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Jose Suarez Likely to Open 2026 as the Braves' Fifth Starter
Atlanta Braves left-hander Jose Suarez is likely to open 2026 as the team's fifth starter with starting pitcher Spencer Strider (oblique) set to begin the year on the Injured List, per Mark Bowman of MLB.com. Bowman reports that Atlanta's plan for young right-hander Didier Fuentes is still for him to open the year in the bullpen, with veteran lefty Martin Perez the main competition for Suarez at the back end of the rotation. Suarez has made 62 starts over the course of his seven-year MLB career but has worked mostly as a reliever over the past two seasons. Across 19 1/3 innings (seven games) for Atlanta in 2025, the 28-year-old pitched to a 1.86 ERA and 1.29 WHIP but struck out just 16 while allowing 10 walks. With Strider, Spencer Schwellenbach (elbow), Hurston Waldrep (elbow), AJ Smith-Shawver (elbow), and Joey Wentz (knee) all on the Injured List, the Braves are digging deep into their pitching depth to begin 2026. Suarez could hold some fantasy appeal in deep leagues, but his lack of a proven track record as an MLB starter is a concern.
Source: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
Source: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
