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Joey Wentz Joey Wentz Three scoreless frames Monday
Tue, Mar 3, 2026, 12:14 PM
Wentz struck out three and walked two over three scoreless, no-hit innings of relief in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Tigers.
Analysis: Bryce Elder began the game with three scoreless innings, and Wentz picked up right where he left off when he took the mound for the fourth. The two pitchers are nominally battling for Atlanta's fifth starter job, but a busy early-season schedule will likely mean the competition extends past Opening Day as the team runs with a six-man rotation for the first couple weeks. Through two spring appearances, Wentz has given up just one run and one hit with a 6:4 K:BB over five innings. |
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Bryce Elder Bryce Elder Impressive against Detroit
Tue, Mar 3, 2026, 12:11 PM
Elder gave up three hits over three scoreless innings in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Tigers. He struck out one without walking a batter.
Analysis: The right-hander tossed 24 of 41 pitches for strikes before turning the ball over to Joey Wentz, who also blanked Detroit over three innings. Elder and Wentz are nominally battling for Atlanta's fifth starter job, but a busy early-season schedule will likely mean the competition extends past Opening Day as the team runs with a six-man rotation for the first couple weeks. Elder has allowed one run through five innings over his first two spring appearances with a 4:0 K:BB. |
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Grant Holmes Grant Holmes Blanks Twins in Sunday's start
Tue, Mar 3, 2026, 11:52 AM
Holmes allowed one hit and one walk over 2.2 scoreless innings during Sunday's split-squad game against the Twins. He struck out two.
Analysis: Facing a good chunk of Minnesota's likely Opening Day lineup, Holmes tossed just 23 of 46 pitches for strikes but escaped jams in the first and third innings. The 29-year-old right-hander worked a career-high 115 innings in 2025 before his season ended in July due to a partial UCL tear in his elbow, but so far in camp it looks like his decision to treat the issue with rest and rehab rather than surgery was the correct one. Through two Grapefruit League appearances, Holmes has thrown 4.2 scoreless frames with a 4:2 K:BB. |
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Reynaldo Lopez Reynaldo Lopez Sharp in second spring outing
Tue, Mar 3, 2026, 11:41 AM
Lopez gave up one hit and one walk over three scoreless innings during Atlanta's split-squad game against the Rays on Sunday. He struck out three.
Analysis: The 32-year-old right-hander fired 27 of 42 pitches for strikes in an impressive outing, although it came against a Tampa Bay lineup that featured only a couple regulars headlined by Yandy Diaz. Lopez made only one start in 2025 before being lost to shoulder surgery, but he's looking healthy so far in camp -- he's tossed five scoreless innings in two Grapefruit League appearances with a 5:2 K:BB. He had trouble maintaining his velocity Sunday, however, and while he topped out at 94.5 mph with his fastball, he was sitting between 89.9 mph to 91.7 mph in his third and final frame. If Lopez's arm holds up, he'll be locked into an Opening Day rotation spot for Atlanta. |
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Jurickson Profar Jurickson Profar Receives 162-game ban for PEDs
Tue, Mar 3, 2026, 11:23 AM
Profar will be suspended 162 games by Major League Baseball after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug for the second time in the last year, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: It was announced March 31 of last year that Profar was suspended 80 games for a positive PED test, and now he is set to miss an entire season for a second failed test. Per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the MLBPA plans to challenge the suspension by filing a grievance, though it's highly unlikely it would be overturned. Profar -- who is in the second year of a three-year, $42 million contract -- had been set to serve as Atlanta's primary designated hitter this season. The club could mix and match in that slot now, at least until Sean Murphy (hip) returns, or it could seek help from outside the organization. |
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Kyle Nelson Kyle Nelson Goes to Atlanta on minors deal
Mon, Mar 2, 2026, 12:13 PM
Atlanta signed Nelson to a minor-league contract Feb. 25.
Analysis: Nelson struggled in 2025 in his first season back from thoracic outlet surgery, allowing two runs in two innings with the Diamondbacks and posting a 9.09 ERA in 42 appearances with Triple-A Reno. The 29-year-old will give Atlanta some experienced left-handed relief depth at Triple-A Gwinnett. |
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Aaron Bummer Aaron Bummer Makes spring debut
Sun, Mar 1, 2026, 11:25 AM
Bummer (shoulder) struck out a batter in a perfect inning of relief in Friday's 15-8 win over the Red Sox in Grapefruit League play.
