Could this Braves starter have a place on the 2026 roster?

It’s tough to find positive storylines with the way this season has gone, and things somehow became even more discouraging when the Braves managed not to make a single notable trade ahead of the trade deadline.

However, there are a few. After a mechanical change in his swing, Michael Harris II is looking a lot more like the guy he was for the Braves over his first three seasons. Some intriguing prospects are also knocking on the door of the majors, likely to get an opportunity over the final two months. But one recent development that’s come out of nowhere is Joey Wentz, who has been spectacular since the Braves picked him up off waivers.

Wentz was once a top 10 prospect in Atlanta’s farm system before he was shipped to Detroit in the trade that netted the Braves reliever Shane Greene. It never worked out with the Tigers, as he was designated for assignment in 2024 before being picked up by the Pirates. Wentz showed flashes in Pittsburgh, but again, found himself on waivers this year, allowing his original team to swoop in.

The Braves immediately promoted him to the active roster after acquiring him, and soon enough, he was in the rotation following a slew of injuries. However, he’s been the one guy that’s really held his own, recording a 1.50 ERA, 0.722 WHIP and 10.5 K/9 over four appearances (three starts).

Wentz’s peripherals are far from eye-popping, but they definitely paint the picture of an arm that can stick at the major-league level. Plus, his ability to pitch both out of the bullpen and as a starter is very attractive, especially for the Braves, who will enter the offseason with plenty of holes in each area.

With three more years of team control remaining on his contract, these final two months are an audition for Joey Wentz to stick around past this season. The Braves probably shouldn’t view him as a starter going into 2026, but he’s not a bad guy to have in your back pocket in case of emergency, as he’s shown in his brief stint so far.