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Ronald Acuna Jr. Ronald Acuna Jr. Not activated Sunday
Sun, Jul 26, 2026, 9:49 AM
Acuna (hamstring) isn't included in Atlanta's lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles and appears unlikely to be activated from the 10-day injured list until at least Monday.
Analysis: Acuna isn't believed to have experienced any setbacks with his left hamstring during his rehab assignment at Triple-A Gwinnett, but he'll get at least one day of rest after he went 1-for-3 with a walk while playing a full nine innings in right field for the affiliate Saturday. Assuming the 28-year-old joins the big club on its upcoming road trip to New York, he could be back in the lineup for Monday's series opener versus the Mets. |
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Bryce Elder Bryce Elder Strikes out eight in no-decision
Sat, Jul 25, 2026, 9:43 PM
Elder did not factor into the decision in Saturday's 3-2 loss to the Orioles, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits and four walks with eight strikeouts over five innings.
Analysis: Elder allowed runs in the third and fifth innings, recording eight strikeouts while also tying a season high with four walks. After limping into the All-Star break having allowed 22 earned runs over four starts, the 27-year-old has now yielded just three earned runs through two outings to open the second half. He'll take a 3.96 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 98:37 K:BB across 113.2 innings this season into a home matchup with the Nationals next week. |
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Matt Olson Matt Olson Clubs 27th homer
Sat, Jul 25, 2026, 10:07 AM
Olson went 2-for-5 with a three-run home run in Friday's extra-inning win over the Orioles.
Analysis: The star first baseman played hero in the top of the 10th inning, taking Andrew Kittredge deep to give Atlanta a 7-3 lead in an eventual 7-6 win. Olson is up to 27 homers on the season, and seven of them have come over 20 games in July -- a stretch in which he's produced a .241/.341/.544 slash line with 11 RBI and 15 runs. |
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Drake Baldwin Drake Baldwin Socks homer No. 20
Sat, Jul 25, 2026, 10:03 AM
Baldwin went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Friday's extra-inning win over the Orioles.
Analysis: His eighth-inning shot off Rico Garcia tied the game at 3-3 and set the stage for a wild 10th inning that saw seven runs cross the plate in total. Baldwin has gone yard in back-to-back games and five times in eight contests since the All-Star break, with the power surge carrying him to his first career 20-homer campaign. |
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AJ Smith-Shawver AJ Smith-Shawver One more rehab start expected
Sat, Jul 25, 2026, 10:00 AM
Smith-Shawver (elbow) is expected to make one more rehab start before being activated from the injured list, Ian Quillen of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Over four innings and 86 pitches (54 strikes) for Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday, the 23-year-old right-hander allowed just one unearned run on two hits and one walk while striking out five. Smith-Shawver has a 12:5 K:BB in 10.2 rehab innings for Gwinnett with a 1.69 ERA, but it's not yet clear if Atlanta will immediately add him to the big-league rotation once his IL stint is done -- the team is actively shopping for starting pitching at the trade deadline, and Smith-Shawver has a minor-league option remaining. If Atlanta doesn't bring in outside reinforcements, however, he could be an option to replace the struggling Reynaldo Lopez (nine runs allowed in 9.1 innings over his last two outings). |
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Ronald Acuna Jr. Ronald Acuna Jr. Could be back Sunday
Sat, Jul 25, 2026, 9:53 AM
Acuna (hamstring) isn't expected to be activated from the IL until at least Sunday, Ian Quillen of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: A rainout Friday for Triple-A Gwinnett put a bit of a hiccup into Atlanta's weekend plans for their star right fielder as he wraps up a rehab assignment. Gwinnett has a doubleheader scheduled for Saturday, and MLB manager Walt Weiss didn't rule out Acuna playing both ends of it. "There's a chance he'll play both," Weiss said Friday. "I think it's two [seven-inning games]. There's a chance he'll play both. He'll let us know when he feels like he's ready to go." Atlanta planned to have the 28-year-old back in the big-league lineup this weekend, so a Sunday activation remains possible. Acuna has been sidelined since June 9, and over 53 games for Atlanta this season he's managed a .794 OPS with seven homers and 15 steals. |
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Grant Holmes Grant Holmes Fans five in no-decision
Sat, Jul 25, 2026, 8:21 AM
Holmes didn't factor into the decision Friday against the Orioles, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out five across five innings.
