ATLANTA -- One week after being criticized for not adding a frontline starter before the Trade Deadline, the Braves are being asked whether there might soon be room for Reynaldo López and AJ Smith-Shawver in their starting rotation?
It’s not that the Braves suddenly have an overabundance of options for their injury-depleted rotation. It’s just that this rotation that has been described as thin doesn’t currently have any glaring holes.
Martín Pérez certainly doesn’t have reason to worry about losing his rotation spot to either of these pitchers. The 35-year-old lefty ran his scoreless streak to 18 innings and benefited from Ozzie Albies’ fifth-inning homer in a 4-0 win over the Mets at Truist Park on Tuesday night.
“It’s really cool to see a guy like Martín being rewarded,” Braves manager Walt Weiss said. “It’s always good when the good ones in this game get rewarded by the game. It takes a lot of hard work and everything else he puts into it. But he's been huge for us.”
Matt Olson made sure Pérez’s effort wouldn’t go to waste when he hit a two-run home run in the eighth inning. Olson now has 35 homers, tying him with Kyle Schwarber, Junior Caminero and Yordan Alvarez for the MLB lead.
Pérez’s 18 consecutive scoreless innings stands as MLB’s third-longest active streak among starting pitchers, trailing only Drew Rasmussen (20 IP) and Sandy Alcantara (20 IP). Not bad for a hurler who came to Spring Training as a non-roster invitee and then re-signed with the Braves after being designated for assignment in April.
“Everything is good, man, I feel good,” Pérez said.
While Pérez was limiting the Mets to four hits over six scoreless innings, Smith-Shawver was recording seven strikeouts over 5 1/3 scoreless innings for Triple-A Gwinnett in Norfolk. As for López, he spent Tuesday afternoon throwing a bullpen for the first time since he was placed on the injured list (retroactive to July 30) with left knee inflammation.
Smith-Shawver was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett after making an emergency start during a July 29 doubleheader against the Mets. So, the right-hander, who is still essentially rehabbing from last year’s Tommy John surgery, could return at any point after Friday without having to replace an injured player on the active roster.
López is eligible for activation on Saturday, but he said, “No,” when asked about the possibility of returning this weekend. Still, the pending returns of these two pitchers could benefit both the Braves’ rotation and bullpen.
“In a minute here, we could have some pretty good options, more options,” Weiss said.
Current rotation
Chris Sale -- 2.20 ERA ranks second in MLB. Currently stands as the team’s only prototypical playoff starter.
Bryce Elder -- 3.73 ERA over his past 30 starts ranks 19th among all MLB pitchers going back to Aug. 24, 2025. Had a rough June and a tough start on Monday against the Mets. But his 14 starts of six innings or longer ties Sale for the team lead.
Tyler Mahle -- Threw six scoreless innings and recorded nine strikeouts in a second straight start while making his Braves debut at Yankee Stadium on Friday. His 3.27 ERA over his past eight starts is encouraging. So, too, is the fact he has averaged nearly 5 2/3 innings per start (44 total innings) during this span.
Grant Holmes -- Whenever it seems time to put Holmes in the bullpen, he does something like begin August with back-to-back starts of six scoreless innings. He’s also posted a 2.45 ERA over his past seven starts. He lasted at least five innings in six of those outings.
Pérez -- Stands with Sale as the team’s two most consistent starters throughout the season. A bruised left forearm that sidelined him for a couple weeks in July may have been a blessing in disguise. He’s allowed three earned runs in 25 innings since returning from the injured list.
What should the Braves do with López and Smith-Shawver?
When López returns, should the Braves take the risk of moving him back to the bullpen, where he didn’t appear to be as motivated as he was when he returned to the rotation near the end of June?
As for Smith-Shawver, his high-octane fastball, splitter and slider create the look of a prototypical playoff starter. He could prove to be the team’s best choice for a Game 2 starter in a playoff series. But the young hurler with 16 career starts will need to make some starts down the stretch. How many? When should a rotation spot be created for him?
That’s a decision the Braves will have to make as they deal with this problem of having “too many” starters.