What does a fully healthy Braves 26-man roster look like?

The Braves are 1.5 games clear of the Tampa Bay Rays for the best record in baseball, 2.0 games ahead of the Dodgers for the best record in the National League, and a remarkable 8.5 games better than the Nationals in the NL East.

Since Opening Day, nobody has been better than the Atlanta Braves — which is startling considering they haven’t been close to healthy for a single game of the 2026 season.

Just over the offseason, Spencer Strider, Spencer Schwellenbach, Hurston Waldrep, Ha-Seong Kim, and Sean Murphy all went down with injuries. A couple have returned, but Ronald Acuña Jr., Drake Baldwin, and Raisel Iglesias have also spent time on the IL.

It’s been a wild ride — one that hopefully slows down considerably over the next four months — but the promising news is that all of these players are currently slated to return at some point this season.

So what does the Braves’ best 26-man roster look like with everybody healthy?

Rotation

1. Chris Sale
2. Spencer Strider
3. Bryce Elder
4. Spencer Schwellenbach
5. Hurston Waldrep

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Chris Sale and — much to everyone’s surprise — Bryce Elder have been the two best starting pitchers in Atlanta through the first two months. There’s still a chance Elder hits some bumps and falls out of favor given the sheer depth of this group, but the struggles would have to be significant based on what he’s shown so far.

Rounding out the rotation with Schwellenbach and Waldrep is one option, but there are really so many directions the Braves could go. Grant Holmes and Martin Perez have both been solid at the back end so far this season. JR Ritchie remains in the conversation. AJ Smith-Shawver is working his way back from injury. And don’t forget about Didier Fuentes — even though he’s thrived out of the bullpen, he’s still a starting pitcher with immense upside who could get stretched out later in the season.

When fully healthy, this is an embarrassment of riches from a depth standpoint.

Catchers

1. Drake Baldwin
2. Sean Murphy

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Not much to say here. The Braves have arguably the best catching tandem in baseball. Unfortunately, both of them are currently on the IL. Baldwin appears to have avoided disaster with his oblique injury, which is massive, but Murphy is likely out for several more months after fracturing his finger.

Infielders

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

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The infield is currently fully healthy following Kim’s return, but questions have emerged about whether he’s actually the best option at shortstop. He’s struggled significantly over the last two weeks both offensively and defensively, while Dubon and Mateo were a strong tandem at the position in his absence.

Outfielders

1. Ronald Acuña Jr.
2. Michael Harris II
3. Eli White
4. Mike Yastrzemski

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All four outfielders are currently healthy, and while the group might look thin on paper, Dubon’s versatility to play all three outfield spots eases a lot of concerns. That said, this was a group that was supposed to include Jurickson Profar, who was suspended 162 games for PEDs. Replacing that production — ideally with a power-hitting right-handed bat — should be a priority before the trade deadline.

Designated Hitter

1. Dominic Smith

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Who would have thought Dominic Smith would prove to be the superior DH option to Marcell Ozuna, who the Braves let walk in the offseason?

Bullpen

1. Raisel Iglesias
2. Dylan Lee
3. Robert Suarez
4. Didier Fuentes
5. Tyler Kinley
6. Reynaldo Lopez
7. Grant Holmes
8. AJ Smith-Shawver

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This is where things get really interesting. With everybody healthy, the Braves could have four starting pitchers in their bullpen — Fuentes, Lopez, Holmes, and Smith-Shawver. It’s a bit unconventional, but Holmes and Lopez have each had success in relief previously. Fuentes is thriving in the role this season. And Smith-Shawver has the high-end stuff to be a weapon out of the bullpen if his arm looks anything like it did before Tommy John surgery. The Braves will also likely look to add to this group at the trade deadline.

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