Braves Lose Three Starters, Still Lead NL East Sport By lines July 20, 2026 Spencer Strider will not pitch for the Atlanta Braves again this year. Manager Walt Weiss all but ruled out Strider and Spencer Schwellenbach for the rest of 2026. Atlanta still leads the NL East despite the losses. Three Starters Down, One Division Lead Standing Strider left his June 12 start against the New York Mets with elbow inflammation. Schwellenbach later had surgery for a bone spur in his right elbow. Weiss called both returns unlikely before this season ends. Joey Wentz already lost his year to a torn right ACL in March. Wentz was hurt during a Grapefruit League game on March 8. Atlanta carries a 56-40 record, the best mark in the NL East. Strider has not pitched since that June 12 outing against New York. Wentz has been out since March 8, when he tore his right ACL. Schwellenbach’s elbow surgery followed a productive opening half of starts this season. The three right-handers combined for well over 200 innings before their injuries. Strider returned in 2026 after Tommy John surgery cost him most of 2024. This elbow setback marks a second straight year cut short for him. Schwellenbach’s surgery adds a fresh question for a young Atlanta arm. Wentz will not pitch again until the 2027 season opens next spring. Atlanta has now lost three rotation arms to season-ending issues in one year. Atlanta still needs innings to hold off the rest of the NL East. The bullpen and remaining rotation arms must absorb a heavier workload. Every missed Strider or Schwellenbach start raises pressure before the deadline. The MLB trade deadline lands July 31 this year. Atlanta’s front office now faces real pressure to add two starters. A single trade will not replace 200 lost innings on its own. Weiss left the door open a crack for a late-season return. Atlanta has 66 games left before the regular season closes out. The Braves will lean on their farm system and any deadline addition. Every rotation update from here shapes the club’s path toward October. A division lead built through 96 games now faces its toughest stretch yet. Atlanta’s next 10 games will offer an early read on the new rotation math. The New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies both sit within range in the NL East. Atlanta’s lead was built on offense carrying a shorthanded rotation for two months. Two of the club’s top four projected starters are now gone for 2026. The next 66 games will decide whether that formula holds up down the stretch. Related Sports Coverage Strider Hits IL With Elbow Inflammation, Braves ReelStrider Set to Make 2026 Braves Debut This WeekendAcuna Leaves Braves Game With Hamstring Tightness Forbes and MLB.com both reported Weiss called Strider and Schwellenbach’s returns unlikely this season. FanGraphs and CBS Sports confirmed Wentz is done for the year after March ACL surgery.
