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Stuart Fairchild Stuart Fairchild Two hits, stolen base Wed, May 14, 2025, 10:40 PM Fairchild went 2-for-3 with an RBI double and two runs scored during Wednesday's 5-4 loss to Washington. Analysis: Fairchild reached safely in three of his four plate appearances and accounted for three of Atlanta's four runs scored. He plated Michael Harris in the third inning with a double before coming around to score on a throwing error. Wednesday's game snapped Fairchild's lengthy hitting slump, as he came into the contest just 1-for-20 on the year.
Bryce Elder Bryce Elder Stuck with no-decision Wed, May 14, 2025, 10:31 PM Elder didn't factor into the decision Wednesday, allowing one run on five hits and one walk with three strikeouts across 6.0 innings during the 5-4 loss to Washington. Analysis: Elder didn't quite pack the strikeout punch he had in his last two starts when he logged eight and six Ks, respectively. He made up for it by not allowing a single extra-base hit and retiring 15 of the final 18 batters he faced after allowing a run in the opening frame. Atlanta led 4-1 when Elder exited after six innings, but Washington rallied to score X runs in the closing three innings to steal the victory. Through 44.0 innings, Elder has a 4.50 ERA and a 33:13 K:BB. Elder is scheduled to face the Nationals again Wednesday.
Alex Verdugo Alex Verdugo Sitting against left-hander Wed, May 14, 2025, 2:13 PM Verdugo is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Nationals. Analysis: Verdugo has typically started against left-handers for Atlanta, but he will take a seat in this one versus Washington southpaw Mitchell Parker. Eli White will shift over to left field and bat leadoff, while Stuart Fairchild receives a rare start in right.
Ronald Acuna Jr. Ronald Acuna Jr. Heading for Gwinnett Wed, May 14, 2025, 11:48 AM Acuna (knee) will have his rehab assignment moved to Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday, David O'Brien of the Athletic reports. Analysis: After playing just six innings for Atlanta's Florida Complex League affiliate Tuesday in the first game of his rehab stint, Acuna will be jumped straight to the top level of the minors for his second. It's a strong sign the 27-year-old outfielder may not require the full 20 days before he's ready to be activated from the IL for his season debut, but so far Atlanta has been very deliberate with the superstar's recovery from June 2024 ACL surgery. A timeline for his return may not come into focus until Acuna is able to play back-to-back nine-inning games without issue.
Drake Baldwin Drake Baldwin Playing time on upswing Wed, May 14, 2025, 11:40 AM Baldwin is set to see more playing time, David O'Brien of the Athletic reports. Analysis: Atlanta manager Brian Snitker indicated Baldwin would be back behind the plate Thursday after he went 3-for-4 with his fourth homer of the season Tuesday, with Sean Murphy getting the nod behind the plate Wednesday. As long as he's contributing with his bat, the rookie backstop should continue to see an equal share of the workload against right-handed pitching, although he has yet to get a start against a lefty. Through his first 25 big-league games, Baldwin is slashing .329/.382/.557 with a 6:13 BB:K.
Ronald Acuna Jr. Ronald Acuna Jr. Homers in first rehab game Wed, May 14, 2025, 8:27 AM Acuna (knee) went 1-for-3 with a solo home run Tuesday in his first rehab game with Atlanta's Florida Complex League affiliate. Analysis: After grounding out in his first plate appearance and lining out in his second trip to the dish, Acuna popped a solo shot to center field in the fifth inning in his third and final plate appearance. He also played six innings in right field. Acuna will likely remain with the rookie-level affiliate for a bit before moving to a higher level to continue his rehab assignment. He could make his season debut with Atlanta before the end of May if all goes well, but if the team elects to use the full 20 days on his rehab assignment, he would rejoin the lineup June 3 to begin a home series against the Diamondbacks.
Drake Baldwin Drake Baldwin Big day at plate Wed, May 14, 2025, 8:13 AM Baldwin went 3-for-4 with a double, a two-run home run and two additional runs scored in Tuesday's 5-2 win over the Nationals. Analysis: Starting at catcher and batting fifth, Baldwin got Atlanta on the board by taking Michael Soroka deep in the fourth inning. The rookie is muscling his way into a timeshare behind the plate with Sean Murphy, and so far in May, Baldwin's batting .556 (10-for-18) with two doubles, two homers, four runs and five RBI.