Analysis: Bummer is back to full health after spending the final five weeks of 2025 on the shelf due to left shoulder inflammation. The 32-year-old is set to serve as one of Atlanta's top left-handed bullpen options in 2026 after compiling a 3.81 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 51:17 K:BB across 54.1 innings last season. |
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Martin Perez Martin Perez Makes spring debut
Sun, Mar 1, 2026, 11:23 AM
Perez (shoulder) allowed one earned run on one hit over two innings of relief in Saturday's 7-5 win over the Orioles in Grapefruit League play.
Analysis: The veteran southpaw covered a pair of frames out of the bullpen behind Spencer Strider in his spring debut. Even with Spencer Schwellenbach (elbow), Hurston Waldrep (elbow) and AJ Smith-Shawver (elbow) all set to miss extended time to begin the season, Perez is a long shot to win a spot in the Atlanta rotation. Perez signed a minor-league deal in January after submitting a 3.54 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 44:22 K:BB across 56 innings in 11 appearances (10 starts) with the White Sox in 2025. |
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Spencer Strider Spencer Strider Not worried by early velocity
Sun, Mar 1, 2026, 11:03 AM
Strider allowed one run on two hits and no walks while striking out two over two innings during his spring debut Saturday against the Orioles. His fastball averaged 93.1 mph and touched 94.3 mph, and afterwards the right-hander said, "it's going to take time to get those things where I know everyone wants them to be," Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: A lower velocity early in spring training is fairly common for pitchers, but Strider deserves extra scrutiny given that his fastball velocity has steadily trended downward since averaging 98.2 mph during his first full MLB campaign in 2022. It averaged 95.5 mph last season in his first year back from internal brace surgery on his elbow, and he was inconsistent on the mound with a 4.45 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and significantly lower 9.4 K/9. Strider is currently more focused on improving the shape of his fastball, which could help him regain some dominance even if his velocity doesn't return to that 2022 peak. |
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Hunter Stratton Hunter Stratton Sent to Triple-A
Sun, Mar 1, 2026, 9:41 AM
Atlanta optioned Stratton to Triple-A Gwinnett on Sunday.
Analysis: The right-hander finished 2025 in the big-league bullpen but is set to open the 2026 campaign back in the minors. Stratton made 15 appearances in the big leagues between Pittsburgh and Atlanta last year, posting a 5.21 ERA, 1.58 WHIP and 16:7 K:BB over 19 innings. |
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Chadwick Tromp Chadwick Tromp Cut from big-league camp
Sun, Mar 1, 2026, 9:14 AM
Atlanta reassigned Tromp to minor-league camp Sunday.
Analysis: With Tromp sent out, Atlanta is left with Jonah Heim, Jair Camargo and Sandy Leon as its backup options at catcher behind Drake Baldwin in big-league camp while Sean Murphy (hip) remains out. Tromp is expected to open the 2026 campaign at Triple-A Gwinnett after he spent most of the past season in the minors. |
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Nacho Alvarez Jr. Nacho Alvarez Jr. Optioned to Triple-A
Sun, Mar 1, 2026, 9:09 AM
Atlanta optioned Alvarez to Triple-A Gwinnett on Sunday.
Analysis: The 22-year-old was attempting to earn a roster spot as a utility player, but he instead ends up being one of the first cuts of camp. Alvarez played 58 big-league games last season and had a .234/.296/.330 slash line with two home runs in 208 plate appearances. |
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Javy Guerra Javy Guerra Cut from big-league camp
Sun, Mar 1, 2026, 9:07 AM
Atlanta reassigned Guerra to minor-league camp Sunday.
Analysis: The 30-year-old righty reliever's removal from big-league camp comes as he's set to join Team Panama ahead of the World Baseball Classic. Guerra didn't make a strong case for a spot in Atlanta's Opening Day bullpen anyway after yielding five earned runs in 2.2 innings across three appearances in the Grapefruit League. He last appeared in the majors in 2023 and is likely to open the season in the Triple-A Gwinnett bullpen. |
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Ronald Acuna Jr. Ronald Acuna Jr. Looks like old self Friday
Sat, Feb 28, 2026, 12:15 PM
Acuna went 2-for-3 with a walk, a grand slam, two additional runs scored and two stolen bases in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox.
