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AJ Smith-Shawver AJ Smith-Shawver Not ready for activation
Mon, Jul 13, 2026, 12:16 PM
Smith-Shawver (elbow) will make at least one more rehab start with Triple-A Gwinnett, Ken Sugiura of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Analysis: Smith-Shawver is in the final stages of his recovery from June 2025 Tommy John surgery. but he's not quite there yet. The 23-year-old right-hander built up to 58 pitches (28 strikes) with Gwinnett on Saturday, but the results weren't pretty as he gave up two runs on five hits and three walks over 2.1 innings. On the bright side, his fastball sat 95-97 mph and topped out at 98.7 mph before he began to fade in his third and final frame. Smith-Shawver's rehab assignment runs out July 29, and if Atlanta decides to max that out, he could fit in three more starts before coming off the IL. |
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Ha-Seong Kim Ha-Seong Kim Cleared for rehab assignment
Mon, Jul 13, 2026, 8:43 AM
Atlanta announced Monday that Kim (finger) will begin a rehab assignment in the rookie-level Florida Complex League.
Analysis: Kim landed on the 10-day injured list July 4 after experiencing inflammation in his surgically repaired right middle finger, but he doesn't look like he'll be in store for a lengthy shutdown. He'll likely play at least a couple games in the FCL early this week before Atlanta decides whether to activate him ahead of its next game Friday versus the Rangers or have him continue his rehab assignment with a higher-level affiliate. After returning from a season-opening stint on the shelf and debuting for Atlanta on May 12, Kim produced a lowly .068/.171/.068 slash line over 82 plate appearances before landing back on the shelf. He'll likely have to settle for a reserve role in the middle infield once he's reinstated. |
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Ronald Acuna Jr. Ronald Acuna Jr. Starting up rehab assignment in FCL
Mon, Jul 13, 2026, 8:38 AM
Atlanta announced that Acuna (hamstring) will begin a rehab assignment Monday in the rookie-level Florida Complex League.
Analysis: Acuna has been on the shelf for just over a month due to a left hamstring strain, but after recently resuming full baseball activities, he's been given the green light to advance to the final step of his recovery process. Atlanta hasn't revealed how long of a rehab assignment Acuna will require prior to being activated, but if he experiences no setbacks while playing in the FCL early in the week, it's conceivable that he'll be ready to go for the big club's first game out of the All-Star break Friday versus the Rangers. |
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Raisel Iglesias Raisel Iglesias Locks down 19th save
Sun, Jul 12, 2026, 5:41 PM
Iglesias struck out one in a perfect inning to earn the save in Sunday's 4-3 win over St. Louis.
Analysis: Iglesias has allowed four runs over his last four innings, but he's converted three of four save chances in that span. The veteran reliever was dominant early in the season but has regressed since late May, though he's in no immediate danger of losing the closer job. He's at a 2.23 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 36:7 K:BB through 32.1 innings while converting 19 of 20 save chances this season. |
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JR Ritchie JR Ritchie Fares well in bulk relief outing
Sun, Jul 12, 2026, 5:39 PM
Ritchie allowed one run on one hit and two walks while striking out two over 4.1 innings in a no-decision versus St. Louis on Sunday.
