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Chris Sale Chris Sale In clear to start Monday
Sun, Apr 5, 2026, 2:53 PM
Atlanta lists Sale (illness) as its probable starter for Monday's game against the Angels in Anaheim.
Analysis: Sale fought through a stomach bug during his most recent start this past Wednesday against the Athletics, but it won't be anything that prevents him from making his next turn through the rotation on normal rest. The 2024 NL Cy Young Award winner has breezed through his first two outings of the season, claiming a pair of wins while allowing just one earned run and posting a 9:3 K:BB across 12 innings. |
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Dominic Smith Dominic Smith Sitting versus righty
Sun, Apr 5, 2026, 2:43 PM
Smith is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks, Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Analysis: Smith's three previous absences from the lineup this year came against lefty starters, but he's sitting Sunday despite the fact that right-hander Brandon Pfaadt is pitching for Arizona. Ronald Acuna is resting his legs as the DH, which allows Eli White to pick up a start in right field. |
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Austin Riley Austin Riley Receiving first day off
Sun, Apr 5, 2026, 2:34 PM
Riley is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks, Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Analysis: It's the first day off of the season for Riley, who is batting .103 (3-for-29) with nine strikeouts in eight games since collecting three hits Opening Day. Mauricio Dubon will shift to the hot corner while Jorge Mateo picks up a start at shortstop in Sunday's series finale at Arizona. |
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Bryce Elder Bryce Elder Loses despite solid outing
Sat, Apr 4, 2026, 9:44 PM
Elder (1-1) was tagged with the loss Saturday against the Diamondbacks after allowing two unearned runs on four hits and a walk while fanning eight across seven innings.
Analysis: Elder was dominant on the mound after tossing 61 of his 89 pitches for strikes, but unfortunately, a throwing error following a bunt in the second inning allowed the Diamondbacks to score their two runs of the game. Elder has pitched much better than his 1-1 record indicates, though. He has posted 13 scoreless innings and a 13:2 K:BB in his first two outings. His next start should come against the Guardians at home next weekend. |
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Martin Perez Martin Perez Starting Sunday
Sat, Apr 4, 2026, 9:09 PM
Perez will start Sunday's series finale against the Diamondbacks, Barrett Sallee of 680 The Fan Atlanta reports.
Analysis: This was expected, but manager Walt Weiss confirmed that Perez will indeed step into the Atlanta rotation, replacing Jose Suarez. The 35-year-old lefty saved the bullpen after Suarez struggled Tuesday against the Athletics, allowing just two hits and striking out three over 4.1 scoreless innings. Perez figures to make at least a couple starts while the team awaits the return of Spencer Strider (oblique). |
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Eli White Eli White Slow start to season
Sat, Apr 4, 2026, 9:34 AM
White went 0-for-3 in Friday's win over Arizona.
Analysis: The veteran outfielder got the start in left field and hit sixth against southpaw Eduardo Rodriguez, but White couldn't get going at the plate. He's 1-for-9 with a run scored and a 1:2 BB:K in five appearances so far as he primarily works in a platoon with Mike Yastrzemski, but White will need to start producing if he wants to keep his roster spot once the Atlanta roster gets healthier. |
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AJ Smith-Shawver AJ Smith-Shawver Shifts to 60-day IL
Fri, Apr 3, 2026, 3:13 PM
Atlanta placed Smith-Shawver (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Friday.
Analysis: The right-hander is working through his rehab program after undergoing Tommy John surgery in June of last year, so his move to the 60-day IL early this season was an eventuality. Smith-Shawver could rejoin Atlanta during the second half of 2026 if he can avoid any setbacks. |
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Victor Mederos Victor Mederos Sent to Atlanta
Fri, Apr 3, 2026, 3:04 PM
Atlanta acquired Mederos from the Angels on Friday in exchange for international bonus pool money and optioned him to Triple-A Gwinnett.
Analysis: The right-hander was waived by the Halos last weekend and is now headed to a new organization. Mederos appeared in five games (three starts) for Anaheim last year and had a 7.41 ERA and 14:12 K:BB over 17 innings, though he was more effective at Triple-A with a 3.39 ERA and 1.34 WHIP across 16 starts. |
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Jorge Mateo Jorge Mateo Gets in on rout with first homer
Fri, Apr 3, 2026, 10:33 AM
Mateo slugged a two-run home run in his only at-bat during Thursday's 17-2 rout of the Diamondbacks.
Analysis: The utility infielder pinch hit for DH Dominic Smith in the ninth inning and took position player James McCann deep. Mateo has been used sparingly early in the year, appearing in just three of Atlanta's first seven games and getting only four plate appearances, and it'll likely take an injury or two to put him in a fantasy-friendly role. |
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Mauricio Dubon Mauricio Dubon Pops first homer of year
Fri, Apr 3, 2026, 10:30 AM
Dubon went 2-for-4 with a walk, a solo home run and two additional runs scored in Thursday's win over the Diamondbacks.
Analysis: His sixth-inning homer off Joe Ross was one of four Atlanta long balls in a 17-2 rout. It was Dubon's first time leaving the yard in 2026, but he's come flying out of the gates while handling starting shortstop duties in place of Ha-Seong Kim (finger), batting .429 (9-for-21) with four runs and six RBI in six games. |
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Drake Baldwin Drake Baldwin In exclusive company
Fri, Apr 3, 2026, 10:27 AM
Baldwin went 1-for-6 with three runs scored and an RBI in Thursday's rout of the Diamondbacks.
