Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Fans seven in no-decision
Rotowire
Smith-Shawver came away with a no-decision in Saturday's 3-2 extra-innings win over the Pirates, allowing one run on five hits and two walks over 5.2 innings. He struck out seven.
The 22-year-old righty fell one out short of his second straight quality start, getting the hook after 97 pitches (59 strikes) with Atlanta nursing a 2-1 lead, but the bullpen wasn't able to get him his third straight win. Smith-Shawver has been outstanding since rejoining the big-league rotation in late April, posting a 1.42 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 17:7 K:BB over 19 innings, but it's not yet clear what the team intends to do with him once Spencer Strider (hamstring) is ready to return. Smith-Shawver lines up to get at least one more turn in a home start against the Nationals next week.
... See More... See Less
Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Fires eight one-hit frames in win
Rotowire
Smith-Shawver (2-2) earned the win Monday against the Reds, allowing one hit and four walks over eight scoreless innings. He struck out five.
After departing his April 29 outing due to taking a comebacker off his right elbow, Smith-Shawver showed no ill effects in this 99-pitch performance. The 22-year-old carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning until Santiago Espinal opened the frame with a single. Smith-Shawver now sports a 3.00 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 27:13 K:BB across 27 innings. He currently lines up to make his next start at Pittsburgh this weekend.
... See More... See Less
Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Good to go for Monday
Rotowire
Smith-Shawver (elbow) will make his next scheduled start Monday against the Reds, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Smith-Shawver took a line drive off his right elbow during his last start Tuesday and was pulled after throwing 59 pitches over 5.1 innings. He played catch Saturday without any issues and now has the green light to make another start on five days' rest. The 22-year-old righty has started four games in the big leagues this season and owns a 4.26 ERA across 19 innings.
... See More... See Less
Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: X-rays clean on elbow
Rotowire
Smith-Shawver appears on track to make another start during Atlanta's four-game series versus Cincinnati that begins Monday after he was struck in the right elbow by a line drive during his start in Tuesday's 8-2 win over the Rockies, Lindsay Crosby of AthlonSports.com reports.
After getting the call back from Triple-A Gwinnett on Tuesday, Smith-Shawver stepped into the rotation and tossed 5.1 innings of two-run ball before leaving after 59 pitches when he was on the receiving end of a 105-mile-per-hour line drive. According to Wiley Ballard of FanDuel Sports Network South, Smith-Shawver said he was fortunate that the line drive caught him on the "meaty part" of the forearm, and follow-up X-rays on his arm revealed no fracture to his elbow. Atlanta has not yet officially confirmed Smith-Shawver for his next start, but he appears to line up for Monday's series opener with the Reds at Truist Park.
... See More... See Less
Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Earns first win in shortened start
Rotowire
Smith-Shawver (1-2) left Tuesday's start against the Rockies after being hit in the right arm by a line drive, Owen Perkins of MLB.com reports. He picked up the win after allowing two runs on four hits and one walk while striking out five in 5.1 innings.
Smith-Shawver was in a rhythm before his night ended, pouring in 46 of his 59 pitches for strikes, and he gave up a season-low four hits and one walk. "It got the meaty part of my arm, so we'll see what happens [Wednesday]," Smith-Shawver said following the contest. "But for right now, I'm feeling pretty good." It sounds like there's a chance the right-hander's exit was precautionary, given Atlanta was leading 7-1 at the time of his departure. Smith-Shawver holds a 4.26 ERA, 1.68 WHIP and 22:9 K:BB over 19 innings in 2025, and he can be deemed day-to-day for the time being. His next start tentatively lines up for next week at home versus the Reds.
... See More... See Less
Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Called up to start Tuesday
Rotowire
Atlanta recalled Smith-Shawver from Triple-A Gwinnett to start Tuesday's game against the Rockies.
The right-hander will rejoin Atlanta for his fourth MLB start of the season in the wake of Spencer Strider (hamstring) returning to the injured list. Smith-Shawver has a 4.61 ERA, 1.98 WHIP and 17:8 K:BB across 13.2 innings this season and has posted similar numbers for Gwinnett with a 4.82 ERA in two outings.
... See More... See Less
Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Could get starting nod Tuesday
Rotowire
Smith-Shawver could be called up from Triple-A Gwinnett to start Tuesday's game against the Rockies in Colorado, Lindsay Crosby of AthlonSports.com reports.
Atlanta hasn't publicized its pitching plans for Tuesday, but the team still has a hole in its rotation following Spencer Strider's (hamstring) placement on the injured list last week, and Smith-Shawver would be available to enter the big-league rotation after making his most recent start for Gwinnett last Wednesday. The 22-year-old made Atlanta's Opening Day roster after a strong spring training, but he was demoted to Gwinnett on April 13 after turning in a 4.61 ERA, 1.98 WHIP and 17:8 K:BB across 13.2 innings over three starts. He's since made two appearances for Gwinnett and has supplied a 4.82 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 13:4 K:BB in 9.1 innings.
... See More... See Less
Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Moving to Triple-A
Rotowire
Atlanta optioned Smith-Shawver to Triple-A Gwinnett on Sunday.
