The Atlanta Braves designated veteran right-hander Carlos Carrasco for assignment on Friday, according to Steve Adams of MLB Trade Rumors. Atlanta opened the roster spot to recall righty Anthony Molina from Triple‑A Gwinnett.
This is Carrasco’s fourth DFA since last August, and each previous time he cleared waivers, elected free agency, and re-signed with Atlanta on a minor-league deal. The Braves have used him as a flexible depth arm who can be cycled on and off the roster as needed.
Chris Sale did not feel close to full strength during his last outing.
It didn’t show against the Athletics.
The Atlanta Braves ace delivered six dominant innings, allowing just one hit — a solo home run by Shea Langeliers — in a 5-1 win last Wednesday.
Now 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA, the veteran left-hander is set to take the ball again Monday night as Atlanta opens a three-game interleague series against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim.
“He was sick as a dog. We didn’t know if he was going to be able to make that start,” Braves manager Walt Weiss said of Sale last week in an article written to CBS Sports. “I was hoping to be able to get three innings out of him — best-case scenario, probably four. He just couldn’t keep anything down (in his stomach) — he’s a mess. It was touch-and-go before the game. (Source)
“But true to form, he takes the ball and goes out there and gives us six innings, one hit. Hall of Famers, they just operate differently, and that’s what he (likely) is. It was an unbelievable performance.”
Sale, the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner, recognized early that his usual velocity was not there during pregame warmups, with his fastball sitting in the low 90s instead of the typical mid-90s range.
“You’re not going to have your best stuff every time, so I really tried to focus on raising my focus,” Sale said. “Reaching for more stuff when it’s not there is not really a way … to win this game. Just really focused (more on location) than trying to out-stuff guys.”
He leaned on precision and pitch mix, getting key support from catcher Drake Baldwin, who drove in four runs in the victory.
“He’s been doing it forever — that’s why he’s as good as he is,” Baldwin said of the 37-year-old Sale. “He’s able to lean on some other pitches when he might not have the same (velocity) all the time on his fastball. But the changeup and the slider, being able to throw it for strikes and execute down in the zone, kept (the A’s) off balance and allowed him to get through six innings.”
Sale finished with three strikeouts and no walks, continuing a strong track record against the Angels. He enters Monday’s matchup with an 8-0 record and a 1.24 ERA in 11 career appearances against them.
Atlanta arrives in Anaheim after dropping two one-run games over the weekend in Arizona, while the Angels carry momentum following back-to-back one-run wins against Seattle.
Los Angeles secured an 8-7 victory in 11 innings Sunday on Nolan Schanuel’s sacrifice fly but had a tense moment when Mike Trout exited after being hit on the back of the left hand by a Casey Legumina pitch.
X-rays came back negative, and Trout is listed as day-to-day.
“After looking at how swollen it got, it scared me,” said Trout, a three-time American League MVP and an 11-time All-Star. “So I’m just relieved it’s not broken.”
Despite Trout being hit twice in the series, Angels manager Kurt Suzuki dismissed any notion of intent.
“Balls slip,” Suzuki said. “It’s baseball. Like I said the other night, it’s part of the game. Obviously, you don’t want him to get hit. Or see Mike get hurt. But at the same time, you understand, I was a catcher, that they’re trying to get guys out.”
The Angels will counter with right-hander Jose Soriano, who enters at 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA. He has posted a 1.54 ERA in three previous appearances against Atlanta.
Chris Sale Braves Dominance Sets Tone in 6–0 Win Over Royals
The Atlanta Braves didn’t just open their season — they set an early standard. Chris Sale’s Braves debut (or latest start) showcased everything Atlanta could hope for from its rotation and lineup, as the left-hander fired six scoreless innings in a 6–0 win over the Kansas City Royals.
From the first pitch, Sale controlled the tempo and the strike zone. The veteran left-hander worked six dominant shutout frames, allowing just three hits while striking out six. It was the kind of outing that reminds everyone why he remains one of the most feared arms in baseball. With those six strikeouts, Sale reached 2,585 for his career, moving into the top 30 on the all-time strikeout list and passing Hall of Famers Bob Feller and Warren Spahn. It was another milestone in a career defined by elite swing-and-miss stuff and long-term consistency.
The Braves’ offense made sure Sale’s effort was rewarded. Chris Sale Braves run support came via the long ball, as Atlanta powered up for three home runs to break the game open. Ozzie Albies started the scoring early with a solo home run in the first inning, immediately giving Sale a lead to work with. In the following frames, rookie catcher Drake Baldwin launched a drive off the right-field wall that left no doubt, extending the advantage and energizing the Truist Park crowd.
Michael Harris II provided the big swing that put the game out of reach. In the fifth inning, Harris drilled a two-run homer that stretched the lead to four runs, giving Atlanta full control. From that point on, the Braves never looked back, steadily applying pressure on Kansas City pitching and turning the night into a complete team statement.
