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The Atlanta Braves lost starting pitcher Spencer Schwellenbach to an elbow injury on Wednesday. With Chris Sale also in the injured list, will the Braves become sellers at the trade deadline?
On Wednesday, the Atlanta Braves announced that right-handed starting pitcher Spencer Schwellenbach was being placed on the 15-day injured list due to a fractured elbow. While the team did not specify a specific timeline, he is expected to remain sidelined for at least the next few months and potentially for the remainder of the season.
Earlier in June, the Braves also placed the reigning NL Cy Young winner, Chris Sale, on the 60-day injured list due to a fractured ribcage.
With two of their top pitchers set to miss an extended period, will the Braves become sellers at the trade deadline?
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Braves Lose Another Top Pitcher to Serious Injury
Schwellenbach made his MLB debut last season and immediately flashed high upside. The right-hander logged 123 2/3 innings, yielding a 3.35 ERA and a stellar 1.04 WHIP. Through 110 2/3 innings this season, the 25-year-old began to establish himself as one of the game's top pitchers as he posted an impressive 3.09 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP.
Schwellenbach has posted an above-average 14.9% K rate while showing near-perfect command, allowing walks at a 4.1% rate. Under the hood, he has also generated a solid 3.41 xERA with a 7.5% barrel rate, both of which are above the average marks among qualified pitchers.
While Mark Bowman of MLB.com noted that Schwellenbach could return to the mound later in September, the Braves will likely not be in the playoff race and could opt to shut him down to ensure he is ready for 2026.
Schwellenbach felt sore the day after he pitched against the Phillies on Saturday. He has a small fracture. He won't throw for four weeks. There's an expectation he'll pitch again in September.
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) July 2, 2025
Given Atlanta's position in the NL East and now without these two starting pitchers, the Braves could become sellers at the trade deadline. While franchise cornerstones such as Spencer Strider and Ronald Acuna Jr. would not be on the trade block, designated hitter Marcell Ozuna or relief pitchers Dylan Lee and Raisel Iglesias could draw interest later in July.
With Sale and Schwellenbach both sidelined, young right-hander Didier Fuentes should have a path to remain in the majors for the foreseeable future. This could also open a spot for Hurston Waldrep, who received a brief taste of the big leagues last summer.
The Braves have been plagued by injuries several times during the 2025 season, resulting in disappointing results. However, given the high-end talent on their roster, they should be well-positioned to return to form in 2026.
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