ARLINGTON, Texas — Every pitcher who was in the rotation on opening day for the Atlanta Braves is injured, so they swung a trade Sunday to bring in a new starter.
Atlanta acquired right-hander Erick Fedde and cash from the St. Louis Cardinals for a player to be named or cash. To clear a spot for Fedde on the 40-man roster, the Braves transferred pitcher Grant Holmes to the 60-day injured list, doing so hours after placing him on the 15-day IL with right elbow inflammation.
With the news involving Holmes, all five starting pitchers who broke camp with the club at spring training are on the 60-day injured list. Right-hander Spencer Strider, who went 20-5 with 286 strikeouts in 2023 but made just two starts in 2024 before having season-ending elbow surgery, began this season on the IL and had a second stint soon after returning due to a hamstring injury, but he has remained healthy since late May.
Atlanta lost 8-1 to the Texas Rangers on Sunday and has dropped five games in a row, falling 12 games behind in the National League wild-card race at 44-60 overall.
“We’re going to figure out a way to piece this thing together,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “That’s all you can do, ’cause the games aren’t going to stop because we lost our rotation.”
Holmes was replaced on the active roster by reliever Daysbel Hernández, who was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett.
The 32-year-old Fedde is 3-10 with a 5.22 ERA in 20 starts this season and has lost his past seven decisions. He has made at least 27 starts in each of the past four seasons.
Atlanta’s injury problems on the mound began the first week of the season with right-hander Reynaldo López, who went on the IL on March 29 with shoulder inflammation after one start, resulting in surgery.
Right-hander AJ Smith-Shawver has been sidelined since May 29 with an elbow strain that required Tommy John surgery. Ace left-hander Chris Sale, who won the NL Cy Young Award last year, fractured his rib cage diving to field a grounder June 21 against the New York Mets. And right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach broke his elbow July 2.
Throw in Holmes, and those five have made 63 combined starts this season.
“We’re professional,” Snitker said. “We’re getting paid to do this. We signed a contract. So every day, we’re going to go out and give it our best shot and win the game.”