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Hurston Waldrep Hurston Waldrep Ambushed in no-decision
Thu, Jul 2, 2026, 10:42 PM
Waldrep took a no-decision Thursday against the Cardinals, allowing three runs on five hits and one walk in 5.1 innings. He struck out four.
Analysis: Waldrep gave up all three of his runs in the opening frame, but he was at least able to settle in afterwards and push for a quality start. The 24-year-old right-hander threw 76 pitches in his second major-league outing of 2026, so he may not be fully built up to handle a traditional starter's workload quite yet. Waldrep is contending with Grant Holmes' for a rotation spot going forward, and Thursday's showing might have offered the club enough positive takeaways to hand Waldrep another chance to start next week in Pittsburgh. |
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Ha-Seong Kim Ha-Seong Kim On bench again Thursday
Thu, Jul 2, 2026, 3:11 PM
Kim is not in the lineup for Thursday's game versus the Cardinals.
Analysis: After handing Kim four straight starts, Atlanta has now had him on the bench for three consecutive contests. Jim Jarvis was promoted earlier Thursday and will draw the start at shortstop in the series finale. |
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Dylan Dodd Dylan Dodd Snags second hold
Thu, Jul 2, 2026, 9:41 AM
Dodd struck out one in a perfect sixth inning Wednesday to record his second hold of the season in a win over the Cardinals.
Analysis: The 28-year-old southpaw set down the top of St. Louis' order on 14 pitches (nine strikes), punctuating his performance with a strikeout of Alec Burleson. Dodd is adjusting well to a full-time relief role, albeit a low-leverage one, and through 22 innings over 17 big-league appearances this season he's delivered a 2.45 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 25:8 K:BB. |
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First 20-30 player at any level
Thu, Jul 2, 2026, 9:37 AM
Hartman went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a second run scored for High-A Rome on Wednesday.
Analysis: It's a modest single-game line, but the long ball made Hartman the first player this year at any level to reach 20 homers and 30 steals -- and he's done it in just 71 games. The 20-year-old has rocketed up prospect lists this season while producing a .290/.357/.559 slash line that comes with a respectable 22.7 percent strikeout rate. Per Jesse Borek of MLB.com, Ronald Acuna was the last Atlanta minor-leaguer to record a 20-30 campaign in 2017, while Eric Davis with the Reds in 1987 is the only major-leaguer to reach those milestones more quickly in a season since 1900. |
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Grant Holmes Grant Holmes Slated to start Friday
Thu, Jul 2, 2026, 9:23 AM
Holmes will start Friday's series opener versus the Mets in Atlanta, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Atlanta will plug Holmes back into the rotation after he made his first appearance of the season as a reliever his last time out Saturday, striking out four batters over four shutout innings against the Giants. Per Bowman, Atlanta believes Holmes could prove to be a more valuable asset in the bullpen, where he would be able to work at a higher velocity and lean more heavily on his slider, a pitch that has generated a 41.3 percent whiff rate on the season. A decision on Holmes' role beyond this weekend could hinge on the performance of Hurston Waldrep, who will draw a start Thursday against the Cardinals after Atlanta opted to skip Bryce Elder's turn in the rotation. Elder is expected to rejoin the rotation next week, and if Waldrep fares well against the Cardinals and earns himself an extended leash as a starter, Holmes would likely head back to the bullpen on a more permanent basis. |
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Hurston Waldrep Hurston Waldrep Confirmed as starter for Thursday
Thu, Jul 2, 2026, 9:08 AM
Atlanta manager Walt Weiss confirmed that Waldrep will start Thursday's game against the Cardinals, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Waldrep made his 2026 debut with Atlanta last Friday, pitching two innings of relief behind starter Reynaldo Lopez. Both pitchers will be in the rotation this week, as Bryce Elder will have his turn skipped. Though Elder is expected to return to the rotation next week, Waldrep could end up sticking around in a starting role, as Atlanta is contemplating moving Grant Holmes to the bullpen. Waldrep's performance Thursday will likely influence that decision, though the right-hander shouldn't be expected to work more than five or six innings, regardless of how well he's pitching. Since completing his recovery from a Feb. 23 elbow procedure and beginning a rehab stint at the beginning of June, Waldrep hasn't tossed more than 71 pitches or covered more than 4.2 innings in any outing. |
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Jim Jarvis Jim Jarvis Back in big leagues
Thu, Jul 2, 2026, 8:13 AM
Atlanta recalled Jarvis from Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday.
