Martín Pérez injury leaves Braves with postseason rotation questions

Media Reports

ATLANTA — The Braves have spent much of the season overcoming injuries to their pitching staff. Their ability to do it again could determine how long their postseason run lasts.

Atlanta placed veteran left-hander Martín Pérez on the 15-day injured list Thursday with lower back inflammation, leaving the National League East champions with just three experienced starters as they prepare for the playoffs.

The move is retroactive to Monday, meaning Pérez cannot return until Oct. 6, the scheduled date of Game 3 of the NL Division Series. Roster rules make it unlikely he would pitch for Atlanta before a potential NL Championship Series.

Pérez has a 3.12 ERA in 26 starts and had been positioned as an important part of Atlanta’s postseason rotation.

“It’s business as usual in there,” Braves manager Walt Weiss said. “We keep marching on. The way things have gone this year, somebody’s probably going to get a little bigger opportunity and make something of it.”

Atlanta’s healthy veteran starters are Chris Sale, Tyler Mahle and Grant Holmes. Rookie JR Ritchie, who owns a 5.66 ERA through his first 10 major league starts, is next on the depth chart.

Mahle, acquired from San Francisco in August, had been one of Atlanta’s best second-half additions before struggling Thursday. Cincinnati scored five runs against him in five innings of a 7-6 Braves loss at Truist Park. Mahle entered the game with a 1.28 ERA over his previous eight starts.

The immediate postseason plan appears manageable. In the best-of-three Wild Card Series beginning Tuesday, Atlanta could start Sale, Mahle and, if necessary, Holmes.

Advancing to the NLDS could create complications.

If the Wild Card Series goes three games, the Braves could enter the Division Series without an established starter available on regular rest for Game 1. Atlanta could turn to Ritchie or use an opener and rely heavily on its bullpen. Sale could return for Game 2, with Mahle potentially following in Game 3 and Holmes in Game 4.

Bryce Elder remains another possibility later in October, but he is still recovering after having bone fragments removed from his right knee earlier this month.

Weiss said the Braves have grown accustomed to entering October with pitching concerns.

“There’s been a few of those years where you feel like we went in there with one hand tied behind our back,” Weiss said. “But we’ve shown that we can overcome this stuff.”