Braves Acquire Right-Hander With Starting Experience From Rangers

The Atlanta Braves make a late-night trade with the Texas Rangers to acquire another arm. They announced they acquired right-hander Dane Dunning in exchange for right-hander José Ruiz and cash considerations.

They also, once again, designated Jesse Chavez for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster. If history indicates anything, he'll probably be back.

Dunning has made five appearances for the Rangers this season, being shuttled back and forth from Triple-A a few times during the season. In those five appearances, he has a 3.38 ERA across 10 2/3 innings pitched. He's made exclusively long relief appearances, apart from one appearance where he was run out after two-thirds of an inning pitched. He's given the Rangers up to three innings in an outing twice.

In Triple-A, he has been used as a starter, which was his usual role in the Majors for most of his career. In 12 Triple-A appearances, 11 starts, he has a 4.47 ERA.

He's gotten up to six innings pitched and around 70 pitches with Rock Round this season. In the majors, he's passed 50 pitches twice. If the Braves choose to, they could stretch him out as a starter to help fill a void in the starting rotation brought on by injuries. He could also serve as an opener during a bullpen or come in after the opener - whichever way they would want to go about it.

Being able to jump into the rotation would go a long way for the Braves. Four of their starters - Chris Sale, Spencer Schwellenbach, Reynaldo López and AJ Smith-Shawver - are out long-term. While Sale and Schwellenbach will likely re-join the rotation this season, López is looking more like he'll be a bullpen option, if he's able to return late in the season. Smith-Shawver underwent Tommy John surgery, so we won't be seeing him again until later in 2026.

Currently, the rotation is Spencer Strider, Grant Holmes and Bryce Elder, with two other spots left in limbo. Davis Daniel pitched Sunday and is still on the active roster, but while he was effective, we have to wait and see if he sticks around. There's room for both him and Dunning to carve out roles with the need for innings.

Strider is the only Braves starter who is penciled in for the upcoming home series against the New York Yankees. He'll pitch the series opener on Friday, while Saturday and Sunday remain open. There is an opportunity to utilize Dunning somewhere during this time.

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