The Atlanta Braves have placed right-hander AJ Smith-Shawver on the 15-day injured list after he suffered a right elbow strain during Thursday’s doubleheader against the Philadelphia Phillies. The move adds to Atlanta’s mounting injury concerns within their pitching staff. In a corresponding move, the team recalled right-hander Michael Petersen from Triple-A Gwinnett to fill the roster spot.
Smith-Shawver was injured in Game 1 of the doubleheader in Philadelphia. After being hit in the leg by a 96.6 mph line drive off Bryson Stott’s bat, he stayed in the game but began to show visible discomfort while pitching. After throwing to Trea Turner, he grimaced and motioned to the dugout, prompting manager Brian Snitker and athletic trainer Jeff Steveson to check on him. Following a brief conversation, he exited the game and headed to the clubhouse.
The Braves confirmed the injury and roster change on their official X account, stating:
“The #Braves today placed RHP AJ Smith-Shawver on the 15-day injured list with a strained right elbow and recalled RHP Michael Petersen to Atlanta.”
In response to AJ Smith-Shawver’s injury, the Braves have recalled right-hander Michael Petersen to provide bullpen reinforcement for the second game of Thursday’s doubleheader in Philadelphia. The 31-year-old has quietly made a strong impression since signing with Atlanta in early April, posting a 2.45 ERA and 1.62 WHIP over 14.2 innings at Triple-A Gwinnett. With the Braves’ pitching depth already under strain, a solid showing from Petersen could earn him a more extended stay with the big-league club.
Smith-Shawver’s injury is a major blow for Atlanta, which has struggled with rotation stability all season—most notably due to Spencer Strider’s limited availability. The 22-year-old Smith-Shawver had been one of the team’s more promising arms, logging a 3.86 ERA with 42 strikeouts over 44 1/3 innings across nine starts. However, command remained a concern, with 21 walks and 19 earned runs allowed.
Should further evaluation reveal a more severe injury, Smith-Shawver could be facing an extended absence, with Tommy John surgery a possibility. Such a scenario would likely rule him out for the rest of 2025 and potentially into 2026.
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