Analysis: Holmes has pitched at least five frames in each of his last four outings and has been remarkably consistent, allowing three runs or fewer and avoiding the loss each time. Furthermore, Holmes hasn't given up more than three earned runs in any outing since May 1, when he allowed six runs (five earned) against the Rockies at Coors Field, posting a 3.45 ERA and 1.38 WHIP since then. His next start is slated to come against the Mets on the road. |
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Connor Thomas Connor Thomas Recalled from Triple-A
Sat, Jul 25, 2026, 8:13 AM
Atlanta recalled Thomas from Triple-A Gwinnett on Saturday.
Analysis: Thomas gave up four earned runs in 3.2 innings during his lone MLB outing July 7 against the Pirates, but he sports a 1.98 ERA in 27.1 frames at Gwinnett and will now get another chance in the big club's bullpen, replacing Elieser Hernandez. |
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Elieser Hernandez Elieser Hernandez Designated for assignment
Sat, Jul 25, 2026, 8:10 AM
Atlanta designated Hernandez for assignment Saturday.
Analysis: Hernandez pitched three scoreless innings and earned the win over Baltimore after being selected to the active roster before Friday's contest, but he'll now lose his place in the bullpen and on the 40-man roster. Connor Thomas will come up from Triple-A Gwinnett to give Atlanta a fresh arm. |
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Drake Baldwin Drake Baldwin Slugs 19th homer
Fri, Jul 24, 2026, 8:59 AM
Baldwin went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Thursday's win over the Padres.
Analysis: The 25-year-old backstop wrapped up the scoring for Atlanta when he took Matt Waldron deep in the seventh inning. It was Baldwin's 19th homer of the year, and his fourth in seven games since the All-Star break -- a stretch in which he's batting a scorching .481 (13-for-27) with eight runs, nine RBI and a 6:2 BB:K. |
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Michael Harris II Michael Harris II Clubs 19th homer
Fri, Jul 24, 2026, 8:57 AM
Harris went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a second run scored in Thursday's win over the Padres.
Analysis: The center fielder launched the first of four Atlanta long balls on the afternoon, taking Griffin Canning deep in the second inning for his 19th homer of the year. Harris has been locked in since getting snubbed for an All-Star Game appearance, and since the break he's batting .323 (10-for-31) with three doubles, three home runs, six runs and eight RBI in seven games. |
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Dominic Smith Dominic Smith Homers in win
Thu, Jul 23, 2026, 3:09 PM
Smith went 1-for-3 with a three-run homer in Thursday's 6-5 win over the Padres.
Analysis: Making just his second start in six games, Smith put Atlanta ahead in the fourth inning with a two-run blast off Griffin Canning, his seventh homer this season and first since June 6. Smith had gone just 3-for-19 in nine games prior to Thursday while retreating to a bench role. Overall, he's slashing .264/.318/.395 with 39 RBI and 35 runs scored across 246 plate appearances this season. |
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Ronald Acuna Jr. Ronald Acuna Jr. Expected back this weekend
Thu, Jul 23, 2026, 2:25 PM
Atlanta manager Walt Weiss said Thursday that he expects Acuna (hamstring) to be activated from the 10-day injured list before the end of this weekend, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Acuna will play his eighth and likely final rehab game Thursday with Triple-A Gwinnett. A return to the active roster Friday is possible, though the club could elect to give Acuna a day to rest before activating him later in the weekend. The star outfielder has been sidelined since early June due to a Grade 1 left hamstring strain. |
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Sean Murphy Sean Murphy Cleared for rehab assignment
Thu, Jul 23, 2026, 2:15 PM
Murphy (finger) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday, Harrison Smajovits of SI.com reports.