Pierce Johnson Pierce Johnson Converts save chance Tuesday Wed, May 14, 2025, 8:10 AM Johnson gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning Tuesday to record his first save of the season in a 5-2 win over the Nationals. Analysis: Raisel Iglesias was unavailable after pitching Sunday and Monday, but he's also been struggling badly of late and hasn't successfully converted a save chance since May 4. Johnson, on the other hand, reeled off his 10th straight scoreless appearance Tuesday, a stretch in which he's posted a 0.20 WHIP and 10:0 K:BB in 10 innings. While manager Brian Snitker hasn't yet indicated he's contemplating a change in the ninth inning, Johnson is making a strong case for a spot in the closing mix, at least until Iglesias rights the ship.
Spencer Schwellenbach Spencer Schwellenbach Collects second win Wed, May 14, 2025, 8:06 AM Schwellenbach (2-3) picked up the win Tuesday, giving up two runs on four hits and two walks over seven innings in a 5-2 victory over the Nationals. He struck out three. Analysis: He served up a leadoff homer to CJ Abrams and gave up another run before Atlanta's offense woke up in the bottom of the fourth inning, but Schwellenbach ended up cruising to a fairly comfortable win. The 24-year-old righty has produced seven quality starts in nine trips to the mound this season, and he'll take a 3.31 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 46:11 K:BB through 54.1 innings into his next outing, which is scheduled to come on the road this weekend in Boston.
Ronald Acuna Jr. Ronald Acuna Jr. Getting three PAs Tuesday Tue, May 13, 2025, 3:35 PM Acuna (knee) will get three plate appearances Tuesday in the first game of his rehab assignment in the Florida Complex League, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports. Analysis: This will likely allow Acuna to play four or five innings in right field, as Atlanta is treating this like it's his first spring training game. There isn't an official timeline for Acuna's return to the majors, but he could theoretically return before the end of May.
Sean Murphy Sean Murphy Out of Atlanta lineup Tue, May 13, 2025, 2:15 PM Murphy is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Nationals. Analysis: Murphy started at catcher in the series opener Monday but will get a breather in this one. Drake Baldwin is behind the plate and batting fifth for Atlanta.
Dylan Lee Dylan Lee Nabs sixth hold Tue, May 13, 2025, 8:25 AM Lee struck out both batters he faced Monday to record his sixth hold of the season in a 4-3 win over the Nationals. Analysis: The southpaw fanned Josh Bell and Dylan Crews to close out the seventh inning and protect a 3-1 lead. Raisel Iglesias blew his third save of the season in the ninth however, and if the veteran closer's recent struggles cause him to be removed from ninth-inning duties, Lee and right-hander Pierce Johnson would appear to be the top options to handle save situations in his place. Through 16.2 innings over 18 appearances this season, Lee sports a 2.16 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 18:6 K:BB.
Raisel Iglesias Raisel Iglesias Blows another save Tue, May 13, 2025, 8:19 AM Iglesias (3-3) blew the save but picked up the win Monday in a 4-3 victory over the Nationals, giving up two runs (one earned) on three hits and a walk in an inning of relief. He struck out one. Analysis: The beleaguered closer had another rough night as he coughed up a two-run lead in the top of the ninth, although Atlanta walked it off in the bottom of the frame. A Nick Allen error didn't help, but Iglesias has been tagged for eight hits and five runs (four earned) over his last three appearances, leaving him with an alarming 6.06 ERA and 1.41 WHIP through 16.1 innings despite a 19:4 K:BB. He's converted just six of nine saves chances, and his average fastball velocity has slipped to 94.7 mph, his lowest mark since 2016. Pierce Johnson (2.45 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 17:4 K:BB through 14.2 IP) and Dylan Lee (2.16 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 18:6 K:BB in 16.2 IP) both appear capable of stepping up in save situations if Atlanta decided to move Iglesias into a lower-leverage role while he sorts things out.
