The Atlanta Braves won’t have right-handed starter Spencer Schwellenbach for at least the next four weeks because of a fractured elbow.
This season has been particularly challenging for fantasy managers with players on the Atlanta Braves roster.
The latest setback for the Braves came on Wednesday when the team announced that right-handed starter Spencer Schwellenbach has been placed on the injured list due to a fractured right elbow.
This news was unexpected, especially since Schwellenbach had just delivered one of his best performances against the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday, pitching seven innings and allowing only one run on three hits with 12 strikeouts and a single walk.
That marked his 10th consecutive start pitching at least six innings.
However, according to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman, Schwellenbach reported feeling soreness on Sunday. Subsequent examinations revealed a small fracture.
On Wednesday, Schwellenbach disclosed to the media that he has a “coronoid fracture,” typically associated with elbow instability or a dislocation.
Given the circumstances, it’s likely that Schwellenbach will be sidelined for the next two months, though Bowman mentioned he aims to return in September.
With that timeline in mind, fantasy managers should plan on Schwellenbach not contributing significantly this season, especially considering the Braves’ current trajectory—they could be out of playoff contention by September.
As of July 2, the Braves are eight games under .500. They remain in the hunt for a National League playoff spot thanks to their strong rotation, which ranks 13th in MLB for starting pitcher ERA and has shown improvement after a shaky start.
Despite this, Schwellenbach is now the fourth Braves starter to go on the injured list, joining the notable absence of 2024 NL Cy Young winner Chris Sale, who is out with a ribcage injury and was transferred to the 60-day IL on Tuesday. Sale might return in late August.
In the meantime, the Braves’ rotation is likely to include 20-year-old Didier Fuentes, who has struggled with a 0-2 record and a 10.80 ERA in his two MLB appearances. His last outing saw him allow six earned runs on eight hits over just 3.1 innings against the New York Mets.
Fuentes holds promise for the future, making him a worthwhile roster option in dynasty leagues. However, in re-draft leagues, it’s tough to justify keeping him.
The same applies to whoever the Braves bring in to replace Schwellenbach unless a veteran pitcher is acquired in a significant trade.
This situation is compounded by Atlanta’s struggling offense, which has seen three shutout losses in the past five days. On Tuesday night, Grant Holmes pitched impressively but received a no-decision in a 4-0 loss.
Schwellenbach leaves with a record of 7-4, a 0.967 WHIP, and 108 strikeouts over 110.2 innings this season. He leads the NL with a 6.00 K/BB ratio and a 1.5 BB/9 rate.
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