Atlanta Braves fans were already very skeptical of Bryce Elder in the team's rotation. While Elder has certainly had his positive moments from time to time, his starts often turn into adventures and range from mediocre to terrible far more often than you want on a contending team. However, Elder's lack of minor league options already gave him an inside track, and while his most recent spring training start was a disaster, that same start saw one of his rotation competitors go down with an injury.
After going 3.1 innings while giving up five runs on six hits and three walks against just two strikeouts. That was almost good news to those who wanted the Braves to go in a different direction. However, one of the other names vying for a starting spot is Joey Wentz, but he suffered a knee injury and had to be carted off the field. Thankfully, he was able to walk into the clubhouse under his own power.
Joey Wentz injured his right leg while covering first base. He was carted off the field, but he walked in the clubhouse under his own power. Initial diagnosis is promising. He’s day-to-day for now.
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) March 8, 2026
Bryce Elder's dud of a start and Joey Wentz's injury scare have the Braves even more on the edge of disaster
Now, early reports are that Wentz may have dodged a bullet. It is almost always really bad news if a player has to be carted off the field. Based on what has come out thus far, it sounds like Wentz was just in a lot of pain initially, but may have avoided major structural damage to his knee, though we may not know for sure until a day or two from now.
However, this game is a reminder of just how little margin for error the Braves have right now. There is no shortage of those who wish Atlanta would just let Elder walk instead of preserving his roster spot, but those same people would probably struggle to assemble a passable rotation if the Braves were to do so with Wentz, Spencer Schwellenbach, and Hurston Waldrep hurt. At some point, Atlanta may just feel like they would have to take their chances.
Now, that doesn't mean that Elder in the rotation is an inevitability...yet. JR Ritchie has looked good this spring, and again, it looks like Wentz may end up being just fine. It certainly hasn't hurt their cause that banged-up starters Grant Holmes and Reynaldo Lopez appear to be healthy this spring. Unfortunately, the Braves can't afford to have much more go wrong heading into 2026. Otherwise, this coming season might end up being similar to 2025.