodise is an older shortstop prospect coming off a magnificent career at Florida State, so it was a bit surprising to see him start the season so slowly in Augusta. However, any concerns have been put to rest in a hurry. Over the last month, he’s hitting a hair under .300 with 10 home runs and nine multi-hit games — good for an OPS well over 1.000. He’s now up to 18 home runs in just 81 games to go along with an .822 OPS, and at 22 years old, you’d expect a promotion could be in his near future as well.

I’ve said it all season, but this isn’t the Braves farm system of old, when it sat near the bottom of the league. Atlanta is now oozing with high-upside talent at just about every level, and a draft class headlined by two first-round selections is on the way.

That’s not a spot they’ve been in heading into a trade deadline in quite some time. The Braves can finally deal some of their young talent without feeling like they’re mortgaging the future. It should free them up to be aggressive over the next several weeks, patching up some of the glaring holes on the major-league roster.

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Jones came in having made just eight starts on the season after returning from injury, and across those eight he’d never eclipsed the five-inning mark while carrying a not-so-great 5.28 ERA. That was nowhere to be found on Wednesday. He was quite literally perfect over six innings, striking out eight while facing the minimum on just 77 pitches.

In truth, the Braves are lucky he’s still on a strict pitch limit, because it forced the Pirates to pull him. Had they let him keep going, we might be talking about the wrong kind of history this morning instead of a Braves win.

Holmes and the rest of the staff, though, matched Jones every step of the way. Holmes needed 90 pitches for five scoreless innings, allowing three hits and a walk, and the bullpen covered the next four frames without surrendering a run — a welcome bounce-back for a group coming off a rough week.

Offensively, everything changed the moment Jones exited. The Braves picked up their first hit in the seventh, and in the eighth, Joey Bart delivered the dagger: a game-winning two-run homer that went 422 feet over the left-center field wall against his former team. Atlanta tacked on another run in the ninth for good measure before Raisel Iglesias slammed the door for his 18th save.

It was exactly the kind of night Atlanta needed from its struggling pitching staff — and it begs the question: is Grant Holmes the Braves’ second-best starter right now?

Sure, he’s not the type to go deep into games. He allows a lot of traffic on the basepaths and struggles the second and third time through the order, which is why he hasn’t completed six innings since early June. But if the Braves needed one guy not named Chris Sale to keep them in a must-win game over four or five innings, I’m not sure they could turn to anyone else.

His ERA is now down to a respectable 3.61 for the season. He hasn’t allowed more than three earned runs in a start since May 1st, and he’s riding a 0.96 ERA over his last four outings.

It’s more a testament to the dismal state of the Braves’ rotation than anything, but credit belongs where it’s due. For all the flak Grant Holmes has taken from the fan base, he’s given the club a chance to win every time he’s stepped on the mound for two straight months.

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But the NL East isn’t just a two-man race between the Braves and Phillies anymore. The Marlins and Nationals have entered the chat as well with some surprisingly good play.

NL East Standings

1. Braves 52-38
2. Phillies 51-41 (2.0 GB)
3. Marlins 50-42 (3.0 GB)
4. Nationals 47-46 (6.5 GB)
5. LOL Mets (15.0 GB)

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The Phillies and Braves have essentially flipped scripts. Philadelphia sat 10 games under .500 early in the season and has since been the hottest team in baseball — becoming the first club in MLB history to be 10 games under .500 in April and reach 10 games over .500 before the end of June.

The #Phillies are the first team in #MLB history to be 10 games under .500 in April and be 10 games over .500 at any point prior to the end of June.

— Jeff Kerr (@JeffKerrPHL) June 27, 2026

ESPN recently polled a group of executives, scouts, and coaches, asking them to rank the top running backs in the league. Coming in at #1 was Atlanta’s own Bijan Robinson.

“Robinson edged Gibbs despite a tight vote; the Detroit runner registered nearly as many first-place votes, but Robinson won with an average rating of 1.78 in the composite voting,” Jeremy Fowler wrote.

“His overall body of work is undeniable. He led the NFL with 2,298 yards from scrimmage in 2025, breaking William Andrews’ franchise record from 1983 (2,176). He joins Andrews and Julio Jones as the only Falcons to lead the NFL in scrimmage yards.”

Robinson came into the league viewed by most as a finished product — an elite runner who paired incredible agility with strength and speed in a 215-pound frame. The league had trouble bringing him down from the very first week of his rookie season, but the great ones are never satisfied.

Robinson has somehow found a way to get better every year since, culminating in a third season that saw him lead the entire league in scrimmage yards on his way to first-team All-Pro honors and a fourth-place finish in the Offensive Player of the Year race.

The biggest difference was his development as a receiver. Robinson had always been capable in that area, but he doubled his receiving output from his first two seasons, emerging as arguably the Falcons’ second most dangerous receiving weapon — hauling in 79 balls for 820 yards and four touchdowns.

