Braves injury updates on Hurston Waldrep and Spencer Schwellenbach

Back-to-back wins over the Nationals have the Braves up eight games in the NL East, looking like a near lock to return to the postseason following a one-year hiatus. But it’s going to be difficult to make it very far past that point if they don’t find some answers for their rotation issues.

Those could come at the trade deadline or internally, with AJ Smith-Shawver and Spencer Schwellenbach really being the last beacons of hope inside the organization. The former made his season debut earlier this week, allowing a couple of runs over 4.1 innings. It was a positive step for Smith-Shawver, one the Braves are hoping he can build on over the next two months. He certainly has the repertoire to start a playoff game down the road if everything clicks.

Schwellenbach isn’t as far along, but it looks like he could begin a rehab assignment in the very near future. He threw several bullpens down in Florida and is now throwing more in front of the Braves in Atlanta. Provided there are no setbacks, a return in early September feels like a realistic timeline for one of the most talented arms in the organization.