Analysis: Per Mark Bowman of MLB.com, in the process Baldwin became just the third player in franchise history to score at least one run in each of the first seven games of a season, joining Hall of Famers Jimmy Collins (who accomplished the feat in 1900) and Hank Aaron (1957). Baldwin's had a blistering start to 2026, slashing .286/.375/.643 in 32 plate appearances with a double, three homers, eight RBI, nine runs and a 4:3 BB:K. |
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Sean Murphy Sean Murphy Completes sim game with High-A
Thu, Apr 2, 2026, 8:21 PM
Murphy (hip) caught three innings of a simulated game with High-A Rome on Wednesday, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Murphy has been on the shelf since the beginning of spring training while recovering from right hip surgery, but Wednesday's sim game was a step in the right direction. The catcher will have to work up to nine innings behind the plate and then do so on consecutive days before he'll be considered to be ready to be activated from the 10-day injured list. The plans for Murphy's upcoming rehab assignment are expected to be announced soon, but he appears to be on track to return at some point in late April or early May. |
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Chris Sale Chris Sale Battling illness
Thu, Apr 2, 2026, 8:09 PM
Sale (illness) may not be in attendance for Thursday night's contest against the Diamondbacks, Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Analysis: Sale was able to battle through the illness on his way to a victory Wednesday against the A's, but manager Walt Weiss stated Thursday that the southpaw is still pretty sick and may have to watch the team's series opener in Arizona from his hotel room. It's unclear if Sale is in any danger of missing his next expected turn in the rotation Monday on the road against the Angels, but it's definitely something to keep an eye on in the coming days. |
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Spencer Strider Spencer Strider Set for bullpen session
Thu, Apr 2, 2026, 8:04 PM
Strider (oblique) will throw a bullpen session in Phoenix on Friday, Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Analysis: Strider has been sidelined with an oblique strain for a couple weeks, but Friday's session will be a significant test for where he's at in his recovery. The right-hander is eligible to be activated from the 15-day injured list Monday, but he will likely require at least one minor-league rehab start, making a potential return on that date unattainable. More information on his path ahead will be provided following the bullpen session. |
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Drake Baldwin Drake Baldwin Drives in four in Wednesday's win
Wed, Apr 1, 2026, 3:12 PM
Baldwin went 2-for-3 with a walk, a double, a run scored and four RBI in Wednesday's 5-1 win over the A's.
Analysis: The second-year backstop continues to swing a hot bat, fueling Atlanta's offense Wednesday with a two-run single in the second inning and a two-run double in the fourth. Baldwin has started all six games in the season's first week, four at catcher and two at DH, and he's hit second in the order against both lefties and righties. During that hot streak, he's batting .318 (7-for-22) with three homers, six runs and seven RBI. |
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Chris Sale Chris Sale Sharp again in second win
Wed, Apr 1, 2026, 3:08 PM
Sale (2-0) allowed one run on one hit over six innings Wednesday to record the win as Atlanta downed the A's 5-1. He struck out three without walking a batter.
Analysis: Shea Langeliers' solo shot in the fourth inning ended up being the only runner to reach base against Sale over 79 pitches (57 strikes). The veteran southpaw has been brilliant to begin the season, delivering two straight quality starts with a 0.75 ERA, 0.58 WHIP and 9:3 K:BB in 12 innings. Sale will look to keep rolling in his next outing, which is scheduled to come on the road early next week against the Angels. |
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Brett Wisely Brett Wisely Clears waivers
Wed, Apr 1, 2026, 2:12 PM
Atlanta outrighted Wisely to Triple-A Gwinnett on Wednesday, Lindsay Crosby of BravesToday.com reports.
Analysis: Wisely no longer possesses a spot on Atlanta's 40-man roster, but he'll stick around in the organization as utility depth after clearing waivers. He appeared in 26 games in the majors last season between stops with San Francisco and Atlanta, slashing .185/.279/.315 with one home run and one stolen base across 63 plate appearances. |
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Martin Perez Martin Perez Could move into rotation
Wed, Apr 1, 2026, 11:18 AM
Perez may replace Jose Suarez when Atlanta next needs a fifth starter Sunday against the Diamondbacks, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: While Suarez struggled in his start Tuesday and lasted just 3.2 innings, Perez saved the rest of the bullpen by tossing 4.1 scoreless innings of relief on only 47 pitches, allowing just two hits with a 3:0 K:BB in his season debut. Manager Walt Weiss has yet to tip his hand on which of them will get the nod Sunday, but Perez's performance likely makes him the favorite. |
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Jose Suarez Jose Suarez Yields four runs in loss
Tue, Mar 31, 2026, 9:30 PM
Suarez (0-1) took the loss against the Athletics on Tuesday, allowing four runs on five hits and three walks while striking out six across 3.2 innings.
Analysis: Suarez opened Tuesday's game strongly by striking out two of the first three batters he faced, but he struggled across the next three frames before being pulled in the fourth. He was tabbed as Atlanta's fifth starter in the rotation after Spencer Strider (oblique) opened the season on the 15-day IL, but performances like Tuesday's would put Suarez in danger of losing his spot to candidates like Martin Perez and Didier Fuentes. For now, Suarez is slated to start against the Diamondbacks this weekend. |
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Drake Baldwin Drake Baldwin Smacks third homer in five games
Tue, Mar 31, 2026, 9:26 PM
Baldwin went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk during Tuesday's 5-2 loss to the Athletics.
Analysis: Baldwin got Atlanta on the board with a solo homer off Aaron Civale in the first inning. Baldwin demonstrated his power potential in 2025, when he smacked 19 long balls in 446 plate appearances in the regular season. He already has three solo homers through the first five games of 2026 and has gone 5-for-19 (.263) over that span. |
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