Looking at the Atlanta Braves rotation it is impossible to recognize the unit for what it once was. A piece of this is due to the ill-timed decisions of letting both Charlie Morton and Max Fried walk away.
The larger piece of the puzzle is the fact that Spencer Schwellenbach, Chris Sale, Reynaldo Lopez, and AJ Smith-Shawver are all on the shelf for the foreseeable future. This presented rookie starter Didier Fuentes with an unexpected opportunity to earn a place in Altlanta's rotation.
It didn't take long to see that the rookie wasn't ready for the elevation. Despite the exciting minor league results, Fuentes was overmatched and the moments continued to look far too big for the starter. However, due to a complete lack of remaining options, the Braves have continued to give the rookie chances.
The Braves Will Soon Demote Didier Fuentes
Even with the team's healthy level of desperation to find starting pitching you cannot continue to put Fuentes on the mound every fifth day. It has too much risk to end the exciting career progression due to a team's list of injuries. Once Ian Anderson is healthy the team would be better served to put the veteran on the mound no matter the results.
Another path the team could take is looking to sign or trade for a veteran starter who is only joining the team to eat innings. It isn't as if the Braves have any hopes of valid contention after the latest slide. Everything is now built around focusing on the 2026 season and how to best set the stage for this moment. This includes sending down a struggling rookie who simply hasn't given any reason to believe he is making progress or ready for the moment.
Fuentes could still be a top of the rotation arm in the future but remains far off from stepping into a starting role. With this in mind, Atlanta needs to move on from the failing starter as soon as possible in favor of a lesser option. One who can eat innings, understanding the role isn't about the results. This is where the Braves' season has reached as they continue to find new ways to reach rock bottom.