Facing a growing crisis in their starting rotation, the Atlanta Braves have struck a key deal to shore up their pitching staff. After Spencer Strider suffered a hamstring injury just one start into his return from elbow surgery, Atlanta moved quickly to acquire veteran right-hander Erick Fedde from the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Braves, already thin after Reynaldo López went down with a shoulder injury, couldn’t afford to fall further behind in the National League race. With their postseason hopes in jeopardy, the team made an aggressive move, sending two top-15 prospects to St. Louis in exchange for Fedde.

Fedde, who has posted a 3.33 ERA over 27 innings this season, had been a steady presence in the Cardinals’ rotation. He impressed Atlanta’s front office with a strong outing against the Braves earlier this week, likely accelerating trade discussions.

The veteran’s expiring, affordable contract made him a perfect fit for the Braves, who needed immediate help without sacrificing long-term payroll flexibility. Given that Fedde was unlikely to re-sign with St. Louis after the season, the Cardinals saw value in moving him now for future assets.

Atlanta hopes Fedde will provide much-needed stability in the middle of the rotation, helping the Braves stay in the hunt for October. The Braves are expected to slot Fedde into the rotation immediately, with hopes he can replicate the consistency he’s shown since returning to the big leagues last season.

Meanwhile, St. Louis adds two promising prospects to help retool for the future, signaling that they may be open to more deals as the summer approaches.