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Braves will be without $71M All-Star veteran in Wild Card series, raising rotation red flags
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- Braves will be without $71M All-Star veteran in Wild Card series, raising rotation red flags
Braves will be without $71M All-Star veteran in Wild Card series, raising rotation red flags originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
The Atlanta Braves won the NL East over the Philadelphia Phillies last weekend, claiming the division title for the first time in three years. It has been a rollercoaster ride for Atlanta, as the Braves failed to finish the 2025 season with a winning record.
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Still, the Braves enter the postseason with some serious questions surrounding their starting rotation. The biggest question is who will be the Game 3 starter if a third game is needed in the Wild Card Series.
"Who will be the Braves No. 3 starter in the first round of the playoffs? Well, if they go with Chris Sale and then Tyler Mahle in the first two games, they'll likely choose between Martin Perez & Grant Holmes ," Atlanta sports reporter Bill Shanks wrote.
The answer to that question became clearer Thursday afternoon when it was announced that Martin Perez was heading to the injured list.
"The Braves' rotation depth was dealt another blow on Thursday, when it was learned that Martín Pérez will likely not be available during the first two rounds of the postseason. The Braves placed Pérez on the 15-day injured list with lower back inflammation," MLB.com's Mark Bowman wrote.
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With this move, Atlanta loses a starting pitcher for at least the Wild Card Series. Perez isn't eligible to return to the playoffs until next weekend.
"Assuming Martin Perez's IL move is backdated to Monday, he wouldn't be eligible to return until Oct. 6 (NLDS Game 3). Weiss said he doesn't know if Elder will be available by the start of the IL. That's probably optimistic to think he could return before the NLCS," Bowman posted.
This is not the news Atlanta wanted, as Perez was expected to be a key piece of the rotation this October. He has been lights out when the Braves have needed him the most this season.
The All-Star has made $71 million throughout his career , and Atlanta hopes to have him back as soon as he is eligible. If not, the NLDS could become much more challenging for the Braves to navigate. As of now, it is simply a waiting game for Atlanta.
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