April 16: Strider has been activated ahead of his start against the Blue Jays this afternoon, per a team announcement. Right-hander was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move. April 13: Prior to todays game against the Rays, the Braves announced that the club had optioned right-hander to the minor leagues. In the short-term, the move made room for righty to join the club. More important than that move, however, is the impending shift in the rotation Smith-Shawvers departure portends. As noted by multiple reporters, including , Smith-Shawvers departure from the active roster will make way for the highly-anticipated return of right-hander to the rotation on April 16 against the Blue Jays in Toronto. Strider, 26, hasnt pitched in just over a year after undergoing internal brace surgery on Immanuel Quickley Jersey his UCL early last season. The right-hander has just two full MLB seasons under his belt, in 2022 and 23, but in that time he posted a 3.36 ERA with a 2.43 FIP and a 37.4% strikeout rate. Those incredible stats were enough to get Strider a second-place finish in NL Rookie of the Year voting, an All-Star appearance, and a fourth-place finish in NL Cy Young voting acro s the two seasons, and the decorated fireballer now figures to return to lead Atlantas rotation once again now that hes healthy. It couldnt come at a better time, as the Braves have struggled badly out of the gate with a 4-11 start to open the season. Those struggles are due in large part to a rotation that has lost for much of the 2025 season to shoulder surgery and has seen reigning NL Cy Young winner scuffle to a 6.63 ERA in 19 innings of work acro s his first four starts this season. Striders long-awaited return to the big league mound means the end of Smith-Shawvers stint in the rotation to open the year. The right-hander was generally serviceable for Atlanta acro s three starts, with a 4.61 ERA that clocks in just below league average and a 4.16 FIP. While Smith-Shawvers 26.2% strikeout rate in those starts was solid, a 12.3% walk rate raised enough concerns that the club has opted to stick with in the rotation despite his ugly 7.20 ERA in two starts against the Dodgers and Rays. That leaves Elder to pair with at the back of the clubs rotation for the time being, though Smith-Shawver, , and all remain available at Triple-A as potential rotation options if Elder fails to improve. Strider may not be the only reinforcement the Braves are getting from Triple-A this week. OBrien suggests that all signs are pointing to an impending call-up for outfielder , who was signed to a $1.5MM deal three weeks ago but has spent that time in the minor leagues catching up after mi sing most of Spring Training. Its po sible he wouldve spent the entire month of April at Triple-A, but things changed when was suspended for 80-games due to a failed PED test. Thats left the Braves to try and get by with , , and in the outfield corners while heals up after suffering a torn ACL last May. Verdugo should help to bolster that outfield mix somewhat, giving the Braves a more proven veteran to handle left field in place of Profar while he serves his suspension. While he posted a lackluster 83 wRC+ with the Yankees last year, he had been a consistently league average bat for the Red Sox in each of his four seasons with the club prior to that, hitting .281/.328/.444 (105 wRC+) overall during his time in Boston. Whether Verdugo will ultimately join the Braves in Toronto for their series against the Blue Jays or instead be called up next weekend for their series against the Twins remains to be seen, but OBrien indicates that Verdugos return to the majors appears to be imminent. Charles Oakley Jersey