2026

Originally posted on Inside The Diamonds
By Chris Lavallee | Last updated Mar 30, 2026 12:05 PM ET

The Atlanta Braves start a three-game series against the Athletics today. They are coming off a series victory over the Royals to start the 2026 season. Ahead of tonight’s game, the Braves selected the contract of left-handed pitcher Martin Perez from the Columbus Clingstones. To make room for Perez, they optioned right-handed pitcher Didier Fuentes to Triple-A Gwinnett. This option was planned as Fuentes will head down to Gwinnett and work on being stretched out as a starting pitcher.

Perez, this spring, made four appearances, with one coming as a start. He had a 2.84 ERA, a 1.26 WHIP, and ten strikeouts in 12.2 innings. In his lone appearance, Fuentes went four innings, allowing a run on two hits; he walked one and struck out four. He made four appearances this spring with two coming as starts, going 3-0 with a 0.66 ERA, a 0.22 WHIP, and 18 strikeouts in 13.2 innings.

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Martin Perez

Perez last season in 11 games, with ten coming as starts for the White Sox, went 1-6 with a 3.54 ERA, a 1.11 WHIP, and 44 strikeouts in 56 innings. He also made two starts in the minor leagues, going 0-1. Perez had a 4.05 ERA, a 1.50 WHIP, and five strikeouts in 6.2 innings. The 14-year MLB veteran has appeared in 325 games with 279 of those coming as starts, going 91-93 with a 4.41 ERA, a 1.43 WHIP, and 1,153 strikeouts in 1,631.2 innings.

Didier Fuentes

Fuentes has made four starts with the Braves, all coming last season, going 0-3 with a 13.85 ERA, a 2.23 WHIP, and 12 strikeouts in 13 innings. The Braves 12th ranked prospect pitched across three levels last season, pitching at High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A. He made 13 starts, going 1-7 with a 4.58 ERA, a 1.14 WHIP, and 71 strikeouts in 57 innings.

This article first appeared on Inside The Diamonds and was syndicated with permission.

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