Analysis: Ritchie had to come in earlier than expected after opener Danny Young allowed a run and left two men on base with two outs in the first inning. Ritchie got out of that jam and then turned in a strong performance of his own, only running into trouble in the fourth inning. Ritchie has allowed two runs over 8.2 innings across three appearances in July. He's now at a 4.38 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 44:30 K:BB through 49.1 innings over 11 games (seven starts) in the majors. Ritchie's role remains in flux -- he could return to the bullpen full-time or get demoted Triple-A Gwinnett if Martin Perez (forearm contusion) is ready to go after the All-Star break. |
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JR Ritchie JR Ritchie Pitching in bulk relief Sunday
Sun, Jul 12, 2026, 1:30 PM
Ritchie is slated to work in bulk relief behind opening pitcher Danny Young during Sunday's game in St. Louis, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Young is unlikely to work more than an inning or two before giving way to Ritchie, who has re-entered the Atlanta rotation following Hurston Waldrep's recent demotion to Triple-A Gwinnett. Ritchie's workload is still expected to be monitored carefully Sunday, as the young righty will be taking the hill on just two days' rest after covering 1.1 innings in a 35-pitch appearance out of the bullpen in Thursday's 10-5 win over the Pirates. |
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Danny Young Danny Young Handling opener role Sunday
Sun, Jul 12, 2026, 1:28 PM
Young will serve as Atlanta's opening pitcher for Sunday's game against the Cardinals, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: The left-hander will be making his first MLB start but is expected to cover just an inning or two before giving way to right-hander JR Ritchie, who is slated to pitch in bulk relief. Since being reinstated July 3 following a season-opening stint on the injured list, Young has struck out three while allowing one earned run on two hits and one walk across 3.1 innings over four relief appearances. |
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Mauricio Dubon Mauricio Dubon Provides lone run in loss
Sat, Jul 11, 2026, 9:23 PM
Dubon went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 4-1 loss to St. Louis.
Analysis: Dubon got Atlanta on the board with a seventh-inning homer, but that was the team's lone run of the game. This homer allowed Dubon to match his career high of 10 from the 2023 campaign with the Astros. He has continued to hit well in July, going 12-for-42 (.286) with two homers and eight RBI over 11 contests this month. For the season, the utility man is batting .269 with a .749 OPS over 90 games. |
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Reynaldo Lopez Reynaldo Lopez Falls behind early
Sat, Jul 11, 2026, 9:21 PM
Lopez (4-2) allowed four runs on five hits and a walk while striking out three over five innings to take the loss versus St. Louis on Saturday.
Analysis: Lopez fell behind early after giving up a three-run home run to Lars Nootbaar in the first inning. Atlanta's offense never mounted much of a threat, leaving Lopez to take his first loss since April 21, which was the start that sent him to the bullpen for two months. He's allowed seven runs over 18 innings with a 15:4 K:BB over four starts since rejoining the rotation. Overall, Lopez has a 3.50 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 54:25 K:BB across 61.2 innings through 22 appearances (nine starts) this season. |
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Goes to Atlanta
Sat, Jul 11, 2026, 5:38 PM
Atlanta selected Dennis with the No. 112 overall pick in the 2026 First-Year Player Draft.
Analysis: One of the more interesting pop-up prep pitching prospects from Florida, Dennis has a sturdy 6-foot-4, 224-pound frame. He doesn't turn 18 until August and already sits in the mid-90s with his fastball while showcasing a slider with plus potential. |
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Snagged by Atlanta
Sat, Jul 11, 2026, 5:11 PM
Atlanta selected Hirschkorn with the No. 84 pick in the 2026 First-Year Player Draft.
Analysis: The 6-foot-7 Hirschkorn throws casually in the mid-90s and has the frame to add even more velocity. He's primarily relied on a low-80s slider as his secondary pitch but also has an in-progress changeup. He seemed headed to be drafted in the first or second round, but Atlanta was able to nab him early in the third. |
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Lands with Atlanta in Round 2
Sat, Jul 11, 2026, 3:49 PM
Atlanta selected McCarthy with the No. 48 overall pick in the 2026 First-Year Player Draft.
Analysis: Atlanta stuck with their organizational MO by drafting a high school arm. McCarthy is a righty out of Vermont who reclassified for the 2026 draft in January as a 17-year-old. |
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Surprise pick by Atlanta
Sat, Jul 11, 2026, 2:48 PM
Atlanta selected Beck with the No. 26 overall pick in the 2026 First-Year Player Draft.
Analysis: Beck hails from Indiana State, but his underlying batted-ball data still got him selected in the top 30. This spring, the draft-eligible sophomore slashed .346/.446/.637 with 16 home runs, 12 steals and more walks (12.3 BB%) than strikeouts (11.6 K%) in 57 games. Beck is an above-average runner, which gives him a chance to stick in center, but he may end up moving to left field down the line. |
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Goes ninth overall
Sat, Jul 11, 2026, 1:24 PM
Atlanta selected Gracia with the ninth overall pick in the 2026 First-Year Player Draft.