The other thing we saw a lot more of in year three was his breakaway speed. He was never viewed as a back who lacked explosiveness, but the home runs didn’t really come over his first two seasons. It’s something he talked about improving heading into the 2025 campaign.

“We’re done with 30-yard runs and all that stuff,” Robinson said. “Now it’s time to get those 60 yards, 50 yards. So, I’ve been doing a lot more explosive drills. I’ve been doing a lot more running — 100 yards, like sprinting — so we can be prepared for, God willing, when those moments come in all the games.”

That extra work paid off. Robinson ripped off the longest run of the entire NFL season, a 93-yard touchdown on Monday Night Football against the Rams, and added an 81-yard score against the Bills earlier in the year.

From the outside, there isn’t a single aspect of his game that isn’t damn close to perfect. He’s even one of the best pass blockers at the position — a nightmare for blitzing linebackers who think they’ve found a lane to the quarterback. Robinson is what comes out when a kid builds the ideal running back in Madden: a blessing on and off the field, and someone the Falcons should be looking to keep in Atlanta for a very long time.

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That’s no longer the case.

Eric Hartman has taken the entire prospect world by storm. A relatively unknown commodity coming into the season, he’s now the 25th-ranked prospect in the sport according to Baseball America after hitting 20 homers and stealing 31 bases over the first half.

Tate Southisene has joined him in the Top 100, and Alex Lodise could be next after a breakout month that’s seen him club 10 homers with nine multi-hit games. Soon, the Braves will also welcome an entirely new draft class — one that includes two first-round selections.

Things have improved so much that Baseball America now ranks the Braves farm system inside the top 15.

“Eric Hartman. Turning a last-round draft pick into one of the best prospects in baseball is the kind of win that organizations dream of having,” the Baseball America staff wrote. “Hartman still has some questions about how his swing will play in the upper-levels of the minors, but there are few higher-ceiling prospects out there. He could serve as the cornerstone of a major trade, if the Braves were willing to move him. The rest of the Braves’ Top 10 is solid, as well, which is a big improvement from a year or two ago. The Braves have also been able to rely on their Triple-A pitching depth to plug multiple injury issues.”

Even when things looked bleak for the farm system, the Braves have always been able to produce high-level starting pitching. Spencer Strider, Spencer Schwellenbach, AJ Smith-Shawver, Hurston Waldrep, and Didier Fuentes are just some of the names who’ve debuted over the last several years and found success — even if keeping them healthy has been an entirely different issue.

The position player side has been a different story, with Drake Baldwin the lone outlier. There hasn’t been much to get excited about there, and while the arrow is pointing up, they’re still a ways from the elite farm systems when it comes to offensive upside.

“Position Prospects. Yes, the development of Hartman and the improvements of Tate Southisene, John Gil and Conor Essenburg have significantly improved the Braves’ position player prospect depth, but it still needs reinforcements after years of drafts that focused almost entirely on pitchers.”

We’ll see how the Braves approach this year’s draft, which begins on Saturday. In 2025, they flipped the script on their traditional strategy, selecting three athletic shortstops with their first three picks. So far the return has been encouraging — which might convince them to run it back with a similar approach.

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Jarvis smacked his first major-league home run in the fourth inning, a screamer over the right field wall that gave the Braves a 5-2 lead.

First career home run for Jim Jarvis! #LocalFordDealer | #BravesCountry pic.twitter.com/EpRhazLBk9

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 9, 2026

He added two more hits and a couple of stellar defensive plays, coming up big with the Pirates threatening to tie in the seventh and eighth. He was the difference in the game — until Mike Yastrzemski piled on some much-needed insurance with a grand slam in the ninth.

With Ha-Seong Kim on the IL, the Braves have to this point split shortstop duties between Jarvis and Jorge Mateo. It’s an odd approach, considering you’d think the club would want to get its young shortstop into a rhythm — especially given the way Mateo has performed.

Mateo’s hot start was a nice early boost at a position of need, but he has just one hit this month and five since the beginning of June. Over his last 23 games, he’s hitting .111 with one extra-base hit, good for a .300 OPS. So for everyone complaining about Ha-Seong Kim — as they should be — Mateo has been every bit as unproductive.

Jarvis, on the other hand, has been a breath of fresh air in limited action. He’s hitting .278 with a homer and a .778 OPS while playing splendid defense at short. And there appears to be some real upside here based on his Triple-A numbers this season, where he hit .313 with 29 extra-base hits over 76 games.

The odds of Jarvis being the Braves’ shortstop of the future might not be high, but right now, he’s far and away the best option in Atlanta. He should be playing every day — at least until Ronald Acuña Jr. returns and Mauricio Dubon can slide back to shortstop.

And who knows? Maybe Jim Jarvis turns out to be the answer the Braves have been searching for at the position since Dansby Swanson signed with the Cubs in free agency.

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