Robert Suarez is set to step back into Atlanta’s bullpen this week after a three-month layoff, giving the Braves a narrow but valuable window to test one of their top late-inning arms before the postseason opens.
Manager Walt Weiss said Suarez is expected to be activated ahead of Wednesday’s game against the Reds. That move could put the right-hander on the mound in two of Atlanta’s last five regular-season contests, beginning with a possible appearance behind Chris Sale’s final scheduled regular-season start.
Suarez could also be used during the Braves’ weekend trip to Miami. The goal is straightforward: let him work in a Major League setting before asking him to handle October pressure in the National League Wild Card Series, which starts Tuesday.
“It matters that he gets one or two big-league outings before being dropped straight into the postseason,” Weiss said.
First game action since June
Suarez worked a scoreless inning for Triple-A Gwinnett on Sunday in a rehab assignment, his first appearance at any level since June 19. The two-time All-Star had been sidelined by right elbow inflammation after experiencing discomfort following his last outing with Atlanta.
Before the injury shut him down, Suarez had been one of the most dependable arms in the Braves’ relief picture. He posted a 0.56 ERA across 31 appearances.
A potential October bullpen piece
If Suarez returns healthy and shows his usual command in these final tune-up appearances, he could claim a spot on Atlanta’s Wild Card Series roster. His presence would give the Braves another proven option alongside closer Raisel Iglesias, Didier Fuentes and Dylan Lee, with AJ Smith-Shawver also a possible bullpen choice.
For a club preparing for short-series baseball, that group could give Weiss more ways to shorten a game after the starters hand over the ball. Suarez does not need a long runway now. He needs a clean inning or two, a healthy elbow and a reminder that his late-inning stuff still plays under the lights.