Austin Riley quietly put together one of the best offensive lines of the night. The third baseman went 3-for-3, spraying hits around the field and helping anchor an offense that finished with 11 total hits. In the seventh inning, Mauricio Dubón added the final blow, ripping a two-run double to deep left-center to push the lead to 6–0 and cap Atlanta’s scoring.
Defensively, the Braves were just as sharp. Atlanta turned key double plays early to help their veteran ace work efficiently and keep Kansas City from building any momentum. All over the diamond, players delivered standout moments. Eli White took away extra bases with a sliding catch in the outfield, while Matt Olson and Austin Riley combined on multiple strong plays at the corners to cut down potential rallies. In right field, Ronald Acuña Jr. added his own highlight with a shoestring catch that shut down a possible Royals threat and further showcased the Braves’ defensive focus.
After Sale exited following his six shutout innings, the bullpen finished what he started. Dylan Lee, Robert Suarez, and Tyler Kinley each delivered a scoreless frame, locking down the final three innings to secure the combined shutout. The trio attacked the zone, avoided free passes, and never allowed Kansas City a chance to climb back into the game, preserving both the win and Sale’s gem.
On the other side, Royals starter Cole Ragans struggled to contain Atlanta’s relentless lineup. Ragans surrendered all three Braves home runs and was tagged for multiple extra-base hits across four innings of work. Kansas City’s bullpen fared better at times but could not fully slow down a confident and aggressive Braves offense that applied pressure from the first inning through the seventh.
For Atlanta, this performance was more than just a convincing win on the scoreboard. It was a complete effort in every phase: dominant starting pitching, deep and powerful offense, and crisp, highlight-worthy defense. Chris Sale Braves excitement will only grow after a performance like this, as he not only delivered a statement outing but also reached another major career milestone.
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Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley is not easing into Spring Training. He is setting the bar high.
After two seasons disrupted by injuries, Riley enters camp determined to return to the elite production that placed him in rare franchise company just two years ago.
“If I don’t hit 30-plus homers and drive in 90-100 runs, I kind of feel like it’s a wash of a season,” Riley said. “That’s what they’re paying me to do and those are my goals. So, I expect it every year. I expect it every year for however many years I have left on my contract.” (Quote: Via MLB.com’s Mark Bowman)
Riley signed a franchise-record 10-year, $212 million contract on Aug. 1, 2022. In 2023, his first full season under that deal, he joined Hall of Famers Hank Aaron, Eddie Mathews and Andruw Jones as the only Braves to record three 30-homer, 90-RBI seasons at age 26 or younger.
That trajectory stalled when injuries intervened. An oblique strain hampered him early in 2024 before a fractured right hand ended his season in August. Last year, an abdominal strain that surfaced before the All-Star break ultimately required season-ending sports hernia surgery.
Now fully healthy after an unrestricted offseason, Riley arrives at camp energized. He showcased that confidence Monday, launching three consecutive opposite-field home runs during batting practice.
“I know things happen,” Riley said. “But to be where I am mentally and to be where I feel physically, plus with the changes we’ve made this offseason, this is the most excited I’ve been as far as where I am at the start of Spring Training.”
For Atlanta, a healthy Riley could dramatically reshape the lineup’s ceiling. For Riley, anything short of 30 home runs and 90-plus RBIs is not acceptable.
If his body cooperates, the Braves slugger appears ready to reclaim his place among baseball’s premier power hitters.
When the Atlanta Braves handed outfielder Diego Tornes a $2.5 million signing bonus in January, they believed they had landed one of the premier bats in the 2025 international class. Just months later, the17-year-old switch-hitter is already showing why scouts were so high on him.
Tornes, standing at 6-foot-2 with a projectable frame, has drawn early comparisons to Anthony Santander thanks to his offensive profile — an advanced approach, bat speed, and the potential for middle-of-the-order power. While the Braves’ recent history with big-money international position player signings has been underwhelming, Tornes may be poised to reverse that trend.
Through his first 32 games in the Dominican Summer League, Tornes is slashing .279/.395/.402 with five triples and 24 stolen bases. He’s yet to homer, but his ability to get on base, control the strike zone, and use his speed on the base-paths is already standing out.
The Braves aren’t focused on stats at this stage — the DSL is about acclimating to the pro game — but the 17-year-old is already translating his tools into live-game success. His next step will be maintaining his hit tool as he adds muscle, a development that could unlock his projected power and cement him as a potential five-tool player.
Signed out of Cuba by former MLB outfielder Alex Sanchez’s Dominican academy, the young outfielder already projects as a prototypical right fielder with the tools to impact the game on both sides of the ball. Tornes possesses above-average arm strength and fluid defensive actions suggest he could handle a corner spot long-term, while his plus speed gives him range that plays in all three outfield positions. Offensively, Tornes’ advanced strike-zone discipline and ability to produce hard contact from both sides of the plate provide a strong foundation for his hit tool, with the expectation that added strength to his 6-foot-2 frame will unlock above-average game power. If those developmental benchmarks are met, he profiles as a middle-of-the-order run producer — the kind of international signee the Braves have been seeking to anchor their lineup for years.
