Even without Spencer Strider, this Braves rotation might be the best of my lifetime.
Headlined by All-Stars Max Fried, Chris Sale, and Reynaldo Lopez, the Braves’ rotation boasts a formidable 1-2-3 punch. They are complemented by other promising arms, including veteran Charlie Morton, who might be replaced by rookie Spencer Schwellenbach if he continues to improve. Additionally, Ian Anderson and AJ Smith-Shawver are recovering from injuries, and Huascar Ynoa is also on the mend.
Ynoa, a former standout for the Braves, began a rehab assignment with their Florida Complex League affiliate on Tuesday. He once seemed destined to be a cornerstone of Atlanta’s rotation, pitching at an All-Star level before a broken hand from an outburst derailed his progress. He struggled to regain form in 2021 and 2022, leading to a demotion and eventually undergoing Tommy John surgery. He returned in April but had mixed results: a strong first outing of 4 scoreless innings, a rough second start, and a solid third outing before being shut down with right elbow stress.
As Ynoa makes his return, Braves fans should temper their expectations, as his velocity has been down since his comeback.
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