The Atlanta Braves proceed to stumble towards the postseason after a 7-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Monday, their second defeat in a row and sixth of their final 10 video games.
The Braves face the Cubs once more Tuesday evening at Wrigley Subject seeking to get again on observe and construct on their 4 1/2 recreation lead within the Nationwide League East over the Philadelphia Phillies.
Earlier than Tuesday’s recreation, the Braves introduced a roster transfer that impacts the beginning rotation for Wednesday’s collection finale.
Atlanta recalled right-hander JR Ritchie from Triple-A Gwinnett on Tuesday, the sixth recall of the season for the 2022 first-round draft decide, who made his main league debut on April 23, however has not but been capable of stick to the staff.
Reynaldo López is headed to the 15-day injured listing with proper shoulder irritation, and Atlanta wanted somebody able to eat innings instantly. The Braves made the announcement on their social media channels Tuesday morning.
Ritchie’s Path Again to the Braves Rotation
Supervisor Walt Weiss mentioned Monday that Ritchie will begin Wednesday’s collection finale towards the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Subject, in line with the Atlanta Journal-Structure. Martín Pérez takes the ball Tuesday, Atlanta has Thursday off, and the membership opens a collection in Houston on Friday. Bryce Elder stays out with a knee harm, which left Weiss looking for innings to take strain off an overworked bullpen.
Ritchie’s final massive league look got here Aug. 2, a four-inning spot begin towards Washington that ended with him optioned again to Gwinnett the subsequent day. It marked his fifth journey between the majors and Triple-A this season.
That persistence paid off with an Triple-A outing no person within the group might ignore. Ritchie struck out a career-high 15 batters over 6 2/3 innings on Sept. 6 towards Charlotte, setting a brand new Gwinnett franchise report and touching 97.2 mph on his fastball, in line with a report by MLB.com. The earlier staff mark of 13 belonged to Spencer Strider and Bryse Wilson. It was the primary 15-strikeout recreation wherever within the minors since 2024.
Over his final six Gwinnett begins, Ritchie posted a 2.14 ERA throughout 33 2/3 innings. Within the majors this season, he’s 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP, hanging out 53 however strolling 36 throughout 58 innings over 14 appearances, eight of them begins.
The 23-year-old right-hander, drafted thirty fifth total by Atlanta in 2022 out of Bainbridge Island, Washington, chosen within the aggressive steadiness part of the primary spherical. The Braves traded outfielder Drew Waters — then Atlanta’s top-rated prospect — righty pitcher Andrew Hoffmann, and infielder C.J. Alexander to the Kansas Metropolis Royals for that decide and the rights to draft Ritchie.
Tommy John surgical procedure worn out most of Ritchie’s 2023 season. He returned in 2024 and broke out in 2025, going 8-6 with a 2.64 ERA throughout three ranges and pitching in that yr’s Futures Recreation. Atlanta ranked him its No. 2 prospect getting into 2026.
| Date | Opponent | Time | TV | Pitcher | Opp. Pitcher |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, Sep 15 | @ Chicago Cubs | 4:40 PM | MLB.television, TBS | Perez | Gausman |
| Wed, Sep 16 | @ Chicago Cubs | 4:40 PM | MLB.television | Ritchie | Imanaga |
| Fri, Sep 18 | @ Houston Astros | 5:10 PM | MLB.television | Sale | Lambert |
| Sat, Sep 19 | @ Houston Astros | 4:10 PM | MLB.television | Mahle | Wesneski |
| Solar, Sep 20 | @ Houston Astros | 11:10 AM | MLB.television | Holmes | Brown |
| Tue, Sep 22 | vs Cincinnati Reds | 4:15 PM | MLB.television | Lopez | Abbott |
| Wed, Sep 23 | vs Cincinnati Reds | 4:15 PM | MLB.television | Perez | Singer |
| Thu, Sep 24 | vs Cincinnati Reds | 4:15 PM | MLB.television, FS1 | TBD | Burns |
| Fri, Sep 25 | @ Miami Marlins | 4:10 PM | MLB.television | Sale | Perez |
| Sat, Sep 26 | @ Miami Marlins | 1:10 PM | MLB.television | TBD | TBD |
| Solar, Sep 27 | @ Miami Marlins | 12:10 PM | MLB.television | TBD | TBD |
Atlanta Braves Face Rotation Squeeze in Division Race
The Braves entered Tuesday at 88-63, sitting first within the Nationwide League East and 4 1/2 video games forward of Philadelphia.
With Elder sidelined and López now on the shelf, Atlanta is leaning on its farm system with no margin left within the schedule. The Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers have already clinched postseason spots, and a crowded wild-card chase behind the Braves and Phillies makes the division crown Atlanta’s cleanest path to October.
Atlanta hasn’t reached the playoffs since 2023, and the way Ritchie handles Wednesday might resolve whether or not he’s a stopgap or a part of the reply down the stretch.
Walks have been the swing talent working towards him within the majors. The strikeout stuff has by no means been in query. Wednesday at Wrigley Subject may very well be his postseason audition.
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