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This Major Hurdle Stands Between Spencer Strider and His Braves Comeback
Atlanta Braves ace Spencer Strider is tantalizingly close to a much-needed return to the mound—but before he can officially rejoin the team, he must clear one last crucial test. Strider is scheduled to throw a 70-75 pitch simulated game on Wednesday, a key evaluation step that will determine whether he’s finally ready to make his first real start since suffering a hamstring injury in April.
After battling back from elbow surgery in 2024, Strider’s return this season was highly anticipated. But frustration quickly followed as he pulled his hamstring during his very first outing in over a year on April 16th. For Strider and Braves fans alike, the injury was a gut punch—especially after the grueling rehab he endured to return from his non-Tommy John elbow procedure last spring.
The former 20-game winner now stands on the brink of rejoining a team that desperately needs his firepower. Atlanta, hovering around .500, has been severely undermined by the absence of both Strider and superstar Ronald Acuña Jr., who are also working their way back through a rehab assignment this week. The duo’s absence has left a noticeable void, both in the lineup and on the mound.
According to Mark Bowman of MLB.com, if Strider’s simulated outing goes smoothly, he could take the hill as early as next week in a key divisional matchup against the Washington Nationals. The Braves, who have struggled to find rotation consistency in his absence, would welcome even a solid, if not dominant, version of Strider back into the fold.
His career stats paint the picture of a truly elite arm: a 1.07 WHIP and 500 strikeouts in just 334 innings. In 2023, his last full season, Strider led Major League Baseball with 281 strikeouts and 20 wins. Simply put, when he’s on the mound, he changes the entire dynamic of Atlanta’s pitching staff.
The Braves will be cautious not to rush him. Hamstring injuries are notoriously tricky for pitchers who rely on power and mechanics like Strider. Yet there’s cautious optimism that this final simulated outing could be the turning point. If Strider emerges healthy and in rhythm, his return could not only jumpstart Atlanta’s season—but reignite their postseason hopes.
All eyes now turn to Wednesday. For Atlanta, it could mark the beginning of a long-overdue resurgence. For Spencer Strider, it’s one final hurdle before redemption.
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By: OutOfSightSports
The Braves announced today that outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. will begin a rehab assignment in the Florida Complex League tomorrow, a major milestone as he works back from a torn left ACL. In equally encouraging news, ace right-hander Spencer Strider will throw a simulated game on Wednesday. He is recovering from UCL surgery performed last April.
After a year marred by injuries to two of their most important players, Atlanta may finally be getting its heartbeat back—and just in time to reassert its dominance in the National League.
Acuña’s Return: A Shot of Adrenaline for the Offense
Let’s not downplay this—Ronald Acuña Jr. is the engine of the Braves’ offense. Before his ACL injury in May of last year, he was producing at an MVP-caliber level. Losing him was like pulling the battery out of a Ferrari. The team kept moving, but nowhere near the same speed or style.
He’ll begin his rehab in the outfield at the Complex League level, and if all goes well, he’ll graduate to Triple-A Gwinnett in the coming days. The Braves are taking a cautious but deliberate approach—Acuña is the kind of talent you don’t rush, but you also can’t keep off the field for long.
With his elite combination of speed, power, and charisma, Acuña isn’t just a player. He’s a walking highlight reel, a clubhouse leader, and the player who can change a game with one swing or one sprint.
Strider’s Simulated Game Signals a Rotation Revival
The Braves’ rotation took a huge hit when Spencer Strider went down in April 2024 with a torn UCL. The flamethrowing righty, known for his wipeout slider and high-octane fastball, was on track to be one of the league’s premier strikeout artists.
Now, after months of rehab, Strider is set to throw a simulated game on Wednesday, tossing 70-75 pitches. That workload suggests he’s close—very close—to rejoining the big league club. The decision after that session will be whether he heads out on a brief rehab assignment or skips it entirely and rejoins the rotation.
Either way, his return will be monumental. The Braves’ pitching staff has held its own, but no one replaces a front-line starter like Strider. With him back on the bump, Atlanta’s rotation depth and strikeout potential jumps to elite tier again.
Braves’ Season Outlook: Help is on the Horizon
With both Acuña and Strider nearing return, the Braves’ postseason hopes get a much-needed boost. Last year’s Wild Card finish and quick playoff exit were tough pills to swallow for a team that had World Series aspirations. But missing two cornerstone players for nearly the entire season? That’s not a stumble—it’s a flat tire.
Their 2025 campaign has been a waiting game so far. But reinforcements are coming, and they’re not just any reinforcements—they’re game-changers.
Acuña brings dynamic power and speed at the top of the lineup. Strider brings elite strikeout stuff and a swagger that defines the Braves’ pitching identity. Together, they could shift the entire complexion of the National League playoff picture.
The Braves Are Poised to Strike
With Ronald Acuña Jr. taking his first steps toward game action and Spencer Strider nearly ready to reclaim his spot on the mound, the Braves are quietly loading up for a summer surge. The pieces are coming back together. The power is returning. And the rest of the league should take notice.
Because once these two return to full strength, Atlanta won’t just be competitive—they’ll be downright dangerous.
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