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Hurston Waldrep to Start on Thursday Against Cardinals
Atlanta Braves right-hander Hurston Waldrep will make his first start for the Braves this year in Thursday's series finale against the St. Louis Cardinals at Truist Park, according to MLB.com. Waldrep had surgery to remove bone spurs from his right elbow in February and didn't make his 2026 debut in the majors until last weekend out of the bullpen in Atlanta. The 24-year-old former 24th overall pick in 2023 out of the University of Florida will now temporarily take the rotation spot of the struggling Bryce Elder, but there's a good chance Waldrep will become a rotation staple for the Braves in the second half. In his lone appearance over the weekend in relief, Waldrep threw two scoreless innings with four walks and three strikeouts. He went 6-1 with a 2.88 ERA (3.21 FIP) and 1.19 WHIP with 55 strikeouts and 22 walks in 56 1/3 innings across his 10 appearances (nine starts) in 2025, making him an intriguing upside pickup off the waiver wire in all fantasy baseball leagues. For DFS purposes, Waldrep won't be ideal on Thursday, though, and will likely be on a pitch count as he continues to get stretched out. The Georgia native is rostered in only 9% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Hurston Waldrep to Start for Braves on Thursday?
MLB.com's Mark Bowman said that Atlanta Braves right-hander Hurston Waldrep would be available out of the bullpen for Wednesday night's game against the St. Louis Cardinals. But if he was not used out of the bullpen, Waldrep would be a candidate to start Thursday's series finale against the Cardinals. Waldrep ended up not being used in a relief role in the team's 5-1 win on Wednesday, meaning he's likely to start Thursday's series finale. The 24-year-old didn't make his season debut with the Braves until last week after having surgery in February to remove loose bodies from his right elbow. He threw two scoreless relief innings with 55 pitches used in an appearance out of the bullpen for Atlanta last week, and now he looks primed to make his first start of 2026 on Wednesday. The former first-rounder in 2023 out of the University of Florida is most certainly worth a waiver-wire pickup for fantasy managers looking for starting upside, although he will probably have a short leash if he starts on Thursday. In 10 outings (nine starts) covering 56 1/3 innings in 2025, Waldrep impressed with a 2.88 ERA (3.21 FIP), 1.19 WHIP, and 55:22 K:BB. He's rostered in just 5% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
Source: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
Braves Skipping Bryce Elder's Next Turn in the Rotation
The Atlanta Braves will skip right-hander Bryce Elder's next turn in the starting rotation after his velocity was noticeably down in his last start on June 27 against the San Francisco Giants, when he allowed five earned runs on five hits (two homers) while walking one and striking out four in four innings in his sixth loss of the season. The 27-year-old's next scheduled start this Friday against the division-rival New York Mets will go to right-hander Grant Holmes. Elder has a decent 4.01 ERA (3.98 FIP) and 1.23 WHIP with 83 strikeouts and 30 walks in 98 2/3 innings across 17 starts in 2026, but he has really struggled of late, surrendering 19 earned runs on 27 hits (five homers) while walking five and striking out 12 in 14 innings in his last three starts. If the Braves skip just one of Elder's starts to close out the first half of the season, his next outing should come next week against the Pittsburgh Pirates. In his first meeting against the Bucs at home on June 7, Elder allowed only two earned runs in six frames while walking two and fanning four for a no-decision.
Source: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
Source: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
Hurston Waldrep Likely to Enter Braves Starting Rotation?