Analysis: Gracia has an uncommon combination of approach, contact and power for a college hitter who was available at this point in the first round. A big reason for that is that he might end up in left field, as he's got a physical 6-foot-3, 195-pound frame but his arm isn't prototypical for right field. He primarily played center field for Virginia as a junior, and if his average speed or arm tick up, that would put less pressure on his bat. Still, the lefty-hitting Gracia walked more than he struck out each of the past two years and logged an ISO over .250 all three years of college (he spent his first two years at Duke). He also posted an .888 OPS with a wood bat in the Cape Cod League in 2024. This spring, he slashed .354/.489/.632 with 14 home runs, 15 doubles, a 17.3 percent walk rate and a 14 percent strikeout rate in 56 games for the Cavaliers. He probably won't steal many bases in pro ball -- he stole 17 in 176 college games -- but there's a high four-category fantasy ceiling with Gracia, who could be big-league ready in roughly a year. |
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James Karinchak James Karinchak Sent back to minors
Sat, Jul 11, 2026, 1:17 PM
Atlanta optioned Karinchak to Triple-A Gwinnett on Saturday.
Analysis: Karinchak made one appearance after being promoted to Atlanta on Tuesday, logging a walk and a strikeout in a scoreless inning Thursday against Pittsburgh. He'll now head down to make room in the bullpen for Owen Murphy, who was recalled from Gwinnett in a corresponding move. |
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Owen Murphy Owen Murphy Back in big leagues
Sat, Jul 11, 2026, 1:12 PM
Atlanta recalled Murphy from Triple-A Gwinnett on Saturday.
Analysis: Murphy was sent down to the minors earlier in the week after conceding two runs (one earned) in one inning against the Mets during his MLB debut Tuesday. The 22-year-old prospect will now get another chance to showcase his talents with the big club, replacing James Karinchak in Atlanta's bullpen. |
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Brewer Hicklen Brewer Hicklen Recalled from Gwinnett
Sat, Jul 11, 2026, 1:09 PM
Atlanta recalled Hicklen from Triple-A Gwinnett on Saturday.
Analysis: Since joining the 40-man roster in mid-June, Hicklen has slashed .259/.330/.506 with five homers, 20 RBI, 16 runs and four steals across 91 plate appearances. He'll now join the big club for the first time this season to replace the injured Mike Yastrzemski (elbow). Hicklen and Eli White will likely compete for starts in the outfield until Yastrzemski is healthy. |
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Mike Yastrzemski Mike Yastrzemski Lands on IL
Sat, Jul 11, 2026, 1:06 PM
Atlanta placed Yastrzemski on the 10-day injured list Saturday with left elbow inflammation.
Analysis: Yastrzemski has tallied a base hit in each of Atlanta's last five games, but the team will be without his services until at least July 21 due to an elbow issue. Eli White figures to be next in line for more reps in the outfield while Yastrzemski is out, though Brewer Hicklen, who was called up from Triple-A Gwinnett in a corresponding move, could also be in the mix. |
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Chris Sale Chris Sale Start shortened by rain
Sat, Jul 11, 2026, 2:11 AM
Sale didn't factor in the decision Friday against the Cardinals after striking out five and giving up two hits and a walk across three scoreless innings.
Analysis: The left-hander generated nine whiffs on just 43 pitches (30 strikes) through three frames, but a lengthy rain delay guaranteed an early departure from his final start before the All-Star break. The shortened showing ends a streak of 13 straight outings of at least five innings for Sale, who hasn't surrendered more than three runs in an appearance since April 6 in Anaheim. The 37-year-old closes out the first half of the season with a 2.20 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 117:25 K:BB across 98 innings. |
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JR Ritchie JR Ritchie Re-entering rotation Sunday
Fri, Jul 10, 2026, 10:38 AM
Ritchie will start Sunday's game in St. Louis, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: He's taking over the rotation spot vacated by Hurston Waldrep, who was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett. Ritchie has made seven starts and three relief outings with the big club this season, turning in a 4.60 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 42:28 K:BB over 45 innings. It's been nearly two weeks since Ritchie had a normal starter's workload and he just threw 35 pitches in relief Thursday, so his pitch count figures to be limited Sunday. |
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