Alex Anthopoulos comments on Braves star reliever Robert Suarez

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Alex Anthopoulos comments on Braves star reliever Robert Suarez

Originally posted on SportsTalkATL | By Chase Irle | Last updated Aug 4, 2026 9:24 AM ET

All the attention surrounding the Braves’ horrendous trade deadline will center on their failure to add a playoff-caliber starting pitcher, and rightfully so. It’s been the club’s single biggest weakness for years now. But Atlanta’s refusal to add any significant piece to the pitching staff at all is just as appalling.

There’s more than one way to skin a cat when it comes to getting 27 outs, particularly in October. If the Braves didn’t want to spend the prospect capital on a starter, they should have done something meaningful to bolster the bullpen instead — especially given the uncertainty surrounding Robert Suarez, who’s been out since mid-June with elbow inflammation.

Suarez still hasn’t started throwing bullpens, and these recent comments from Alex Anthopoulos might explain why.

Alex Anthopoulos says that he told P Robert Suarez today not to rush. “This is about October.”

— Barrett Sallee (@BarrettSallee) August 3, 2026

Anthopoulos is right about one thing: it’s all about October at this point. The Braves are playing great baseball — 7.5 games up on the Phillies and a near lock for the postseason. Making sure everyone is healthy and ready to roll when they get there is paramount to having any success. One significant injury to the pitching staff over the next two months and the whole thing comes crashing down.

That’s what should really disturb fans about Atlanta’s inaction. Injuries — particularly to pitchers — have cost this team dearly over the past three seasons. The organization has been consistently, wildly optimistic about what it’ll get out of guys who haven’t pitched in months, and the results have almost always been less than desirable. Hurston Waldrep, Spencer Strider, and Spencer Schwellenbach are perfect examples from this season alone.

The Braves had a chance to load up and go for it, and it wasn’t as if there was only one arm out there who could have improved their October odds. There were dozens. That’s going to be a tough pill to swallow if things don’t go perfectly in the health department between now and the start of the playoffs.

This article first appeared on SportsTalkATL and was syndicated with permission.

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