Analysis: Murphy has been limited to only four games for Atlanta this season, first due to offseason hip surgery and more recently because of a fractured left middle finger that's kept him shelved since mid-May. The veteran catcher should be ready to rejoin the active roster around Aug. 1 if all goes well on his rehab assignment. |
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Raisel Iglesias Raisel Iglesias Hangs on for 21st save
Thu, Jul 23, 2026, 2:04 PM
Iglesias earned the save in Thursday's 6-5 win over San Diego, working around two hits while striking out two in a scoreless ninth inning.
Analysis: Iglesias found himself in some trouble in the ninth after the Padres logged back-to-back singles. However, the right-hander would strike out Luis Rengifo to end the game, stranding the tying and go-ahead runs on base. It's a nice bounce-back outing from Iglesias, who'd given up a home run in each of his previous two appearances. He's up to 21 saves this season while posting a 2.50 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 42:7 K:BB across 36 innings. |
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Chris Sale Chris Sale Strikes out 11 in win
Thu, Jul 23, 2026, 1:58 PM
Sale (11-6) earned the win Thursday over the Padres, allowing three runs on five hits and a walk across six innings. He struck out 11.
Analysis: All of the damage against Sale came with two outs in the second inning -- he issued a bases-loaded walk to Fernando Tatis before giving up a two-run single to Luis Rengifo. However, the veteran southpaw managed to settle in and turn in a quality start while striking out 11, matching a season high. Sale's ERA now sits at 2.19, the second-best mark in the majors, through 19 starts (111 innings), complementing that figure with a 1.05 WHIP and 134:26 K:BB. He's tentatively lined up to face the Mets on the road his next time out. |
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Raisel Iglesias Raisel Iglesias Escapes with save No. 20
Wed, Jul 22, 2026, 9:59 PM
Iglesias secured the save Wednesday against San Diego, allowing one run on one hit and no walks in two-thirds of an inning. He struck out two.
Analysis: Atlanta summoned Victor Mederson to record the final three outs of a 7-1 game, but he coughed up four runs to create a save situation in the ninth inning. Iglesias was shaky himself, serving up a solo home run to Luis Rengifo, but he held on to put out the fire. Although he's blown just one save and sports a 2.57 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 40:7 K:BB with 20 saves over 35 innings in 2026, the right-hander has given up 10 runs across his last 19.1 frames after opening the year with a scoreless streak of 15.2 innings. |
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Martin Perez Martin Perez Four shutout innings in return
Wed, Jul 22, 2026, 9:41 PM
Perez took a no-decision Wednesday against the Padres, allowing no runs on one hit and four walks in four innings. He struck out three.
Analysis: Making his return from the 15-day injured list with a bruised forearm, Perez fared about as well as Atlanta could have hoped for Wednesday. The 35-year-old southpaw showed some signs of rust with a lack of control, matching a season high in walks, but he still turned in his first scoreless start since April 28 against Detroit. Perez will take a 3.38 ERA, his best mark since 2022 with Texas, 1.20 WHIP and a 65:36 K:BB over 85.1 innings into his next scheduled outing in New York against the last-place Mets. |
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Dominic Smith Dominic Smith Losing out on playing time
Wed, Jul 22, 2026, 3:09 PM
Smith is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Padres.
Analysis: Smith will retreat to the bench for the third game in a row, with his latter two absences coming while the Padres have sent right-handed starting pitchers to the hill. The 31-year-old has held down a strong-side platoon role for much of the season, but he's been squeezed out of the starting nine in the wake of Mike Yastrzemski's return from the injured list. The downturn in playing time comes while Smith has provided a poor .468 OPS over 13 games since the start of July. |
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JR Ritchie JR Ritchie Sent back to Triple-A
Wed, Jul 22, 2026, 10:48 AM
Atlanta optioned Ritchie to Triple-A Gwinnett on Wednesday.
Analysis: Ritchie will give up his spot on the active roster to left-hander Martin Perez (elbow), who was reinstated from the 15-day injured list ahead of his scheduled start Wednesday versus the Padres. After tossing 3.2 innings in long relief during Tuesday's 8-3 loss, Ritchie was unlikely to be available out of the Atlanta bullpen for at least the next couple of days. |
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