Analysis: The star outfielder clubbed his first homer of the spring with the bases loaded in the third inning off minor-leaguer Steven Brooks, one of four long balls by Atlanta on the day. Despite the power display, it was Acuna's activity on the basepaths that might be the most important takeaway for fantasy GMs -- while the 28-year-old didn't run much last season after May 2024 surgery to repair a torn ACL, he's just a couple years removed from becoming the first player in MLB history to join the 40-70 club in 2023, stealing 73 bags in 87 attempts to go along with 41 homers, 106 RBI, 149 runs, a .337/.416/.596 slash line and NL MVP honors. |
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Mike Yastrzemski Mike Yastrzemski Flashes power Friday
Sat, Feb 28, 2026, 12:08 PM
Yastrzemski went 3-for-3 with two home runs, three RBI and three runs scored in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox.
Analysis: Facing the franchise his Hall of Fame grandfather spent his entire 23-year career with, Yastrzemski took a Brayan Bello cutter deep in the second inning before getting hold of a Zack Kelly changeup in the fourth. The 35-year-old has homered three times in four appearances so far this spring, and Yastrzemski is set to handle strong-side platoon duties in left field for Atlanta this season after signing a two-year, $23 million contract in December. |
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Austin Riley Austin Riley Launches first spring homer
Thu, Feb 26, 2026, 9:45 AM
Riley went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run in Atlanta's Grapefruit League game against the Pirates on Wednesday.
Analysis: The third baseman took Jarod Bayless deep in the third inning, taking advantage of Paul Skenes' exit two batters prior. Riley was fully healthy for the first time in a while this offseason, and he's looking to rebound after a couple tough campaigns that saw him hit just 35 homers in 212 regular-season games with a .760 OPS -- a sharp decline for the 28-year-old after he belted 75 long balls with an .869 OPS in 2022-23 while missing only six games in total. |
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Bryce Elder Bryce Elder Maintaining velo increase
Thu, Feb 26, 2026, 9:40 AM
Elder averaged 93.3 mph with his four-seam fastball during his spring debut Wednesday, maintaining the velocity gains he flashed at the end of last season, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: The 26-year-old right-hander gave up one run on two hits over two innings against the Pirates in Grapefruit League action Wednesday, striking out three without walking a batter. Elder closed out 2025 in impressive fashion, posting a 2.82 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 41:8 K:BB over his final seven starts and 44.2 innings, and more giddy-up on his fastball factored into that success. "He was popping a lot of 95s late in the season last year," manager Walt Weiss said. Elder averaged 92.8 mph overall on his four-seamer last season, but that number jumped to 93.7 mph during that seven-start stretch. He attributed the increase to work with biomechanics expert Bob Keyes, whose list of prior clients includes Hall of Famers Nolan Ryan, Randy Johnson and Greg Maddux. Elder isn't expecting to rise to that level, but if he can come close to repeating his performance over the last month-plus of 2025, he should be able to lock down a rotation spot with Atlanta. |
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Chris Sale Chris Sale Inks extension
Tue, Feb 24, 2026, 7:26 AM
Sale agreed to a one-year, $27 million contract extension with Atlanta on Tuesday that includes a club option for $30 million in 2028, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Sale was set to hit free agency after the season but will get some extra security with this deal. His fastball was up to 96 mph in his first spring action Sunday as he logged two scoreless innings. |
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Drake Baldwin Drake Baldwin Goes yard Sunday
Mon, Feb 23, 2026, 9:58 AM
Baldwin went 2-for-2 with a solo home run in Atlanta's Grapefruit League game against the Twins on Sunday.
Analysis: The 24-year-old backstop took Taj Bradley deep in the third inning, the only run Atlanta scored off the right-hander. Baldwin took home NL Rookie of the Year honors in 2025, slashing .274/.341/.469 over 124 games with 19 homers and 80 RBI, and he'll be a key part of Atlanta's offense this season. |
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Bryce Elder Bryce Elder Could be part of six-man rotation
Mon, Feb 23, 2026, 9:54 AM
Elder appears likely to get a start or two early in the season with Atlanta playing 13 consecutive days to begin its schedule, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Elder is battling Joey Wentz for the fifth starter role, but that competition will probably extend into the regular season with the team having to give serious thought to deploying a six-man rotation for the first couple weeks. Elder made 28 starts for Atlanta in 2025, posting a 5.30 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 131:51 K:BB in 156.1 innings. |
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