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Braves View Didier Fuentes as a Starter Long Term
Atlanta Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos said that the team views right-hander Didier Fuentes as a "starter long term," per Jesus Cano of The Athletic. Atlanta used Fuentes as a bullpen arm in 2026. The 21-year-old excelled in the role, posting a 2.45 ERA and 1.10 WHIP with 92 strikeouts, 17 holds, and three saves over 73 1/3 innings (58 games). Fuentes averaged 97.3 miles per hour on his fastball and struck out 31% of the batters he faced while allowing a 7.1% strikeout rate. While Fuentes has proven he can be an extremely valuable reliever, it appears that the Braves may look to move him into their starting rotation as soon as next season. If Fuentes is indeed stretched out next spring, he could be a high-upside young arm for fantasy managers to target in drafts ahead of 2027.
Source: The Athletic - Jesus Cano
Source: The Athletic - Jesus Cano
Ray Kerr Helps Pitch Braves Past the Phillies on Thursday
Atlanta Braves left-hander Ray Kerr helped pitch his team to a 6-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 3 of the National League Wild Card Series on Thursday. The 32-year-old was Atlanta's opener ahead of right-hander Grant Holmes and pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings with two strikeouts while allowing just one hit and one walk. Kerr was effective in a limited sample size for the Braves during the regular season, recording a 1.47 ERA and 0.60 WHIP with 11 strikeouts across 18 1/3 innings (nine games). Atlanta is piecing together its playoff rotation behind ace Chris Sale and veteran Tyler Mahle. With Kerr's ability to work multiple innings, he could continue to see usage as an opener in the National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Braves Reinstate Robert Suarez From Injured List
The Atlanta Braves officially announced on Wednesday that they reinstated right-handed reliever Robert Suarez (elbow) from the 60-day injured list and optioned right-hander Owen Murphy to the minors in a corresponding move. After missing more than three months with inflammation in his right elbow, Suarez is back at the back end of the Braves' bullpen for the tail end of the regular season. The Braves might ease the 35-year-old veteran Venezuelan hurler back into the fold so that he is ready to roll for the postseason next month. Before his elbow injury, Suarez, a two-time All-Star who had 76 saves in the previous two seasons with the San Diego Padres, had been pitching extremely well in Atlanta. He was 4-0 with a 0.56 ERA (2.44 FIP), a 0.84 WHIP, four saves, 26 strikeouts, and six walks in 32 relief innings. Suarez's return definitely makes Atlanta's bullpen more intimidating, just in time for the postseason in October.
Source: Atlanta Braves
Source: Atlanta Braves
Raisel Iglesias Charged With Blown Save as Struggles Linger
Atlanta Braves right-handed closer Raisel Iglesias continued to struggle on Sunday in the team's 3-2 extra-inning win over the hosting Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards and was charged with his second blown save of the season. In his inning of work, Iglesias allowed an unearned run with a walk and a strikeout. The blown save was aided by an error from second baseman Ozzie Albies, but this was Iglesias' second blown save in his last eight outings after he locked down his first 17 save chances of the year. The 36-year-old veteran from Cuba is 0-2 on the season with a 2.43 ERA (2.84 FIP), 1.08 WHIP, 21 saves, 43 strikeouts, and eight walks in 37 relief innings in 2026 in his 12th year in the big leagues. Iglesias definitely hasn't been as sharp in 9 2/3 innings in 10 outings in July, allowing seven runs (six earned) on 10 hits (three homers) while walking two and striking out 13, but he probably isn't in any imminent danger of being demoted from the closer role, especially with top setup man Robert Suarez (elbow) currently on the injured list.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Robert Suarez Plays Catch on the Field on Friday
Atlanta Braves right-handed reliever Robert Suarez (elbow) played toss at Truist Park on Friday before the series opener against the visiting Texas Rangers, according to Harrison Smajovits of Sports Illustrated. Suarez's return isn't imminent, but he's slowly working his way back after landing on the 15-day injured list almost a month ago with inflammation in his right elbow. The next step for Suarez will be getting back on a mound and facing live hitters before going on a minor-league rehab assignment. He almost certainly won't be ready to rejoin the back end of Atlanta's bullpen until at least early August. The 35-year-old veteran Venezuelan hurler only has four saves in his first year in Atlanta in 2026 after racking up 76 saves the previous two seasons with the San Diego Padres, but he has still been plenty useful in fantasy as a setup man with a 4-0 record, 0.56 ERA (2.44 FIP), 0.84 WHIP, and 26:6 K:BB in 32 innings in Atlanta. Suarez is now rostered in under half of Yahoo leagues, but he can definitely help your pitching ratios in deeper fantasy leagues when he's ready to return.