MLB.com's Mark Bowman writes that "there's reason to be excited" about what Atlanta Braves right-hander Hurston Waldrep "might offer over the next few weeks." In his season debut on Friday against the San Francisco Giants in relief, Waldrep walked four in two innings. He also walked six in 7 2/3 innings at Triple-A Gwinnett before being called up, but four of those came in a rain-soaked, three-inning outing on June 16. Bowman thinks that Waldrep has the higher upside than right-hander Reynaldo Lopez, who made the start for the Braves on Friday. Lopez is starting Wednesday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals, so Waldrep could pitch in relief at some point that night. With Bryce Elder potentially being skipped in Atlanta's rotation due to a recent rough stretch, Waldrep could be the top candidate to make a start or multiple starts before the All-Star break in July. The 24-year-old figures to be a rotation option in the second half after he went 6-1 with a 2.88 ERA (3.21 FIP) and 1.19 WHIP with 55 strikeouts and 22 walks in 56 1/3 innings over 10 outings (nine starts) for the Braves last year. Waldrep is absolutely an upside arm for savvy fantasy managers to stash now. He's rostered in only 5% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
Source: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
Bryce Elder's Velocity Down, to be Skipped in Rotation?
The Atlanta Braves are expected to alter their starting rotation again this week after right-hander Bryce Elder lasted only four innings on Saturday and allowed five earned runs in his most recent outing against the San Francisco Giants, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com. Elder's velocity was down roughly one mph with each of his pitches. He has a 2.70 ERA in nine starts on regular rest and a 5.56 ERA in his other eight starts in 2026. But his drop in velocity over the weekend will likely lead the Braves to give him extra rest before his next appearance, per Bowman. The 27-year-old's ERA has risen from 1.97 to 4.01, and he's surrendered 29 earned runs in his last 30 innings for an 8.70 ERA. But from Aug. 24 of last year until May 22 of this year, Elder had a 2.30 ERA, which was the fifth-best ERA during that span. There's still reason to believe that Elder can turn things around after his recent rough stretch. If the Braves push Elder back, right-hander Hurston Waldrep is the top candidate to make a start for the Braves.
Source: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
Source: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
Spencer Schwellenbach Could Return in Late August/Early September
Atlanta Braves right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach (elbow) will likely head to Florida within the next week or two to ramp up his throwing program, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com. If that is gauged as the start of his spring training, Schwellenbach could become a candidate for Atlanta's starting rotation in late August or early September. The 26-year-old former second-round pick in 2021 out of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is recovering from surgery to remove bone spurs from his right elbow. We'll have a better idea of a more specific timeline for a return once he starts facing live hitters, but barring a setback, Schwellenbach should be back with the Braves by the end of the 2026 regular season. He has been strong for the Braves and fantasy managers in 38 starts (234 1/3 regular-season innings) in his first two years in the big leagues, going 15-11 with a 3.23 ERA (3.27 FIP) and 1.01 WHIP with 235 strikeouts and 41 walks. Schwellenbach won't have a ton of time to contribute in fantasy when he comes off the 60-day injured list, but his upside makes him an interesting stash in fantasy leagues. He's currently rostered in 24% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
Source: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
Martin Perez Worth Adding for Matchup-Based Value?
