Before today’s game against the Rays, the Braves announced that they’ve optioned right-hander AJ Smith-Shawver to the minors. This move opens up a spot for fellow righty Michael Petersen in the short term. However, the bigger story is what Smith-Shawver’s demotion signals for the starting rotation.

As several reporters, including David O’Brien of The Athletic, have pointed out, this paves the way for Spencer Strider’s highly-anticipated return to the rotation on April 16 against the Blue Jays in Toronto.

Strider, 26, hasn’t pitched in over a year due to internal brace surgery to repair his UCL early last season. Despite his limited time in the majors, he’s already made a big impact—compiling a 3.36 ERA, 2.43 FIP, and an impressive 37.4% strikeout rate over the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

His dominance earned him a second-place finish in NL Rookie of the Year voting, a spot in the All-Star Game, and a fourth-place finish in the NL Cy Young race. Now healthy, Strider is expected to reclaim his spot atop Atlanta’s rotation—much-needed reinforcements for a team off to a rough 4-11 start.

Spencer Strider

Atlanta’s early-season struggles have stemmed largely from a shaky rotation. Reynaldo Lopez is out for most of the year following shoulder surgery, and reigning NL Cy Young winner Chris Sale has struggled mightily, with a 6.63 ERA over four starts.

Smith-Shawver, who filled in during Strider’s absence, was decent in his three starts, posting a 4.61 ERA and a 4.16 FIP. He struck out 26.2% of batters but also walked 12.3%, which likely influenced the Braves’ decision to keep Bryce Elder in the rotation instead—despite Elder’s 7.20 ERA in two rough outings against the Dodgers and Rays. For now, Elder will slot in alongside Grant Holmes at the back of the rotation, though other Triple-A arms like Smith-Shawver, Hurston Waldrep, and Dylan Dodd remain in play if changes are needed.

Strider might not be the only reinforcement arriving soon. O’Brien also reports that signs point to a near-term call-up for veteran outfielder Alex Verdugo. Signed to a $1.5 million deal three weeks ago, Verdugo has been ramping up in the minors after missing most of spring training.

He likely would’ve stayed in Triple-A through April, but that changed with Jurickson Profar’s 80-game PED suspension. With Ronald Acuña Jr. still recovering from a torn ACL, the Braves have been relying on Jarred Kelenic, Stuart Fairchild, and Bryan De La Cruz in the corners—an outfield group Verdugo could immediately help bolster.

While Verdugo struggled last year with the Yankees (posting an 83 wRC+), he was a consistent league-average bat during his four years in Boston, hitting .281/.328/.444 for a 105 wRC+. Whether he joins the team for the upcoming Blue Jays series or is added next weekend against the Twins remains uncertain, but a return to the majors seems imminent.