Braves Report: Vibes-based 2026 roster predictions

Hey, y’all.

Before we go any further, a request: Please send your favorite memories of the 2025 Braves season to tyler.estep@ajc.com.

Could be a play, a player, a game, an interview, whatever — so long as it gave your joy meter a jolt. Which is an important caveat in 2025. (I’m opting for Ronald Acuña Jr.’s huge homer on the first pitch he saw in his return from ACL surgery. It was also my birthday.)

If enough folks chime in, we’ll have a positivity party in next week’s newsletter.

Today, we’ll have to settle for a quick look at what’s on tap — and a few prognostications for 2026.

📺 How to watch: Games start at 6:40 p.m. Friday, 1:10 p.m. Saturday and 1:40 p.m. Sunday. All on FanDuel Sports.

⚾ The pitching matchups: For the Tigers series, in chronological order …

Also of note: The Braves called up 22-year-old pitcher Jhancarlos Lara. Considered the club’s No. 21 overall prospect, he’s pitched as both a starter and a reliever in the minors — and struck out 104 batters in just 68⅔ innings this season. Nasty work.

📝 The scouting report: The Tigers (85-68) lead the American League Central by 3½ games. Cy Young candidate Tarik Skubal pitched Thursday, so the Braves won’t see him.

Morton, the 41-year-old former Brave, has a 5.92 ERA since Baltimore traded him to Detroit at the deadline.

Today we’ll tackle the rotation and the infield. Give it a read, then email me with your own thoughts — and check beck next week for other position groups.

1️⃣ Chris Sale: I suppose there’s a universe where the Braves pursue some other big-name starter and decline to pick up Sale’s $18 million club option for next season. But that’s unlikely for a lot of reasons.

2️⃣ Spencer Schwellenbach: That fractured elbow should be all good for opening day. Giddy up.

3️⃣ Spencer Strider: Under contract through at least 2028 … and will hopefully settle into some version of his old self before then.

4️⃣ Hurston Waldrep: Expect a “competition” in spring training, but a 3.05 ERA and a strikeout per inning goes a long way toward calling dibs on a rotation spot.

Here’s where things get interesting. Possible fifth starters include:

With AJ Smith-Shawver also missing (at least) a significant chunk of 2026, this one’s hard to handicap.

🔮 My ideal scenario: Pencil in López, who has said he has no desire to return to the bullpen, as the fifth starter. Holmes returns to a reliever/spot starter role and Elder goes back to break-the-glass-in-case-of-emergency duty.

Then general manager Alex Anthopoulos signs some veteran no one knew was on the team’s radar.

1️⃣ Matt Olson: Back. Duh. Under contract through at least 2029.

2️⃣ Ozzie Albies: The Braves are staring down a $7 million club option for the second baseman and world-class vibes guy … who has been hurt and/or disappointing at the plate for the better part of two years now.

Barring his inclusion in some sort of trade, Albies figures to return. The price tag’s just low enough to inspire another year of wishful thinking.

3️⃣ Austin Riley: Back. Duh. Under contract through at least 2032 (hopefully with a healthy abdomen).

4️⃣ Ha-Seong Kim: I believe I’ve said this before, but I dig the way Kim has played shortstop since arriving from Tampa Bay. The soon-to-be 30-year-old could stay on with the Braves by acting on his $16 million player option for 2026 — or choose free agency to try to score a longer, more lucrative deal.

The latter might be a dicey move for someone who’s put up exactly 15 strong games after spending most of the season recovering from shoulder surgery and dealing with back issues. The Braves, meanwhile, sure seem to want him.

The other factor: Aside from Kim and Bo Bichette (who figures to get a long-term contract the Braves wouldn’t offer), the shortstop free agency class is pretty uninspiring.

🔮 My prediction: Wishful thinking? Maybe. But Kim stays. Our boy Nacho Alvarez serves as the primary backup infielder and Luke Williams moves to the bullpen full time.

(Kidding on that last one. I think.)

OK, so as alluded to above: Monday night’s home game against the Nats includes a Ronald Acuña Jr. “red carpet” bobblehead giveaway. More details on that here (he’s wearing a pink suit).