Ahead of today’s matchup with the Rays, the Braves revealed they had optioned right-hander AJ Smith-Shawver to the minors. In the immediate term, the move allowed righty Michael Petersen to be added to the roster. More significantly, though, it signals a shift in the Braves’ starting rotation. As reported by several sources, including David O’Brien of The Athletic, Smith-Shawver’s exit from the active roster paves the way for ace Spencer Strider’s long-awaited return to the mound on April 16, when the Braves face the Blue Jays in Toronto.
The 26-year-old Strider hasn’t thrown a major league pitch in over a year, having undergone internal brace surgery to repair his UCL early last season. Despite having only two full seasons in the majors under his belt—2022 and 2023—Strider has compiled a stellar 3.36 ERA, 2.43 FIP, and a dominant 37.4% strikeout rate. His impressive performance earned him second place in the NL Rookie of the Year race, an All-Star nod, and a fourth-place Cy Young finish. Now healthy, Strider returns to anchor Atlanta’s rotation at a critical time, as the team has stumbled to a 4-11 start. Contributing to those struggles are the loss of Reynaldo Lopez to season-ending shoulder surgery and a rocky beginning from Chris Sale, who has a 6.63 ERA in his first four starts.
Smith-Shawver’s early-season time in the rotation comes to an end with Strider’s return. The young righty was decent in three outings, putting up a 4.61 ERA—slightly below league average—and a 4.16 FIP. His 26.2% strikeout rate was promising, but a concerning 12.3% walk rate played a role in the team choosing to keep Bryce Elder in the rotation, despite his rough 7.20 ERA in two starts versus the Dodgers and Rays. For now, Elder joins Grant Holmes in the back end of the rotation, with Smith-Shawver, Hurston Waldrep, and Dylan Dodd waiting in Triple-A as backup options if needed.
Strider may not be the only key addition coming up from Triple-A. According to O’Brien, “all signs are pointing to” the upcoming promotion of outfielder Alex Verdugo. Verdugo, who signed a $1.5 million deal three weeks ago, has been in the minors getting into game shape after missing most of Spring Training. Originally expected to remain in Triple-A through April, plans shifted when Jurickson Profar received an 80-game suspension for a PED violation. That has forced Atlanta to rely on Jarred Kelenic, Stuart Fairchild, and Bryan De La Cruz in the corners while Ronald Acuna Jr. recovers from last May’s ACL tear.
Verdugo would bring needed stability to the Braves’ outfield, offering a reliable veteran presence to replace Profar during his absence. Though he struggled with an 83 wRC+ during his stint with the Yankees last year, he had been a solid league-average hitter with the Red Sox, slashing .281/.328/.444 (105 wRC+) over four seasons in Boston. It remains uncertain whether Verdugo will meet the team in Toronto for the Blue Jays series or if he’ll debut during next weekend’s series against the Twins, but O’Brien suggests his return to the majors is right around the corner.
