What happened to the Atlanta Braves on Thursday in Philadelphia was a tough one to watch. A tight, winnable game slipped away in the opener of a doubleheader. But even worse was the sight of AJ Smith-Shawver walking off the mound clutching his elbow. The injury bug didn’t just bite this time—it sunk its teeth in and twisted.
A Pop in the Elbow: Trouble Hits the Braves Bright Spot
Early in the third inning, Smith-Shawver took a line drive off his foot—already a red flag. But just moments later, his outing came to a halt due to tightness in his throwing arm.
Then came the bombshell from Braves manager Brian Snitker.
“AJ Smith-Shawver felt a pop in his elbow.”
Pop. That word never rings hollow in baseball. For pitchers, it’s practically a four-letter word. Smith-Shawver was immediately placed on the injured list and sent back to Atlanta ahead of the team for evaluation.
While there’s still no official diagnosis, the early signs point to a potential long-term absence. If the worst fears are confirmed—a torn UCL or another serious elbow injury—he could be sidelined for a full year, knocking him out through the early part of 2026.
A Devastating Blow to an Already Struggling Season
This one hurts. Smith-Shawver wasn’t just another arm in the rotation—he was one of the few silver linings through a disjointed and underwhelming first two months of Braves baseball.
Coming into the day, he sported a respectable 3-2 record with a 3.67 ERA, a 1.416 WHIP, and 41 strikeouts in just under 42 innings. In a rotation that has seen its fair share of shakiness, he was stability.
The timing? Brutal. The Braves have now dropped six of their last seven games and sit two games under .500 at 25-29. The Phillies, meanwhile, keep rolling. It’s a cruel juxtaposition.
Michael Petersen Up, Bryce Elder Likely Next
The Braves didn’t wait to make a move. Right-hander Michael Petersen was already in Philadelphia and was officially activated to fill Smith-Shawver’s roster spot. But that’s just triage.
When Smith-Shawver’s turn comes back around, the Braves are expected to promote Bryce Elder. The righty is 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA this season and brings a little experience and steadiness, but he’s not the upside play that Smith-Shawver was giving them.
It’s another puzzle piece Snitker and his staff now need to reposition—one more bandage on a bruised rotation.
A Sliver of Hope—But a Heavy Cloud
Right now, everything hinges on what the doctors find in Atlanta. Maybe, maybe, it’s a scare and not a season-ender. But the initial signs are not good. And given that Smith-Shawver already battled some injury issues in his development track, this setback couldn’t come at a worse time.
Whether the foot injury had anything to do with the elbow trouble remains to be seen. But the timing sure looks suspicious. One thing’s for certain: the Braves’ margin for error just got thinner.
Can the Braves Stop the Bleeding?
With a pivotal stretch of games on the horizon and their rotation once again in flux, the Braves desperately need someone to step up. They still have the offensive firepower and have talent in the pen. But the rotation is now running on fumes.
Let’s see what this team has left in the tank. If the first two months weren’t rocky enough, they’ve now lost one of their few consistent arms—possibly for a very long time.