Source: Sports Illustrated - Harrison Smajovits
Source: Sports Illustrated - Harrison Smajovits
Raisel Iglesias Remains a High-End Closer Despite Recent Struggles
Across 32 1/3 innings (31 games) in 2026, Atlanta Braves closer Raisel Iglesias has pitched to a 2.23 ERA and 1.08 WHIP with 36 strikeouts and 19 saves. Iglesias owns a stellar 22.8% K-BB rate, and he's blown just one save chance on the year. The 36-year-old ran into some trouble in July before the All-Star break, allowing four earned runs across five innings this month. Still, Iglesias does an excellent job of limiting both walks (5.5% walk rate) and home runs (0.56 HR/9). As a result, the veteran right-hander rarely succumbs to a blow-up outing: Iglesias has allowed more than one earned run in just two out of his 31 outings this season. As long as he remains healthy, Iglesias remains a solid bet to turn in high-end RP1 production for fantasy managers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Robert Suarez Hasn't Resumed Throwing, Return Not Imminent
Atlanta Braves right-handed reliever Robert Suarez (elbow) has been out since late June with inflammation in his right elbow. There was initial hope that he could return from the 15-day injured list immediately after the All-Star break on Friday, July 17, but Suarez hasn't been cleared to resume throwing yet, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com. It means that the earliest the veteran reliever could return would likely be a week or two after the start of the second half next weekend. The 35-year-old Venezuelan hurler has lost a ton of fantasy value in his move to Atlanta in a setup role behind closer Raisel Iglesias after recording 76 saves with the San Diego Padres in 2024 and 2025. However, Suarez has still been valuable in deeper fantasy leagues with his 4-0 record, 0.56 ERA (2.46 FIP), 0.84 WHIP, four saves, and 26:6 K:BB in 32 innings pitched in his first year in Atlanta. He's rostered in just under half of Yahoo leagues while he recovers from his elbow injury.
Source: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
Source: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
Braves Place Robert Suarez on Injured List With Elbow Inflammation
The Atlanta Braves announced on Friday that they placed right-handed reliever Robert Suarez (elbow) on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to June 23) with right-elbow inflammation and recalled right-hander Hurston Waldrep from Triple-A Gwinnett in a corresponding move. The Braves initially said that Suarez hasn't pitched since last Friday due to tightness in his right forearm, but now they're saying he has elbow inflammation. The 35-year-old will most likely undergo more tests to determine if he's dealing with any structural damage in his arm. Even if an MRI exam comes back clean, Suarez will be out through the All-Star break in the middle of July. The Venezuelan reliever was an All-Star in each of the last two seasons with the San Diego Padres, when he racked up 76 saves as their closer, but he has taken a back seat to Raisel Iglesias in 2026 in his first year in Atlanta. Suarez has still been lights-out as a high-leverage setup man, going 4-0 with a 0.56 ERA (2.45 FIP), 0.84 WHIP, four saves, 26 strikeouts, and six walks in 32 innings pitched. With Suarez out at least until late July, Dylan Lee should serve as Atlanta's primary setup man in front of Iglesias. UPDATE: Per MLB.com's Mark Bowman, an MRI exam on Suarez's elbow came back negative.
