Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Fans seven in no-decision
Rotowire
Smith-Shawver came away with a no-decision in Saturday's 3-2 extra-innings win over the Pirates, allowing one run on five hits and two walks over 5.2 innings. He struck out seven.
The 22-year-old righty fell one out short of his second straight quality start, getting the hook after 97 pitches (59 strikes) with Atlanta nursing a 2-1 lead, but the bullpen wasn't able to get him his third straight win. Smith-Shawver has been outstanding since rejoining the big-league rotation in late April, posting a 1.42 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 17:7 K:BB over 19 innings, but it's not yet clear what the team intends to do with him once Spencer Strider (hamstring) is ready to return. Smith-Shawver lines up to get at least one more turn in a home start against the Nationals next week.
Elder (2-2) took the loss against the Pirates on Friday, allowing three runs on five hits while striking out eight across six innings. He did not issue a walk.
Elder faced the minimum number of batters in four of the first five innings, though he was tagged for a solo home run by Alexander Canario in the third. Elder yielded two more runs in the sixth frame, but he was able to complete the inning to earn his third quality start in his last four outings. He'll take a 4.97 ERA and 1.29 WHIP into his next start, tentatively slated for next week at home against the Nationals.
Verdugo is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Pirates.
Verdugo started the previous seven games, including two against left-handed starters, but he'll sit Friday while in the midst of an 0-for-14 slump. Eli White will shift to left field while Stuart Fairchild starts in right versus Pittsburgh southpaw Bailey Falter.
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Braves' Spencer Strider: Another bullpen session Saturday
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Strider (hamstring) will throw another bullpen session Saturday before Atlanta decides whether he will need a rehab start before rejoining the big-league rotation, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Strider was given a PRP injection after suffering a right hamstring strain April 21 and threw his first bullpen since the injury Wednesday, which went well. The right-hander indicated that he feels ready to rejoin Atlanta's rotation, but the ultimate decision lies with the club. Strider could return next week if Atlanta decides a rehab start isn't necessary, but if that happens he would likely have a limited workload.
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Braves' Eddie Rosario: DFA'd by Atlanta
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Atlanta designated Rosario for assignment Friday.
The veteran outfielder inked a one-year deal with Atlanta in late April and played just three games over the past couple weeks, going 1-for-4 with two strikeouts. Rosario will be jettisoned from the 40-man roster in favor of Luke Williams, who had his contract selected Friday.
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Braves' Luke Williams: Added to roster
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Atlanta selected Williams' contract from Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday.
Williams was removed from the 40-man roster during spring training but has made his way back to the majors in spite of a .132/.205/.145 slash line this season at Gwinnett. The 28-year-old will offer defensive versatility off the bench.
White went 1-for-3 with a walk, a run scored, an RBI and a stolen base in Thursday's extra-innings win over the Reds.
The 30-year-old extended his current hit streak to six games with a bunt single in the fifth inning. Since moving into a regular starting role in late April, White is slashing an improbable .327/.352/.615 with nine extra-base hits (five doubles, two triples and two homers), two steals, nine RBI and 11 runs in 14 contests -- stunning production from a player that came into 2025 with a career .568 OPS and 31.7 percent strikeout rate in 448 big-league plate appearances since he made his debut with the Rangers in 2020.
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Braves' Hurston Waldrep: Fans 10 at Gwinnett
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Waldrep struck out 10 batters for Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday, allowing two runs on two hits and two walks over 5.1 innings.
The 23-year-old right-hander put together his longest, and best, outing of the season, tossing 95 pitches (56 strikes) as he fanned double-digit batters for the third time in his minor-league career. Waldrep is still searching for some consistency, and through seven starts for Gwinnett in 2025 he's stumbled to a 6.35 ERA, 1.85 WHIP and 31:20 K:BB in 28.1 innings. The 2023 first-round pick will need to string together a few more strong performances like this before he'll be an option to bolster Atlanta's rotation.
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Braves' Michael Harris: Tallies 10th career triple in win
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Harris went 3-for-5 with a triple and two RBI in Thursday's extra-inning win over the Reds.
The speedy center fielder raced around the bases Thursday for his first triple of the campaign and the 10th of his career. Harris has lost steady action as Atlanta's leadoff hitter to Alex Verdugo while Ronald Acuna (knee) continues to work his way back from the injured list, but Harris has remained productive in recent weeks. Over his last 19 outings, the 24-year-old is batting .273 (21-for-77) with one home run, five doubles, 16 RBI, six runs scored and five stolen bases.
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Braves' Spencer Schwellenbach: Bounces back in no-decision
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Schwellenbach didn't factor into the decision Thursday against the Reds after allowing one run on five hits and two walks in six innings. He struck out six.
It was a strong bounce-back performance from Schwellenbach, who had given up 17 earned runs over his previous four starts after allowing just one through his first three outings in 2025. The right-hander's five hits allowed were his fewest since April 4, and his six punchouts also matched his most over his last six appearances. Schwellenbach will carry a quality 3.61 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 43:9 K:BB over 47.1 innings into his next scheduled start, currently projected for next week versus the Nationals.
Baldwin went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in Wednesday's loss to the Reds.
He took Brent Suter deep in the fifth inning to get Atlanta on the board. Baldwin has been starting every third contest since Sean Murphy settled back into the top spot on the depth chart in mid-April, and over his last 12 games, the rookie backstop is batting an impressive .379 (11-for-29) with all three of his homers on the season. Murphy is slashing just .204/.295/.407 with a 32.8 percent strikeout rate in 61 plate appearances during that same period, so Baldwin could begin to push his way into a more even timeshare behind the plate.
Riley went 1-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base in Wednesday's loss to the Reds.
Wednesday marked the first stolen base of the campaign and the sixth career steal for the All-Star third baseman. Riley also extended his hitting streak to six games and his on-base streak to 10. Since April 27, Riley is hitting a strong .286 (12-for-42) with two home runs, two doubles, seven RBI and four runs scored.
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