Though Atlanta won't welcome Spencer Strider (elbow) back from the 15-day injured list until next week, Smith-Shawver will head to the minors now, with the team electing to proceed with Bryce Elder as its No. 5 starter. Smith-Shawver went 0-2 with a 4.61 ERA and 1.98 WHIP while issuing eight walks and striking out 17 over 13.2 innings, but an elevated .447 BABIP and 16.7 HR/FB% suggest that he likely would have been due for some positive regression. The 22-year-old could be back in the majors quickly if Elder struggles, or another rotation spot opens up due to injury.
... See More... See Less
Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Solid in no-decision
Rotowire
Smith-Shawver did not factor into the decision in Saturday's 5-4 win against the Rays, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks with seven strikeouts over five innings.
Smith-Shawver tossed 55 of 91 pitches for strikes while inducing 10 whiffs, including seven on his splitter. An Atlanta comeback ultimately prevented the 22-year-old from falling to 0-3, and this was actually his best outing of the season. He'll take a 4.61 ERA, 1.98 WHIP and 17:8 K:BB across 13.2 innings into a favorable matchup with the Twins next weekend.
Smith-Shawver (0-2) took the loss Saturday against the Marlins, allowing three runs on seven hits and three walks over 4.2 innings. He struck out six.
Smith-Shawver has displayed impressive swing-and-miss stuff to start the year, totaling 24 whiffs through his first two starts. However, it's yet to yield complete results for the young right-hander, as he's allowed five runs while posting a 2.19 WHIP across 8.2 innings to start the year. Smith-Shawver will look to turn things around in his next outing, which currently lines up as a tough home matchup with the Phillies.
Smith-Shawver (0-1) took the loss Sunday against San Diego, allowing two runs on six hits and three walks over four innings. He struck out four.
Smith-Shawver did a good job limiting the Padres to just two runs, though he lasted only four innings after throwing 77 pitches. Smith-Shawver won the final spot in Atlanta's rotation thanks to an impressive showing in spring training, but he came into the year with just 29.2 innings of regular-season experience under his belt. The 22-year-old right-hander will look for better results in his next outing, currently scheduled for next week against Miami.
Smith-Shawver is expected to begin the season in the Atlanta rotation, Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
With Ian Anderson traded to the Angels on Sunday and Bryce Elder optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett, Smith-Shawver is the last man standing in camp for the fifth starter job. The 22-year-old right-hander earned the assignment by posting a 20:5 K:BB through 16 Grapefruit League innings, and that strikeout potential gives him significant fantasy upside with a potent Atlanta offense at his back. Smith-Shawver will need to out-perform Grant Holmes to stay in the rotation once Spencer Strider (elbow) is cleared for his 2025 debut, however.
Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Could be part of initial rotation
Rotowire
Smith-Shawver was bumped from his Grapefruit League start Thursday and will pitch instead against the Rays on Friday, a move that suggests he's being put on schedule to start March 31 against the Dodgers, Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Atlanta begins the regular season with seven straight games before getting a day off, and with the workloads for Chris Sale and Reynaldo Lopez both under scrutiny, it seems likely the team will use a six-man rotation during that stretch. Smith-Shawver has been battling Ian Anderson for the fifth starter job, so the fact that he might work game No. 5 could be a sign he's in the lead for that assignment, although the battle looks like it will extend into the regular season. The 22-year-old top prospect has also been more effective than Anderson this spring -- Smith-Shawver has a dazzling 18:3 K:BB through 12 innings without allowing a homer, while Anderson has issued a ghastly 18 walks against only eight strikeouts in 17 Grapefruit League frames. Whoever winds up filling the last spot in the rotation once it's trimmed down to five may only be keeping it warm for Spencer Strider (elbow), who is targeting an April debut in 2025.
... See More... See Less
Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Impressing in camp
Rotowire
Smith-Shawver, who struck out eight over four innings in Saturday's Grapefruit League start against the Twins, could make the Opening Day roster even if Atlanta also carries Grant Holmes and Ian Anderson, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
He gave up two runs on six hits and zero walks in his most recent start, building up to a spring-high 75 pitches (55 strikes). Smith-Shawver seems to be a better bet than Anderson to provide fantasy value if given the opportunity, and Bowman notes that Atlanta plays seven straight days to open the season, so it could make sense for the team to break camp with six starters in case any of the first five stumble and length is needed from the bullpen. Anderson being out of options tips the scales in his favor, but Smith-Shawver's standout spring training shouldn't be overlooked. He has specifically impressed by leaning on his secondary pitches when he gets behind in counts, showing that he can throw all four pitches for strikes.
... See More... See Less
Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Still in mix for rotation spot
Rotowire
Smith-Shawver has a 3.38 ERA and 10:3 K:BB through eight Grapefruit League innings this spring as he attempts to win a spot in Atlanta's Opening Day rotation.
Grant Holmes and Ian Anderson were viewed as the favorites for the final two spots coming into camp, as both are out of minor-league options. Anderson has struggled to find the plate, however, stumbling to a 5:9 K:BB in his eight spring innings, although he's minimized the damage by giving up just two hits. If Atlanta eventually decides Anderson isn't up to the task, it could open the door for the 22-year-old Smith-Shawver to break camp on the 26-man roster. More likely, the young righty will return to Triple-A Gwinnett, where he posted a 4.86 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 104:40 K:BB over 87 innings in 2024.
9:37
8:57
1:10
0:44
1:05
1:04
1:49
1:53
8:52
1:07
1:09
3:05
1:52
0:26
9:57
9:06
0:58