Analysis: Jarvis has had a breakout season this year at Gwinnett, slashing .313/.406/.461 with six home runs, 32 stolen bases and a 46:55 BB:K over 76 games. He was up briefly with Atlanta in May, going 1-for-5 at the plate. Shortstop is Jarvis' main position, and he's expected to start there Thursday versus the Cardinals, per Mark Bowman of MLB.com. Jarvis would have some fantasy potential -- particularly in the stolen-base department -- if he receives regular playing time, but there's no guarantee that will happen. |
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Rowdy Tellez Rowdy Tellez DFA'd by Atlanta
Thu, Jul 2, 2026, 8:08 AM
Atlanta designated Tellez for assignment Thursday.
Analysis: Tellez was with the big club for three weeks but received only one start and 11 plate appearances, going 2-for-10 with a home run. He's likely to pass through waivers and would have the ability to elect free agency at that point. |
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Ozzie Albies Ozzie Albies Powers Atlanta in win
Thu, Jul 2, 2026, 7:31 AM
Albies went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, an RBI double and an additional run scored in Wednesday's 5-1 win over the Cardinals.
Analysis: Albies tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the first inning with an RBI double before putting Atlanta up 2-1 in the third with his two-out blast off Michael McGreevy, his 13th homer this season. The long ball was the first in nine games for Albies, who'd gone 5-for-29 with just one extra-base hit in his previous eight contests. The second baseman is now slashing .276/.325/.444 with 48 RBI, 53 runs scored and one steal across 360 plate appearances this season. |
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Bryce Elder Bryce Elder Next start getting skipped
Wed, Jul 1, 2026, 9:27 PM
Atlanta will skip Elder's next turn through the rotation, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Elder was lined up to make his next start Friday against the Mets, but Atlanta will give him extra time to rest after he displayed diminished velocity during his last outing Saturday. Grant Holmes will now take the mound to begin Friday's contest; meanwhile, Elder's next start is likely to come next week in Pittsburgh. |
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Reynaldo Lopez Reynaldo Lopez Earns win vs. Cardinals
Wed, Jul 1, 2026, 8:59 PM
Lopez (4-1) earned the win Wednesday over St. Louis, allowing a run on two hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out six.
Analysis: Making a second straight start, Lopez would give up a run in the first inning before settling in and holding the Cardinals without a hit over his final four frames. After a rough start to the year, Lopez has turned things around of late, posting a 2.70 ERA over his last 11 appearances (23.1 innings). Lopez looks to have earned another chance in Atlanta's rotation going forward -- he's currently slated to face the Mets at home in his next outing. |
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Grant Holmes Grant Holmes Might remain in bullpen
Wed, Jul 1, 2026, 4:02 PM
Holmes could remain in Atlanta's bullpen moving forward, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Holmes made 15 starts for Atlanta before tossing four scoreless relief innings during his last appearance against the Giants. While Holmes could make another start Thursday versus the Cardinals if Hurston Waldrep is needed in relief Wednesday, the club's preference is to keep Holmes in the bullpen. The right-hander has collected a 3.96 ERA and 69:37 K:BB over 77.1 frames this season. |
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Hurston Waldrep Hurston Waldrep Could enter rotation Thursday
Wed, Jul 1, 2026, 3:59 PM
Waldrep could start Thursday's game against the Cardinals if he isn't needed out of the bullpen Wednesday, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Reynaldo Lopez is starting Wednesday's game, and if he's able to go at least 4-to-5 innings, it will likely be Waldrep that starts Thursday's series finale. If the right-hander has to pitch in relief Wednesday, Grant Holmes could draw Thursday's start. Waldrep had surgery to remove loose bodies from his right elbow back in February, but he threw 55 pitches over two scoreless relief innings during his season debut for Atlanta last week. His highest pitch count in five rehab starts was 71, so the righty is not fully stretched out yet. |
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Reynaldo Lopez Reynaldo Lopez Making another start Wednesday
Wed, Jul 1, 2026, 3:07 PM
Lopez will start Wednesday's game against the Cardinals in Atlanta.
