These Braves players could be removed from the 26-man roster by the end of August.
This season, the Atlanta Braves have been constantly rearranging their roster due to an abundance of injuries. That shuffle was compounded even further when Reynaldo Lopez was placed on the disabled list on Monday due to right forearm irritation.
Atlanta’s depth has helped them weather the storm despite the numerous injuries suffered this season. However, there is light at the end of the tunnel, as the Braves are getting closer to regaining crucial components.
Michael Harris II is eligible to return from the IL on August 14th, and Ozzie Albies is scheduled to return in early September. This leaves the squad with serious roster questions and will result in a few players being left off the 26-man roster.
Atlanta is eagerly awaiting the return of two of its most skilled position players as they prepare for the playoffs over the next two months. They are 5.5 games behind the first-place Phillies and cling to first place in the National League Wild Card chase. With that in mind, let’s take a look at four Atlanta Braves players who, barring further injury, may not make it through August.
Luke Williams
Infielder Luke Williams has had a few ups and downs with the Braves in 2024, but he has not played much. He was most recently called up on July 23rd, when Austin Riley was placed on the paternity list, and he remained with the squad once Riley returned. He’s only played two games since joining the roster.
Williams is one of the easiest players to remove from the roster at the conclusion of the month. He only has one MiLB option left and isn’t a key component of the bench. He had a line of.077/.200/.077 in 15 plate appearances. Atlanta’s arrival of Whit Merrifield makes Williams expendable as well, and he could be the first player to leave the roster this month.
Luke Jackson
The Braves recently acquired Jackson in a trade with 2021 World Series MVP Jorge Soler. The Giants traded him and Soler to Atlanta in exchange for LHP Tyler Matzek and third-base prospect Sabin Ceballos. Luke wasn’t particularly needed on the roster, but pitching depth is always appreciated. His performance to start the season was terrible, as evidenced by his 5.08 ERA, but July was encouraging and offered the Braves a cause to sign him.
Luke Jackson had a 9.31 ERA in 11 June appearances with 6 walks, 2 strikeouts and a 2.172 WHIP in 9 2/3 innings.
In 8 July appearances, he has a 3.00 ERA with 1 walk, 13 strikeouts and an 0.778 WHIP in 9 innings.
.489 opp. OBP in June, .206 in July#Braves
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) July 30, 2024
Luke’s statcast profile demonstrates why the organization appreciates him, with a 51.8% ground ball percentage and a 32.7% chase rate, both of which rank in the 88th percentile in baseball. He struggled early in his most recent Atlanta outing, falling victim to a three-run homer that somehow remained fair. He persevered and pitched 3.2 innings with one walk and five strikeouts. However, his other numbers are poor, and if his troubles with inherited runners persist, the Braves may drop him from the roster.
Eddie Rosario
Eddie Rosario, a former NLCS hero, returned to Atlanta last month as the Braves needed outfield help due to Michael Harris II and Ramon Laureano’s ailments. He wasn’t the ideal solution, but the squad was familiar with his personality and how he’d fit into the clubhouse. Rosario’s time with the team may be cut short if Harris II returns in late August.
The team won’t need three left-handed corner outfielders, and Kelenic and Harris are much better defenders, making them more valuable. It’s bad because Eddie seemed to enjoy being in Atlanta, but he doesn’t add much offensive or defensive value to the team. Rosario has a.177 batting average, 10 home runs, and 33 RBI, with an OAA of -6. His average exit velocity and squared up percentage are among the best in baseball, yet he falls short of expectations in every important measure (chase rate, whiff rate, K%, and BB%).
EDDIE ROSARIO HITS THE THIRD HOME RUN OF THE DAY FOR THE BRAVES‼️‼️‼️ pic.twitter.com/EtReL0OF7g
— Kevin Keneely (@KevinKeneely1) July 27, 2024
Bryce Elder
Bryce Elder, a former top Braves prospect, was a vital member of Atlanta’s taxi squad in 2024. He has supplied the squad with spot starts all season and has not been consistent since his breakout All-Star season in 2023. He had a 5.67 ERA in nine starts (46 innings), with 15 walks and 40 strikeouts.
He’s an obvious candidate to remove from the roster by the end of the month because he has three MiLB options remaining and will be unnecessary once Reynaldo Lopez returns from the injured list. Elder has a remarkable 50% groundball rate and a middle-of-the-road chase percentage, but he has failed in other metrics. For that reason, he will continue to be a spot starter.
