The Atlanta Braves tried something different Saturday, and the results were less than inspiring.
In what manager Brian Snitker admitted was more out of necessity than choice, the Braves rolled out a bullpen game against the Baltimore Orioles. Seven pitchers later—following a rough five innings from Aaron Bummer and Dylan Dodd, who gave up a combined five runs—the Braves left Camden Yards with a 9-6 loss, a taxed bullpen, and a clearer picture of just how thin their rotation has become.
Brian Snitker Comments on Bullpen Games
Snitker didn’t mince words afterward. When asked whether he’d consider another bullpen game next week in place of a traditional starter, he didn’t rule it out—but he didn’t sound thrilled.
“Realistically, taxed everybody today. I don’t see it happening,” Snitker said. “I don’t know if we can survive doing bullpen games, honestly.”
The strategy, often used as a short-term patch for teams with a deep relief corps, only works when you’ve got innings to spare. Right now, the Braves don’t. The absence of Spencer Schwellenbach has already created a ripple effect. With the rotation out of rhythm and the bullpen overstretched, Atlanta is now forced to look at other options—fast.
Braves Call-Up Coming?
With Grant Holmes slated to pitch Sunday, the Braves are hoping he can eat innings and reset the bullpen. But heading into the back half of the week, someone will need to step into Schwellenbach’s rotation spot, and the most likely candidate is Hurston Waldrep.
Waldrep, the club’s No. 2 prospect, pitched Saturday for Triple-A Gwinnett, keeping him perfectly lined up with that open rotation day. He’s been following the same cadence as Schwellenbach, and on paper, this feels like the time.
But the numbers don’t lie—Waldrep has struggled. He carried a 5.64 ERA into Saturday’s start, with an even worse 6.26 ERA for the month of June. Atlanta passed on calling him up this weekend because, frankly, they weren’t confident he’d give them more than what Bummer and Dodd already did, which, again, was a shaky five innings.
Why Every Inning Matters
The Braves’ current pitching crisis isn’t just about injuries or short-term fixes. It’s about innings—and the value of guys who can simply take the ball every fifth day. Even before he went on the IL, Schwellenbach said the most important thing he could do was eat innings. That mindset is being felt across the roster now.
It’s also why Didier Fuentes and even Bryce Elder continue to get opportunities despite inconsistent results. Right now, the Braves don’t have the luxury of chasing perfection—they need pitchers who can give them five or six innings without setting the bullpen on fire.
Because if one rotation spot is a problem, Snitker knows what two or three would look like. And the Braves aren’t built for an extended stretch of “bullpen by committee” without burning through arms.
Big Decisions Ahead For the Braves
With the trade deadline a few weeks away and the Braves still lurking just outside the Wild Card position, this next rotation decision could prove pivotal. Do they give Waldrep the call despite his struggles? Do they go outside the organization for help? Or do they risk another bullpen game and gamble with an already overused relief corps?
Either way, the message is clear: bullpen days aren’t a sustainable path forward. The Braves need innings, and they need them now.