Analysis: Lopez will be making his second straight appearance as a starter, though Mark Bowman of MLB.com previously reported that Atlanta could once again have Hurston Waldrep piggyback the veteran right-hander. In his last appearance Friday in San Francisco, Lopez threw three innings of one-run ball before Waldrep followed with two scoreless frames in relief. Lopez tossed 57 pitches in that outing, but even if he gets piggybacked agin, he could still push up his pitch count a bit more Wednesday. |
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AJ Smith-Shawver AJ Smith-Shawver Tosses three innings in rehab start
Tue, Jun 30, 2026, 7:07 PM
Smith-Shawver (elbow) pitched three innings Tuesday during a rehab start with Single-A Augusta, allowing one run on three hits while striking out four batters, Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Analysis: Smith-Shawver was making the second start of his rehab assignment as he enters the home stretch of his recovery from Tommy John surgery in June of 2025. The right-hander was able to limit the damage to just one run on a solo homer, and he tossed 29 of his 41 total pitches for strikes. Smith-Shawver will likely make his next start at a higher level in Atlanta's farm system. |
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Ha-Seong Kim Ha-Seong Kim Bound for bench Tuesday
Tue, Jun 30, 2026, 5:41 PM
Kim is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Cardinals.
Analysis: Kim had started in Atlanta's last four games, but he went 0-for-11 over that stretch to bring his average down to a lowly .068 for the season. Atlanta has an opening in the everyday lineup for Kim while Mauricio Dubon is needed in the outfield to help cover for the absence of Ronald Acuna (hamstring), but Kim's inability to get going at the plate has made it increasingly difficult for manager Walt Weiss to justify keeping him in the starting nine. Jorge Mateo will spell Kim at shortstop Tuesday. |
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Ronald Acuna Jr. Ronald Acuna Jr. Not expected back before break
Tue, Jun 30, 2026, 2:46 PM
Acuna (hamstring) went through a full pregame workout at Truist Park in Atlanta on Tuesday, Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Analysis: It's a big step for Acuna, who is on the 10-day injured list for the second time this season with a strained left hamstring. He missed nearly three weeks of action the first time and has already been out longer than that this time around. Going through a full workout suggests Acuna could be nearing a return to games, but Atlanta manager Walt Weiss said it's a "long shot" the outfielder returns before the All-Star break. Acuna could be back for the beginning of the second half, however. |
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Hurston Waldrep Hurston Waldrep Likely to move into rotation
Tue, Jun 30, 2026, 7:52 AM
Waldrep is a likely candidate to join the Atlanta rotation in the near future, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: The 24-year-old right-hander was added to the 26-man roster Friday and threw 55 pitches over two relief innings that day, working behind Reynaldo Lopez. Lopez's next start is scheduled for Wednesday and manager Walt Weiss has hinted that the duo could be piggybacked, but Atlanta is also likely looking for ways to get Bryce Elder some extra rest, as he showed reduced velocity in his last start and has struggled over the second half of June. Once Waldrep is further stretched out, he could join a six-man rotation that gets the team through to the All-Star break -- Atlanta doesn't get another day off before the break once they begin a series against the Cardinals on Tuesday. |
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Bryce Elder Bryce Elder Could get extra rest before ASB
Tue, Jun 30, 2026, 7:47 AM
Elder's velocity was down about one mph on all his pitches in his most recent start, and Atlanta is likely to look for opportunities to give him extra rest, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: The right-hander has looked fatigued over his last three starts, coughing up 19 runs in 14 innings on 27 hits, including five homers. Atlanta's rotation is already missing multiple members, however, and depth is an issue. Hurston Waldrep, who was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett this past weekend and threw 55 pitches over two innings of relief behind Reynaldo Lopez on Friday, could be an option to make a spot start and buy Elder an extra day of rest. |
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Spencer Schwellenbach Spencer Schwellenbach Eyes late August/early September
Mon, Jun 29, 2026, 3:07 PM
Schwellenbach (elbow) will likely report to Atlanta's spring training facility in early July and could be a candidate to rejoin the major-league rotation by late August or early September, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: To this point, Atlanta has only ruled Schwellenbach -- who is coming back from surgery to remove bone spurs from his right elbow -- out through the All-Star break. Bowman, though, notes that a typical spring training buildup could have Schwellenbach big-league ready by late August or early September. Any timeline for the righty is approximate at this point, as he still has several boxes to check in the rehab process. |
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