Atlanta Braves left-hander Martin Perez has been useful without offering strikeout upside. He is 6-4 with a 3.00 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and 60 strikeouts through 72 innings. Perez has stayed in the rotation since May 19, recording a 3.75 ERA and 1.31 WHIP across seven starts in that span. His June 24 outing against the San Diego Padres was a step backward, as he gave up three runs on four hits and four walks over four innings. Perez is scheduled to face the St. Louis Cardinals at home on Tuesday. There is some risk beneath the surface. His 3.90 FIP sits nearly a full run above his ERA, and a 20.7% strikeout rate leaves little room for a rough WHIP day. Perez is rostered in 32% of Yahoo leagues, so he remains accessible in many formats. He is usable as a 12-team streamer against St. Louis and makes more sense as a hold in 15-team leagues, but he does not warrant a priority claim.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Owen Murphy Could be Worth Long-Term Stash in Deeper Leagues
Between two minor-league levels this season, Atlanta Braves right-handed pitching prospect Owen Murphy has a 4-7 record with a 4.80 ERA and 85 strikeouts in 75 innings pitched. Between Double-A Columbus and Triple-A Gwinnett, Murphy has shown that he has good stuff with more than a strikeout per inning. His 4.80 combined ERA is a bit high, but he has a 3.90 ERA in five June starts. The No. 20 overall pick of the Braves in the 2022 MLB Draft, Murphy has advanced through the minors in the Braves system, and his next step could be an opportunity to pitch for Atlanta at the big-league level. Murphy is a highly-touted prospect and is worth keeping an eye on in the minors, and he could be worth a long-term stash in deeper leagues. He will likely need to show the Braves and fantasy managers more consistency before he earns his shot at the major-league level.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Chris Sale Bounces Back With 10 Strikeouts in Loss to Giants
Atlanta Braves left-hander Chris Sale had a much-needed bounce-back performance in Sunday's 3-2 loss to the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park, allowing two runs (one earned) on eight hits while walking one and striking out 10 in six innings of work. It was Sale's sixth loss of the 2026 season, but it was a turnaround after having failed to go six innings in any of his previous three starts versus the Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, and Chicago White Sox. The 37-year-old veteran southpaw has now had two games this year with double-digit strikeouts, and he now holds a 2.10 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 109:22 K:BB in 90 innings pitched in his 15 starts in his 16th year in the big leagues. Sale will be a must-start for fantasy managers in his next scheduled outing against the last-place New York Mets. The division-rival Mets currently have the second-worst OPS (.672) in all of baseball, ahead of only the San Diego Padres. Sale has allowed more than three earned runs in just one of his 15 starts, and it came all the way back on April 6 against the Los Angeles Angels in his third start of the season.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Grant Holmes Could Return to a Starting Role Next Week
Atlanta Braves manager Walt Weiss said on Saturday that right-hander Grant Holmes will be available for the team out of the bullpen in a relief role this weekend, according to Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. If Holmes doesn't pitch in relief this weekend, he will be available to start next week on the Braves' homestand that runs from Tuesday, June 30, through Monday, July 6. Atlanta is giving the 30-year-old a mini-break from a starting role after slowing down of late. He only allowed one earned run in his last outing on June 22 on the road in San Diego against the Padres in a loss, but he went just 4 2/3 frames, and he has allowed 12 earned runs on 23 hits (five homers) while walking 13 and striking out 17 in 21 innings pitched in his last five starts. Holmes hasn't provided much length, either, not going beyond 4 2/3 frames in any of his last three starts. If he does not appear out of the bullpen this weekend, his next turn through the Braves' rotation would come in Tuesday's series opener versus the St. Louis Cardinals. Holmes, who has a 4.17 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, and career-low 20.2% strikeout rate in 15 starts this year, will obviously be a shaky streaming option for fantasy managers if he starts that game.
Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Chad Bishop
Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Chad Bishop
Hurston Waldrep Back in Atlanta, Worth a Waiver-Wire Pickup?
The Atlanta Braves announced on Friday that they recalled right-hander Hurston Waldrep from Triple-A Gwinnett to replace the injured Robert Suarez (elbow) on the major-league roster. Waldrep will be making his 2026 season debut when he gets into a game for the Braves after having surgery back in February to remove loose bodies from his right elbow. The 24-year-old former 24th overall pick in 2023 out of the University of Florida posted a 3.52 ERA and 1.17 WHIP with 13 strikeouts and 11 walks in 15 1/3 innings over just five starts in the rookie-level Florida Complex League and at Double-A Columbus and Gwinnett this year before Friday's call-up. He could start in a relief role in Atlanta, but with Spencer Strider, AJ Smith-Shawver, and Spencer Schwellenbach all on the injured list, Waldrep figures to get a shot in the starting rotation sooner rather than later. Waldrep looked great at the big-league level in 2025, going 6-1 with a 2.88 ERA (3.21 FIP) and 1.19 WHIP with 55 K's and 22 walks in 56 1/3 innings across 10 appearances (nine starts). Fantasy managers desperate for pitching upside should swoop on Waldrep now. He's rostered in only 5% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: Atlanta Braves
Source: Atlanta Braves
Does Chris Sale's Injury History Make Him a Sell-High Candidate?
