With the Atlanta Braves' current struggles, it feels premature to discuss postseason baseball at all, but examining which players will occupy the last few roster spots is an important exercise. Only 31 games remain in the regular season, and every at-bat or outing on the mound is vital for those trying to prove they are worth a 26-man postseason roster spot.
We know that most of the postseason roster is a lock, with stars like Ronald Acuña Jr. and Matt Olson set to determine how far the team can go in October. However, often times it is the "other guys" whose October hot streaks can carry a team for a deep postseason run. Let's take a way-too-early look at our projected 26-man postseason roster.
Lane Thomas opens the scoring with his first @Braves homer! pic.twitter.com/7HlPkhyITY
— MLB (@MLB) August 12, 2026
Projecting the Braves' postseason roster for 2026 as of now
Similar to regular season rules, playoff rosters are comprised of 26 players, with pitchers and position players evenly occupying 13 slots each. Depending on if the Braves begin their postseason in the Wild Card round or NLDS, strategy on which pitchers they choose to carry for a particular series.
Catchers (2): Drake Baldwin, Sean Murphy
Not much explanation needed here, Drake Baldwin and Sean Murphy figure to catch every inning of postseason baseball for Atlanta. Some teams opt to carry three catchers in the playoffs, but Atlanta does not have anyone in the organization that makes carrying three backstops an intriguing option.
Infielders (6): Matt Olson, Ozzie Albies, Austin Riley, Mauricio Dubon, Dominic Smith, Jim Jarvis
The final two names on the list feel like the two players most on the postseason roster bubble. Dominic Smith and Jim Jarvis have been struggling for quite some time, but no other infielders on the 40-man roster make much sense. The real battle here is Jarvis vs. veteran Ha-Seong Kim, and truthfully, the final month of the season could be the determining factor.
Outfielders (5): Ronald Acuña Jr., Michael Harris II, Mike Yastrzemski, Lane Thomas, Patrick Clohisy
This is the biggest "surprise" on the position player side, as outfielder Patrick Clohisy is not even on the 40-man roster yet. Atlanta's No. 16 prospect is a prolific baserunner and could be an amazing weapon in playoff baseball. Clohisy needs to be added to the roster soon to qualify for postseason consideration, but should he get the opportunity, his .938 OPS and 21 stolen bases in 35 Triple-A games could translate well in October.
Pitchers (13): Chris Sale, Tyler Mahle, Bryce Elder, Grant Holmes, Didier Fuentes, Dylan Lee, Dylan Dodd, Raisel Iglesias, Robert Suarez, AJ Smith-Shawver, Martin Perez, Victor Mederos, JR Ritchie
As previously mentioned, what round the Braves start in could determine which pitchers make the roster. Established names like Chris Sale, Dylan Lee, and Raisel Iglesias are locks, but Martin Perez, Victor Mederos, and JR Ritchie have to pitch well down the stretch to make the postseason roster.
If Atlanta can get a healthy Robert Suarez in October, the likes of Sale, Mahle, and Smith-Shawver should be enough to eat bulk innings as starters. Smith-Shawver could be an arm Atlanta chooses to piggyback in October, alongside Grant Holmes or 21-year-old Didier Fuentes. The formidable Dylan Lee, Robert Suarez, and Raisel Iglesias trio would help shorten postseason games for Walt Weiss. Meanwhile, the remaining pitchers on the roster offer a mixture of experience and stuff, helping bridge the gap depending on the game score and situation.
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