Walt Weiss comments on concern surrounding Robert Suarez

IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Walt Weiss comments on concern surrounding Robert Suarez

Originally posted on SportsTalkATL | By Chase Irle | Last updated Jul 28, 2026 1:44 PM ET

It’s approaching the six-week mark since Robert Suarez last appeared for the Braves after being placed on the IL with elbow and forearm inflammation. Further tests revealed no structural damage, and it felt like something that was just going to need a couple of weeks of rest before he was back throwing again.

The fact that he’s been down for this long with no real end in sight — he hasn’t even begun throwing bullpens yet — is a surprise, not just to fans, but to Walt Weiss as well, who had this to say following last night’s game.

Last night, I asked Walt, "Is there reason to be concerned about Suarez given it's been a month?"

Walt's response: "I was hoping he'd be back by now. It's taken longer than we all thought, but we still feel like he's going to be a big part of this thing. It's just taken longer… https://t.co/kDkyr4ZXcR

— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) July 28, 2026

The rotation hasn’t done the Braves bullpen any favors, but a lot of the problems the unit has faced over the last month or so trace back to being without arguably their best reliever. Robert Suarez has a 0.56 ERA on the season over 31 appearances. Nearly every time he’s toed the rubber wearing a tomahawk across his chest, the Braves have gone on to win the game.

Getting Suarez back is paramount to Atlanta making some noise in the postseason. The Braves don’t have enough starting pitching to get 27 outs without an elite bullpen behind them. In the first half of the season, with Suarez, they had that. Right now, the group is average at best, which could make it a focal point ahead of next Monday’s trade deadline.

This article first appeared on SportsTalkATL and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: