Braves Option Hurston Waldrep, JR Ritchie Set to Start Sunday

In a familiar twist for the Atlanta Braves, the team has made a roster move as they navigate the ups and downs of the season. Hurston Waldrep’s recovery has been anything but straightforward. After showing promise late last year, the right-hander faced setbacks, including an elbow cleanup that limited his appearances. Despite posting a solid 1.2 fWAR in 56 1/3 innings, Waldrep’s recent outings have raised concerns.

His 2026 debut was challenging, marked by a 3/4 K/BB ratio over two innings of relief, yet somehow the Braves managed to keep the scoreboard clean. Waldrep’s first start back featured a more acceptable 4/1 K/BB ratio across five innings, but a hit-by-pitch and a three-run homer quickly put the Braves in a 3-0 deficit. A subsequent outing in Pittsburgh proved disastrous as Waldrep struggled with his breaking pitches, leading to a blowout loss.

With Waldrep’s difficulties evident, the Braves are opting to welcome back Tyler Kinley, who has been away for personal reasons, and will lean on a more robust bullpen for the time being. Mark Bowman reports that JR Ritchie will take the mound on Sunday. Ritchie’s rookie season has not gone smoothly, reflected in his stats (108/130/116), and he has primarily served as a multi-inning relief option in July. However, this weekend presents another opportunity for him to turn the tide.

While it’s hard to determine if Waldrep’s inconsistency is any worse than Ritchie’s struggles over the past ten outings, the Braves are hopeful that a ‘Johnny Wholestaff’ approach could mitigate the risk of either young arm faltering. With the season in full swing, Atlanta is looking to find the right mix to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.