Atlanta’s October pitching picture tightened again Thursday, with left-hander Martín Pérez set to miss at least the opening round of the postseason because of lower back inflammation.
| Pitcher | 2026 Regular Season | Postseason Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Martín Pérez | 3.04 ERA, 30 appearances, 26 starts | Likely out for the Wild Card Series; earliest return Oct. 6 if IL stint is backdated |
| Chris Sale | Projected starter | Wild Card rotation |
| Tyler Mahle | Projected starter | Wild Card rotation |
| Grant Holmes | Projected starter | Wild Card rotation |
Pérez’s back issue changes Atlanta’s depth chart
The Braves had not completed the formal transaction by Thursday evening, but Pérez is expected to go on the 15-day injured list. A Monday backdate would make him eligible on Oct. 6, the date assigned to Game 3 of the National League Division Series.
That timetable would remove Pérez from Atlanta’s best-of-three NL Wild Card Series and could keep him unavailable for the first two games of a Division Series as well.
Manager Walt Weiss said the veteran first noticed the problem during his Sunday outing in Houston. “He felt it in that start,” Weiss said. “It has not improved much with treatment. He is still dealing with it.”
Pérez had supplied dependable innings in a 30-game season, making 26 starts while carrying a 3.04 ERA. Before the injury surfaced, he and Holmes were viewed as the leading choices to take the ball for a potential Game 3 in the Wild Card round.
Ritchie moves closer to the October mound
Sale, Mahle and Holmes give Atlanta three projected starters for the Wild Card Series. Beyond them, though, the club’s depth has thinned quickly.
Bryce Elder is recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery, Reynaldo López is sidelined by right shoulder inflammation, and Pérez now joins that group with his back issue. The result is a sharper spotlight on rookie JR Ritchie, who enters the postseason fourth on the Braves’ remaining starter depth chart.
For Atlanta, the immediate assignment is straightforward: get through the Wild Card round behind Sale, Mahle and Holmes. The longer October road may depend on whether Pérez’s back allows him to return when the Division Series reaches its third game.