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Chris Sale has been dominant so far in 2026, recording an 8-5 record with a 2.14 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 99 strikeouts across 84 innings (14 starts). The veteran left-hander's average fastball velocity of 96 miles per hour is his highest since his rookie season in 2010, and his 22.8% K-BB rate remains elite. As long as Sale stays healthy, he should continue to provide ace-level production for fantasy managers. However, injury risk is a major piece of the 37-year-old's profile at this point in his career. Sale has thrown more than 125 2/3 innings in just one season since 2019. For fantasy managers who have starting pitching depth but may be lacking in other areas, selling Sale at the peak of his value may prove to be a wise decision. It would require a major haul, but managers should at least consider selling high on Sale, given his significant track record of missed time due to injury.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Hurston Waldrep Nearing Return to Major Leagues?
MLB.com's Mark Bowman thinks that Atlanta Braves right-hander Hurston Waldrep could be the best candidate for the team's open starting rotation spot after they optioned right-hander J.R. Ritchie to Triple-A Gwinnett on Wednesday. Waldrep has recovered from right-elbow surgery and threw 71 pitches in 4 2/3 innings for Gwinnett on Sunday. The 24-year-old former 24th overall pick in 2023 out of the University of Florida has allowed six earned runs on seven hits with 11 walks and 13 strikeouts in 15 1/3 innings pitched in five starts so far in 2026 with Gwinnett, the rookie-level Florida Complex League, and at Double-A Columbus. In his 10 outings (nine starts) for the Braves last year before he was shut down with elbow issues, Waldrep went 6-1 with a 2.88 ERA (3.21 FIP), 1.19 WHIP, and 55:22 K:BB in 56 1/3 frames. If fully healthy, Waldrep could stick in Atlanta's rotation for the rest of the season, and he should start attracting more interest off the waiver wire. He's currently rostered in only 5% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
Source: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
Is Owen Murphy the Next Braves Pitching Prospect to Debut?
Atlanta Braves pitching prospect Owen Murphy began the regular season at the Double-A level but has recently been moved to Triple-A and is emerging as a potential stash candidate. With Double-A, Murphy did not enjoy the best success, posting a hefty 6.10 ERA with a 27:18 K:BB across 20 2/3 innings of work. However, the Braves believed he was ready to join Gwinnett, and he has done more than hold his own. After going through some gradual growing pains to begin his Triple-A career, Murphy has looked quite comfortable in each of his last two games. During this two-game stretch, Murphy has logged six innings in each start and struck out 16 hitters while allowing just three earned runs. With Atlanta lacking much depth on their MLB roster, Murphy may be the next man called in the coming weeks. He will need to show this success over a longer period, but the No. 5-ranked prospect in the system is now firmly on the stash radar among top pitching prospects.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Martin Perez Emerging as a Priority Waiver-Wire Target Amidst Resurgent Season?
Atlanta Braves left-hander Martin Perez has been one of the key parts of his team's success so far in 2026. Across 68 innings (15 games), the veteran has recorded a 6-3 record with a 2.78 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and 56 strikeouts. Atlanta deployed Perez out of the bullpen at earlier points in the year, but he's now made six consecutive starts and appears to have locked down a role in the team's rotation. Perez's underlying metrics suggest regression is likely, as he owns a middling 12.2% K-BB rate and has benefitted from an 81.1% strand rate, which is significantly higher than his career mark of 71.3%. Still, Perez is a savvy veteran who has outperformed underwhelming peripherals for a significant portion of his 15-season MLB career. As long as he's part of the Braves rotation, Perez profiles as a worthwhile starting pitcher streamer who should be a quality source of wins. Particularly in deeper leagues, Perez should be a priority target for fantasy managers on the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
