Options For The Atlanta Braves 2026 Starting Rotation

The Atlanta Braves have suffered multiple injuries to the starting rotation. Left-hander Joey Wentz was the latest to join the injured list with a torn ACL.

Options For The Atlanta Braves’ 2026 Starting Rotation

Thankfully for the Braves, they’ll have two reliable arms, left-hander Chris Sale and right-hander Spencer Strider, headlining the rotation. Sale and Strider are both working their way back from their own injuries. Sale suffered a fractured left ribcage in 2025, while Strider is two years removed from Tommy John surgery (2024).

Manager Walt Weiss can rely on Sale and Strider to log innings, and hopefully, by their former Cy Young selves. However, the three through five slots in the starting rotation remain up for grabs, with a few arms vying for a spot.

Right-hander Grant Holmes |

Grant Holmes was a member of the Braves rotation last season and performed well. Holmes went 4-9 with a 3.99 ERA in 22 games (21 starts) and struck out a career-high 123 in 115.0 innings.

Soon to turn 30 (March 22), Holmes has been outstanding this spring, not allowing an earned run and striking out 16 in 12.1 innings. Holmes struck out nine Pittsburgh Pirates in five innings on March 12.

Holmes will likely follow Sale and Strider in the rotation and be the Braves’ third starter. Given his strikeout ability, Holmes can expect to surpass his 123 strikeouts if he can remain healthy.

Right-hander Reynaldo Lopez |

Missing all of 2025 due to Tommy John surgery, Lopez was outstanding in 2024 in his first year returning as a starter. The former All-Star went 8-5 with a 1.99 ERA and struck out 148 in 135.2 innings.

Being a former All-Star and Cy Young finalist – 11th in the voting in 2024 — Lopez has shown he hasn’t missed a beat this spring after missing last season. In four starts, Lopez is 2-1 with a 2.84 ERA and struck out 14 in 12.2 innings.

Showing he was durable before getting injured, and logging 30+ starts in his career already (2018 & 2019), the Braves will need Lopez to be a workhorse this season.

Left-hander Martin Perez |

Perez also dealt with injuries from last season, missing most of 2025 with left elbow inflammation. The former All-Star (2022) made 10 starts (11 games) and went 1-6 with a 3.54 ERA with the Chicago White Sox.

However, Perez hasn’t pitched like an All-Star this spring. In nine innings, Perez has a 4.00 ERA and has given up two home runs. Despite his struggles, Perez could find his way into being the fifth starter, since the Braves need another left-handed starter with Wentz out.

Braves Other Arms

Rookies JR Ritchie and Didier Fuentes have stood out this spring and have given the Braves pause on having a 23-year-old or a 20-year-old make the roster. In 12.0 innings, Ritchie has 14 strikeouts and a 2.25 ERA, and Fuentes has 17 strikeouts and has not allowed an earned run in nine innings. 

Elder, on the other hand, has struggled, walking five and has allowed seven earned runs in 13.1 innings. Given Ritchie and Fuentes have stood out over Elder, they could find themselves even leapfrogging a veteran like Perez. Fuentes still has to work on some things, which could lead to a demotion. However, he could be up in the rotation at some point.