Atlanta Braves Roster
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Atlanta Braves pitching prospect Hurston Waldrep threw eight innings in a 2-1 victory for Double-A Mississippi on Wednesday. The righty allowed six hits and one run but did not walk a batter while striking out a season-high eight. The 22-year-old was selected in the first round of the 2023 Draft and is currently listed as the Braves second-ranked prospect per MLB.com (No. 75 in MLB). Waldrep is 2-3 with a 3.32 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, and a 14:33 BB:K in 38 IP so far in 2024. Look for Waldrep to make it to Triple-A at some point this season, and depending on the health of the Braves rotation, it's within the realm of possibility to see him make a couple starts in Atlanta by season's end.
Atlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy (oblique) is scheduled to begin a minor-league rehab assignment next week, which could start as early as Monday. This is a very encouraging development for the Braves, who lost Murphy to a strained left oblique all the way back on Opening Day. The 29-year-old All-Star backstop has remained sidelined with the injury far longer than it was originally anticipated, but he's back on course to get back behind the dish for Atlanta sometime in late May if all goes well. Fantasy managers who have been streaming Travis d'Arnaud probably should start making other arrangements, but with the veteran slashing a strong .260/.342/.510 with five home runs, 10 doubles, and 16 RBI over 100 at-bats this year, he remains a hold in two-catcher leagues until Murphy returns.
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Reynaldo Lopez (back) is listed as the probable starter for Sunday's matchup against the visiting San Diego Padres. After exiting Monday's appearance against the Chicago Cubs following 71 pitches due to back tightness, Lopez is good to go for his next scheduled start and won't need to miss any time. The hard-throwing 30-year-old right-hander has been a pleasant surprise out of Atlanta's rotation over seven starts in 2024, compiling a 1.34 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 40:16 K:BB in 40 1/3 innings thus far during his first season with the Braves. With that said, Lopez owns a 3.72 xERA on Baseball Savant and could be in for some regression at some point. The Padres entered Wednesday's action ranking fifth in the major leagues in both average (.255) and runs scored (211) covering 45 games.
Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley (side) remains out of action on Wednesday for the series finale against the visiting Chicago Cubs. Zack Short will continue to start at the hot corner for Atlanta and will bat ninth against Cubs right-hander Javier Assad. This will be the third straight game that Riley has missed after leaving Sunday's loss to the New York Mets with left-side inflammation. It's a day-to-day situation for the 27-year-old from now, and he could be back in the team's starting lineup on Friday for the series opener against the visiting San Diego Padres with a scheduled off day coming on Friday. Short is a light-hitting infielder that should be avoided in fantasy formats, especially hitting at the bottom of the order. The 28-year-old has gone 3-for-22 (.136) this year with no homers, one RBI and one stolen base.
Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. is sitting out on Wednesday against the Chicago Cubs for the first time this season. With Acuna retreating to the bench, Adam Duvall will start in right field and bat six and center fielder Michael Harris II will bat leadoff for Atlanta against Cubs right-hander Javier Assad. With a scheduled off day coming on Thursday, Acuna will be back in the lineup on Friday for the start of a series against the visiting San Diego Padres. The reigning National League MVP has been a bit disappointing by his standards through 155 at-bats in 2024, slashing .245/.354/.342 with only three home runs and 11 RBI, but he's also added 14 stolen bases and 33 runs scored and remains a must-start in all formats when he's active. Harris becomes a much more attractive DFS play at the top of the Braves' lineup on Wednesday.