The status of the Atlanta Braves' rotation heading into 2027 is a hot topic. Much of that discussion has centered on whether or not the Braves can re-sign Tyler Mahle, what other external options exist for the team this offseason, and how much they should expect from injured arms like Spencer Strider and Spencer Schwellenbach. However, what hasn't been discussed all that much is how Reynaldo Lopez and Bryce Elder fit into the Braves' plans.
Elder and Lopez have similar profiles heading into the offseason, primarily in terms of health. Elder has long existed on the fringes of the Braves' rotation, and a knee injury kept him out during the Braves' playoff run. Lopez was also an on-again, off-again member of the rotation plans over the last couple of years, but a series of injuries also impacted his availability in 2026.
Down at the Winter Meeting, Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos was asked about Elder and Lopez's recoveries, and while the news was good, it should distract from the fact that both pitchers shouldn't be relied upon as starters going forward.
Bryce Elder and Reynaldo Lopez are healthy heading into the offseason, but that doesn't mean the Braves should count on them
It is objectively good news that both pitchers are healthy. For all of Elder's faults as a pitcher, he does have real value as a depth starting option. Lopez's role going forward is more speculative, given that the starting workload has clearly impacted his ability to stay on the field (particularly with his shoulder). However, this is the first time in a couple of years that Lopez has been described as fully healthy, and his arm talent is unimpeachable.
That said, they still should be treated as depth and nothing else. If a healthy Elder is starting every once in a while to give other starters an extra day or rest or something, that is fine. If Elder is treated like the Braves' #3 starter and starts every fifth game in 2027, that should be considered a failure. As for Lopez, he should probably shift full-time to the bullpen even if he is healthy, since his recent history of injuries points to that being the best option.
So far, we don't know exactly what the Braves' pitching plans are. As usual, Anthopoulos continues to play his cards close to his vest this offseason, and we probably won't know exactly what the Braves' strategy is until the team announces moves themselves. One hopes those plans don't include Lopez or Elder in Atlanta's rotation, because that would be disappointing on many levels.
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