The Atlanta Braves are back in the lab again — cooking up a fresh batch of roster moves as they try to keep the wheels spinning through the back half of the season. And if today’s shuffle ahead of the Mets finale tells us anything, it’s this: Atlanta is laser-focused on long-term firepower and short-term flexibility.
Fedde Out, Sale Inching Closer
Let’s start with the headline: Erick Fedde is out. Released and gone. The Braves took a flyer on him when they were gasping for innings and, to be fair, it wasn’t a crazy gamble. They grabbed him off the scrap heap from the Cardinals, hoping he could eat some innings and patch a few leaks. But just under a month later, the experiment is over.
And here’s the kicker — both starting pitchers they grabbed at the deadline? Now off the 40-man roster. Carlos Carrasco? DFA’d, then back in Gwinnett on a minor league deal. Now Fedde joins the casualty list.
But don’t let the turnover fool you — this is all part of the plan. Because while the Braves were duct-taping their way through a rough stretch, guys like Hurston Waldrep started flashing ace potential, and Cal Quantrill stepped up to give the rotation some backbone.
Add to that the looming return of Chris Sale, and suddenly Fedde was yesterday’s news. Word is, Sale’s rehab starts went well, and he could be activated during the Phillies series. The Braves still need to shuffle the active roster to make room, but Fedde’s release opens the 40-man spot they needed. This move wasn’t just a cut — it was a chess move.
Aaron Bummer Heads to IL
Meanwhile, the bullpen takes a hit as Aaron Bummer lands on the 15-day injured list with left shoulder inflammation. It’s his first time on the IL this season, though he did miss a short stint earlier for bereavement leave.
The timing stings — Bummer has been trending in the right direction, posting a 2.25 ERA over his last seven outings and bringing some late-inning stability to the pen. Now, the Braves will have to shuffle the deck again.
Stratton and Suero Step In
To fill the gaps, the Braves call up Hunter Stratton and Wander Suero from Triple-A Gwinnett. Both have seen the big-league mound this season, and both bring different things to the table.
Stratton has been a quiet contributor — six scoreless innings across three appearances since joining from the Pirates. Long relief, short leash, but dependable.
Suero, on the other hand, has some baggage. His 10.80 ERA in three big-league appearances this year doesn’t inspire confidence, but don’t sleep on the Triple-A numbers: 1.39 ERA across 42 appearances. That’s not a fluke — that’s consistency. The Braves are betting that maybe, just maybe, he’s figured something out.
October Prep Starts Now If They Can Make It
So what’s the big picture? The Braves aren’t waiting for October to start making postseason moves — they’re doing it now. Tweaking, adjusting, cutting bait where necessary, and making room for the heavy hitters to return.
The rotation’s getting healthier, the bullpen’s being fine-tuned, and the front office is clearing out anything that doesn’t fit into their vision for the stretch run.
Bottom line? This is not panic. This is preparation. The Braves are positioning themselves for the battles ahead — and if Chris Sale is anywhere near vintage form? Watch out.