Source: Atlanta Braves
Source: Atlanta Braves
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
Robert Suarez Dealing With Forearm Tightness, Could be Available Wednesday
Atlanta Braves manager Walt Weiss said after Tuesday night's loss to the San Diego Padres that right-handed reliever Robert Suarez (forearm) was unavailable out of the bullpen while dealing with some right-forearm tightness, according to Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. However, Suarez could be available for the series finale at Petco Park on Wednesday against his former team. With the game locked up in a tie late on Tuesday night, the Braves avoided Suarez and instead asked right-handed closer Raisel Iglesias to pitch two innings. The last time the 35-year-old pitched for Atlanta was last Friday, when he threw 28 pitches in 1 1/3 scoreless innings in a win over the Milwaukee Brewers. It sounds like Suarez should be fine going forward. The Venezuelan hurler only has four saves in his first year with the Braves, but otherwise, he's been lights-out as a high-leverage setup man in front of Iglesias, recording a microscopic 0.56 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, and 26 strikeouts in his 32 innings out of the bullpen. Suarez is rostered in 57% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Chad Bishop
Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Chad Bishop
Didier Fuentes Is A Sneaky Stash in His New Role
Atlanta Braves pitcher Didier Fuentes has showcased electric stuff this season and has intriguing fantasy upside as the youngest pitcher in the majors this season. He just turned 21 less than a week ago, but has appeared in 22 games this season for Atlanta, working in relief in all but one of those outings. While his long-term future is likely in the rotation, he has been effective out of the bullpen lately, allowing just two runs in his last 16 appearances for a 1.06 ERA with 19 strikeouts over 17 innings. He has earned three holds and a save over that stretch, and he could continue to work his way into more high-leverage situations as the season goes on. The Braves could also opt to move the youngster back to the rotation if a need arises, giving him multiple ways that he can help your team down the road. In deep leagues, he can be a sneaky stash now that he's having success in the MLB.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Didier Fuentes Worth Adding Ahead of Potential Role Increase?
Atlanta Braves right-hander Didier Fuentes has been pitching well out of the bullpen for the Braves of late. In May, he posted a 1.32 ERA over 12 games (13 2/3 innings), and so far in June, over five games (5 1/3 innings), he has a 0.00 ERA and six strikeouts. He has not allowed a run since his outing in Cincinnati on May 31, and before that, it was May 6 against the Mariners. He is primarily being used as the seventh-inning guy behind closer Raisel Iglesias and setup man Robert Suarez. Because of that, although Fuentes was able to convert on a recent save on June 7, there are no signs that Iglesias or Suarez are in jeopardy of losing their job, as they've both been spectacular on the season, meaning Fuentes is going to remain in a position where his only value is leagues that reward holds (SVH). For leagues that do not, he is not worth rostering; however, for leagues that do, you could make a case for Fuentes, as he has been extremely sharp out of the bullpen, and his ratios have been phenomenal.
Source: Baseball Savant
Source: Baseball Savant
Didier Fuentes Still Viewed as a Starter Long-Term, Worth Stashing in 2026?
In his return to the majors this year after allowing 20 earned runs on 23 hits (six homers) in 13 innings over his first four MLB starts in 2025, Atlanta Braves right-handed pitching prospect Didier Fuentes has gone 3-0 with a 2.66 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 24:8 K:BB in 20 1/3 innings over 13 appearances (only one start). He has been very reliable in a relief role for Atlanta so far in 2026, posting a 1.08 ERA, 17 strikeouts, a 29.6% strikeout rate, and a 0.72 WHIP. His strikeout rate is the fifth-highest among qualified rookies. Fuentes has been a key asset because of his ability to go multiple innings out of the 'pen -- he's already had four multi-inning appearances. The 20-year-old Colombian has pitched as a starter for most of his career, though. He has found a temporary home in the bullpen, but The Athletic's Jesus Cano writes that the Braves' long-term plan is to have Fuentes be a valuable member of their starting rotation. Fuentes is an absolute must-stash in dynasty/keeper leagues. But in redraft leagues, he's not a must-roster arm, especially since his return to a starting role may not come until 2027.
Source: The Athletic - Jesus Cano
Source: The Athletic - Jesus Cano
