Atlanta Braves right-hander AJ Smith-Shawver has been named the starter for Game 1 of the wild-card series against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on Tuesday night. The Braves didn't have ideal options to choose from to start against a strong Padres offense to kick off the three-game series, as Smith-Shawver got the nod over Ian Anderson and Bryce Elder. The 21-year-old made his big-league debut in 2023 but pitched in just six games (five starts). His lone MLB start in 2024 came back on May 23, when he threw 4 1/3 shutout innings in a no-decision against the Chicago Cubs. The former seventh-rounder didn't do great in the minors, posting a 4.85 ERA and 1.24 WHIP with 108 K's and 40 walks in 89 innings over 21 starts with Triple-A Gwinnett and High-A Rome. Needless to say, Smith-Shawver won't be a recommended DFS play for the first day of playoff action.
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher prospect AJ Smith-Shawver twirled his longest outing of the season on Wednesday when he pitched six innings of shutout baseball, allowing three hits and one walk while striking out seven batters. With the Braves in dire need of pitching earlier this season, the 21-year-old made one start for the big league club before suffering a strained oblique which led to a stint on the IL. The righty has made eight starts since coming off the IL in July and it hasn't gone too smoothly, allowing 12 earned runs on 15 hits (six home runs) and 12 walks, although the strikeout total remained stout with 32 Ks in 22 1/3 IP. Hopefully the Braves' second-ranked prospect is rounding into form and will be ready if called upon again down the stretch, but look for his fantasy relevance to reemerge in full force next season.
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher prospect AJ Smith-Shawver (oblique) made his first rehab start with High-A Rome on Wednesday. The righty pitched two innings, allowing one earned run on one hit (a home run) and no walks while striking out four batters. The 21-year-old made one start for Atlanta this season before hitting the injured list with an oblique strain. He made five starts (six appearances) last season with the Braves, posting a 4.26 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and an 11:20 BB:K in 25 1/3 innings. He'll need at least a few more starts before the Braves consider him for the rotation, although he may stay in the minors when he's done with his rehab, but managers in need of pitching help should consider stashing the Braves' top prospect ahead of time if he's on the waiver wire.
AJ Smith-Shawver Starting Rehab Assignment On Wednesday
Atlanta Braves top prospect AJ Smith-Shawver (oblique) will start his minor-league rehab assignment with High-A Rome on Wednesday. It will be Smith-Shawver's first game action since he was diagnosed with a Grade 2 left-oblique strain back in late May. The 21-year-old right-hander made his major-league debut last year and allowed 14 runs (12 earned) on 17 hits (seven homers) while walking 11 and striking out 20 in six appearances (five starts). He made his only appearance for the Braves in 2024 in a start against the Cubs on May 23 and tossed 4 1/3 shutout innings with two free passes and four K's. The Braves could have Smith-Shawver return to the minors when he's past his oblique injury, but whenever he does get another shot in the big-league rotation, fantasy managers should pounce on him if he's available on the waiver wire.
Braves Place AJ Smith-Shawver On 15-Day Injured List
The Atlanta Braves placed rookie right-hander AJ Smith-Shawver (oblique) on the 15-day injured list on Friday with a strained left oblique muscle and recalled left-hander Ray Kerr from Triple-A Durham in order to start on Friday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Smith-Shawver must have injured his oblique in his start against the Chicago Cubs on Thursday in which he threw 4 1/4 scoreless innings. It was the 21-year-old's first start of the 2024 season in the big leagues. Oblique injuries are usually tricky to come back from, so fantasy managers that picked Smith-Shawver up shouldn't be surprised if he's not ready to return in 15 days. And when he is ready to come back, the Braves may choose to send him back to Gwinnett. It's a tough break for the team's top prospect, per MLB Pipeline.
Atlanta Braves pitching prospect AJ Smith-Shawver looked good in his season debut on Thursday as he tossed 4 1/3 scoreless innings in a 3-0 win over the Chicago Cubs. He struck out four batters while walking two. The 21-year-old is the Braves' top prospect and has a legitimate chance at sticking in the team's starting rotation. Despite the impressive outing, Smith-Shawver has struggled at Triple-A Gwinnett this season to the tune of a 6.10 ERA and 1.52 WHIP across eight starts. He tentatively lines up to face the Washington Nationals in his next start and would be a solid streaming option for that contest. Nevertheless, fantasy managers may want to temper expectations a little bit as there are sure to be some growing pains in store.
Atlanta Braves pitching prospect AJ Smith-Shawver will be recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett to make his 2024 debut on Thursday against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. The 21-year-old right-hander is the Braves' top prospect, per MLB Pipeline, and he could have a shot to stick around as Atlanta's No. 5 starter if he impresses in the series finale. He's worth a speculative pickup in redraft fantasy leagues for his upside and high-end prospect pedigree, but he also hasn't looked very good in the minors this year, posting a 6.10 ERA and 1.52 WHIP with 17 walks and 35 strikeouts in 31 innings over eight starts for Gwinnett. Smith-Shawver made six appearances in his MLB debut in 2023 and had a 4.26 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and a 20:11 K:BB in 25 1/3 frames. He has an electric pitch mix but is still a work in progress. The young righty will face a Cubs team that ranks 17th in OPS (.691) that has the ninth-most strikeouts in the league.
AJ Smith-Shawver Has Third Consecutive Rough Start
Atlanta Braves pitching prospect AJ Smith-Shawver finished April with a 7.11 ERA over 12 2/3 innings. He'd struck out 16 batters but allowed 12 hits and eight walks. After his first appearance in May, he left his struggles behind. On May 1, he threw five shutout innings and struck out five, allowing just three hits and a walk. However, the 21-year-old righty hasn't been sharp since. Over his last three outings, he's thrown 13 1/3 innings, allowed 11 runs (7.43 ERA), punched out 14 batters, and surrendered 15 hits and eight walks. On the season, he's sporting a 6.10 ERA over 31 innings with 30 hits, 17 walks, and 35 strikeouts. Smith-Shawver likely won't rejoin the Braves until he improves his control.
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher prospect AJ Smith-Shawver threw five strong innings for Triple-A Gwinnett on Wednesday. The lefty allowed no runs on three hits and one walk while striking out five. The 21-year-old now has a 5.09 ERA and 1.36 WHIP on the season with 21 strikeouts in 17 2/3 IP. Ranked as the Braves' top prospect, he'll surely make an appearance in Atlanta this season after making his MLB debut in 2023, starting five games for the Braves while recording a 4.26 ERA, a 1.11 WHIP, and a 20:11 K:BB. Fantasy managers should scoop him up once he does get the call as he should be a solid starter on a team that produces plenty of run support.
The Atlanta Braves optioned right-hander AJ Smith-Shawver to Triple-A Gwinnett on Monday and reassigned catcher Sebastian Rivero to minor-league camp as well. The Braves now have 39 players in camp. Smith-Shawver isn't going to open the 2024 regular season in Atlanta's bullpen, but there's a good chance he'll be needed at some point this year. The 21-year-old struck out 11 hitters and walked only two in 7 2/3 Grapefruit League innings, but he also had an 8.22 ERA, which sealed his fate to be sent to Triple-A. The 6-foot-3 hurler has impressive stuff and has shown dominance in the minors, so he's a pitcher to watch in mixed leagues once you start jumping on the waiver wire if he is recalled and enters Atlanta's starting rotation.
AJ Smith-Shawver
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Braves
