Braves could mirror Dodgers and turn biggest issue into a strength for postseason
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Braves could mirror Dodgers and turn biggest issue into a strength for postseason originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Atlanta Braves are coming into the 2026 regular season with a few clear issues that will hamper their success in the early goings of the year.
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Ha Seong-Kim being out for a few months is a huge issue, but the far bigger problem for the Braves is their starting rotation injuries. Essentially, a full starting rotation's worth of pitchers are on the injured list.
As ESPN's Bradford Doolittle notes, that full rotation on the IL is the biggest question the Braves are facing this season. But that big question might turn into a strength. by the end of the season, similar to what the Los Angeles Dodgers showed last season.
Braves could turn biggest weakness into a strength come October
"Pivotal number: 1. That's the number of starting rotations the Braves had on the injured list as the 2026 season began," Doolittle writes. "...If they can win more than their share, this initial obstacle might prove to be a boon late in the season, when some or all of these pitchers return and have limited digits on their innings clickers."
Atlanta has sent five starting pitchers to the injured list to begin the season: Joey Wentz, Spencer Strider, AJ Smith-Shayver, Huhrston Waldrep, and Spencer Schwellenbach.
Those five starters would make for a good rotation in the Major Leagues this season. But, instead, all five are beginning the season in the IL.
Fortunately, the Braves do still have Chris Sale healthy and leading the rotation; otherwise, there would be little hope for success in the early goings of the season.
Other than Sale, the Braves will be relying on Reynaldo Lopez, Grant Holmes, Bryce Elder, and Jose Suarez. It's not ideal by any means for the Braves.
More: Joey Wentz is out for the season with a torn ACL for the Braves
If the Braves' rotation were fully healthy, outside of Sale, only one of those pitchers would touch the starting rotation, at best.
But if this rotation, thrown together amid a ridiculous string of injuries, can hold its own until the main pitchers can work their way back into the rotation, then Atlanta might be in a great spot come October.
Just like how the Dodgers used multiple starters out of the bullpen, and could rely on their top pitchers for more work in the postseason, the Braves might have a well-rested and limited innings-count come the postseason for their rotation.
The big question will be if they can get there, and how many starters actually return and look good. But, there is a realistic scenario where the Braves' rotation is the least taxed come October, which could be a huge advantage at the right time for Atlanta.
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