The Atlanta Braves' blowout win over the Angels was hard to appreciate with the news that set the stage for the game. Spencer Schwellenbach is dealing with a fracture in his right elbow that will put the starter on the shelf for the next months of the season. A reasonable timetable for return would be September at the earliest. It is impossible to believe that this poor string of injury luck that dates back to last season could continue. Already this season, the Braves have lost Reynaldo Lopez, AJ Smith-Shawver, and Chris Sale. This is to say nothing of the time Spencer Strider missed to start the season and sustained another injury after one start.
Add in the losses of 2024 mainstays Charlie Morton and Max Fried, and Atlanta's starting pitching depth is beyond exhausted. It simply is impossible to believe things can get any worse when it comes to injuries to the starting rotation. Making matters worse is the fact that Schwellenbach is in the midst of a breakout campaign, establishing himself as one of the league's most exciting young arms. Now, the right-hander is going to miss the majority, if not all, of the remaining 2025 season. Even when the fracture heals, the starter is going to need time to ramp back up.
The Braves Lose Spencer Schwellenbach Ahead of Blowout Win
At that point in the season, it is very possible the Braves opt to shut the starter down in an effort to conserve pitches for the 2026 season. Unless the team finds a way to magically turn things around, it is going to be difficult to ask Schwellenbach to return this season. With that in mind, it is on Spencer Strider and Grant Holmes to do the heavy lifting moving forward.
After these two starters, the Braves have no idea who they can rely on or what options to turn to. This is made obvious by the fact that an underprepared twenty-year-old rookie is in the current rotation. Add in Bryce Elder, and it is a guessing game what the Braves are going to get from their starter any given night.
It doesn't help matters that the bullpen has been unreliable with Brian Snitker attempting to piece innings together. All of this adds up to another death blow to a shockingly frustrating 2025 season. Even on the heels of an impressive win, it is hard to feel anything but frustration at the continued injuries and lack of awareness from Atlanta's front office.