One of the most exciting stories over the last couple of weeks for the Atlanta Braves has been the return of AJ Smith-Shawver. The pitcher is months removed from Tommy-John surgery and has carved out an impressive return, making his Atlanta 2026 starting debut this past week, completing 4.1 innings and giving up only two earned runs in what was an impressive start. In the early innings, there was a level of surprise dominance before it appeared that rust and a lack of being used to pitching deep into ballgames.
With that said, there are two months in the regular season left and plenty of time for Smith-Shawver to get back up to speed. There is no shortage of rotation spots currently in question as the Braves can only rely on Chris Sale to get them deep into a ballgame without turning to the bullpen. Smith-Shawver has a chance to change this and perhaps play his way into becoming a viable postseason option.
While this could be looked at as a bit of an early take, it is important to remember how strong Smith-Shawver was coming on last season prior to his injury. The young starter was showing signs of being a top of the rotation option, and there is no reason to believe he cannot reutrn to this level of production based on what fans watched in his first start of the season.
AJ Smith-Shawver Could Quickly Play His Way Into Potential Braves Postseason Role
If the postseason were to start today, it is hard to envision exactly how the rotation might shake out after Sale. The veteran southpaw is unquestionably opening a postseason series with your starters, after this remaining a complete mystery. This explains just how wide open the door is for the talented starter and why the Braves will have a close eye on him moving forward.
Looking at the rest of the rotation, you have Martin Perez, Bryce Elder, Grant Holmes, and Reynaldo Lopez. None of these four can be confidently put on the mound in a postseason situation with the belief that they are capable of overwhelming a lineup in the early innings. Smith-Shawver gives you this chance based on his ability.
Braves fans should be keeping a close eye not only on Smith-Shawver, but the rest of the team's rotation, understanding that the next two months are in many ways a tryout to decide who the Braves believe they can trust when the season matters most.
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