Martín Pérez placed on IL with lower back inflammation, thinning Braves' rotation
Atlanta placed Martín Pérez on the injured list with lower back inflammation, per MLB.com's Mark Bowman, adding another rotation concern as the Braves prepare for the postseason.
What happened
The Atlanta Braves placed Martín Pérez on the injured list with lower back inflammation, MLB.com's Mark Bowman reported. The move further depletes a rotation that Atlanta will need to piece together heading into October.
Why it matters
The Braves clinched a playoff berth after rebounding from a losing 2024 season, and the rotation's health is now one of the more pressing questions surrounding that postseason run. Pérez's placement on the IL means Atlanta is managing another arm at a moment when depth matters most. Under general league rules, pitchers are subject to a minimum 15-day IL stay, which shapes how quickly any return could be possible — though no timetable for Pérez has been reported.
The injury picture around the club has been busy this week. Ronald Acuña Jr. exited a game with a left shin contusion, with X-rays coming back negative, and was out of the lineup the following day before being expected back Thursday, per earlier reporting. On the bullpen side, reliever Robert Suarez was activated from the 60-day IL ahead of Wednesday's game against the Reds after missing since late June with right elbow inflammation — a meaningful addition to the late-inning mix even as the rotation absorbs another loss.
Where the club stands
Atlanta sits at 93-66 (.585), first in the NL East and leading the division, though the club enters Friday on a one-game losing streak. The Braves open a three-game series at Miami's loanDepot park on Friday, September 25, with probable starters listed as TBD on Atlanta's side against Eury Pérez. Sunday's series finale also shows TBD for Atlanta against Janson Junk. Those blanks in the probable-pitcher column are a reasonable proxy for how unsettled the rotation currently looks.
What we don't know yet
No timetable for Pérez's return has been reported. It is not yet clear which arm, if any, steps into his rotation spot, nor whether the club will turn to a bullpen game or a depth starter for the open dates in Miami. The severity of the lower back inflammation beyond what warranted the IL placement has not been detailed.
What to watch
The Friday and Sunday probable-pitcher slots at Miami are the immediate tell. If Atlanta names a starter before first pitch, that will clarify how the club intends to manage the rotation through the final days of the regular season. Pérez's eligibility to return — governed by the 15-day IL minimum — will also be worth tracking as the calendar turns toward the postseason.
Source reporting: MLB.com ↗. AI-assisted analysis by Posterior. Our editorial standards.
More on the Braves wire.
Ronald Acuña Jr. expected back in Braves lineup Thursday after shin contusion
Acuña is expected to return to Atlanta's lineup Thursday after exiting a game with a left shin contusion; X-rays came back negative, per MLB.com.
Ronald Acuña Jr. out of Braves lineup with left shin discomfort
Acuña Jr. is out of Atlanta's starting lineup the day after fouling a ball off his left shin, per MLB.com's Mark Bowman; his availability beyond today has not been reported.
Ronald Acuña Jr. exits Braves game with left shin contusion, X-rays negative
Acuña left Atlanta's game with a left shin contusion, per MLB.com's Mark Bowman; X-rays came back negative, though his availability going forward remains unconfirmed.
Robert Suarez set to be activated Wednesday as Braves ramp up for playoffs
Per MLB.com's Mark Bowman, the Braves are set to activate reliever Robert Suarez from the injured list Wednesday, with Atlanta sitting at 92-65 atop the NL East.