Grant Holmes Grant Holmes Limits Nats to one run Mon, May 12, 2025, 9:00 PM Holmes allowed one run on four hits and one walk while striking out four over 6.1 innings in a no-decision against the Nationals on Monday. Analysis: Holmes faced the minimum number of batters through the first three innings and his only blemish came in the fourth frame, when he yielded a solo home run to James Wood. Holmes recorded nine groundouts while generating 11 whiffs on 79 pitches (49 strikes) en route to his third quality start of the season. He has a 4.17 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 44:21 K:BB across 45.1 innings, and he's lined up to face the Red Sox on the road this weekend.
Marcell Ozuna Marcell Ozuna Smacks solo homer Mon, May 12, 2025, 8:48 PM Ozuna went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and an RBI single in Monday's 4-3 win over Washington. Analysis: Ozuna put Atlanta on the board with an RBI single in the third inning and extended the lead to two runs in the fifth with a solo homer off Jake Irvin. It was Ozuna's sixth home run of the season and first since April 26 against the Diamondbacks. He's gone 9-for-37 with two runs scored, one home run and three RBI since the beginning of May.
Alex Verdugo Alex Verdugo Knocks in game-winning run Mon, May 12, 2025, 8:43 PM Verdugo went 2-for-5 with an RBI single in Monday's 4-3 win over the Nationals. Analysis: Verdugo -- who went 1-for-24 in the six games prior to Monday's contest -- sent the home crowd happy in the ninth inning, when he smacked a single off Andrew Chafin that brought Eli White home for the game-winning run. It was Verdugo's fifth multi-hit game of the year, and he's slashing .250/.305/.341 with eight RBI and 11 runs scored this season.
Ronald Acuna Jr. Ronald Acuna Jr. Cleared for rehab assignment Mon, May 12, 2025, 3:36 PM Acuna (knee) is scheduled to begin a minor-league rehab assignment in the rookie-level Florida Complex League on Tuesday, Gabe Burns of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Analysis: Though Acuna will be playing in a game for the first time since tearing the ACL in his left knee May 26 of last year, he won't be eased in as a designated hitter, as Burns relays that the 27-year-old has been cleared to play the outfield. Atlanta will monitor Acuna closely over his first few games in Florida before determining whether he's ready to shift his assignment to a higher-level affiliate. A timeline hasn't been offered up for when Acuna might be ready to make his 2025 debut with Atlanta, but the club is seemingly leaving the door open for him to return before the end of May.
Spencer Strider Spencer Strider Tossing sim game Wednesday Mon, May 12, 2025, 3:30 PM Strider (hamstring) is scheduled to throw 70-to-75 pitches in a simulated game Wednesday, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports. Analysis: The upcoming sim game takes Strider out of the running from returning from the 15-day injured list this week, but if all goes well Wednesday, he could bypass a minor-league rehab start and rejoin the Atlanta rotation for the start of their series in Washington that begins May 20. After making a speedy recovery from the internal brace procedure he underwent on his right elbow last spring, Strider tossed five innings in his 2025 debut for Atlanta on April 16, then went back on the IL five days later after straining his right hamstring while playing catch.
Chris Sale Chris Sale Fans eight in no-decision Sun, May 11, 2025, 4:39 PM Sale took a no-decision in Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Pirates, allowing three runs (two earned) on eight hits and two walks over 5.2 innings. He struck out eight. Analysis: The Atlanta southpaw generated a solid 18 whiffs in this 99-pitch outing, falling one out shy of notching his third consecutive quality start. Despite yielding eight base knocks, only one of the hits went for extra bases -- an Alexander Canario double in the fourth. Through 47.2 frames, Sale owns a 3.97 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 64:13 K:BB. He is currently scheduled to make his next start against one of his former teams, the Red Sox, in Boston next weekend.
Raisel Iglesias Raisel Iglesias Saddled with loss Sun, May 11, 2025, 4:31 PM Iglesias (2-3) took the loss in Sunday's contest at Pittsburgh. He allowed one run on two hits and a walk in one-third of an inning. Analysis: The veteran closer entered in the ninth inning with the score tied at 3-3 and failed to send the game to extras. Iglesias looked unsteady from the start, allowing two consecutive singles to open the frame. The game ended on a fielder's choice as the Atlanta infield was unable to convert a Joey Bart groundball into an out. After Iglesias pitched to a spectacular 1.95 ERA across 69.1 innings in 2024, he has struggled through 15.1 frames this season, pitching to a 5.87 ERA and 1.24 WHIP while already allowing six homers.