Another Atlanta Braves Starting Pitcher Suffers a Serious Injury

The Atlanta Braves have dealt with constant injuries to pitchers in their starting rotation. Left-hander Joey Wentz, 28, is the latest to get hurt. Per Braves reporter Grant McAuley, Wentz suffered a knee injury in a collision with a Tampa Bay Rays base runner. Requiring a cart to get off the field. According to Chad Bishop of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Wentz walked into the clubhouse. 

Two other starting pitchers have already been hurt. Right-handers Hurston Waldrep, who had surgery to remove loose bodies from his right elbow, and Spencer Schwellenbach, undergoing a procedure to remove bone spurs from his right elbow, were placed on the injured list. Additionally, Wentz had been doing well in two starts. Going 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA and striking out six, but did walk four in 5.0 innings.

The Braves Are Running Out of Starting Pitchers

Three starting pitchers are likely to start the season on the injured list. Right-hander AJ Smith-Shawver will miss most of this season after having Tommy John surgery last season. Leaving the Braves with few options left on the 40-man roster to fill things out. Right-hander Spencer Strider is still recovering from Tommy John surgery. Which cost him all of 2024 and limited him to 23 starts (4.45 ERA) in 2025. While left-hander Chris Sale (soon to be 37 on March 30) also dealt with injuries last season (fractured left rib cage).

The Braves do have veteran left-hander and All-Star (2022) Martín Pérez as a left-handed option for manager Walt Weiss. Pérez has posted a 1.80 ERA in two games (5.0 innings) this spring. Right-handers Grant Holmes, Reynaldo López, and Bryce Elder will also be relied on to fill the innings needed to get through a 162-game season.

The Braves Could Sign One or Two More Starters From the Free Agent Market

Limited in options available, the Braves do have some arms to choose from through free agency. LHP Nestor Cortes went 2-4 with a 6.29 ERA in eight starts with the San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers in 2025. Former Red Sox RHP Lucas Giolito — 10-4 with a 3.41 ERA in 26 starts — is also available for the Braves to sign.

The Braves’ first game is on March 27 against the Kansas City Royals. Limiting the amount of time the President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Alex Anthopoulos have to get a deal done.