After winning six straight games, the Atlanta Braves suffered an 11-4 loss to the Washington Nationals on Tuesday. On a roll, the Braves have decided to shake up their pitching staff for Games 2 and 3, which includes rookie right-hander Didier Fuentes getting the call to start.
The Atlanta Braves are recalling Didier Fuentes to start against the Washington Nationals
According to the Braves on X, Fuentes has been recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett and will start Game 2 versus the Nationals on Wedensday. To clear a spot on the active roster for the 20-year-old, right-hander Ian Hamilton was designated for assignment. Hamilton appeared in one game and allowed three earned runs against the Nationals.
The #Braves today recalled RHP Didier Fuentes to Atlanta and designated RHP Ian Hamilton for assignment. Fuentes will start tonight’s game.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) April 22, 2026
Left-hander Martin Perez was the scheduled starter for Wednesday, but will start on Thursday instead. Fuentes has been outstanding while pitching in Gwinnett. In three starts, he has a 1-1 record and a 2.16 ERA, and 20 strikeouts in 16.2 innings. The rookie right-hander made one appearance for the Braves, striking out four Kansas City Royals in four innings on March 29.
Fuentes’ Past and Future
In his last start (April 14), Fuentes was not great, throwing seven innings where he allowed four earned runs and struck out five. Built up to be a starter, Fuentes will offer the Braves a valuable weapon. Fuentes carries a four-seam fastball, a splitter, and a slider in his arsenal, with his fastball averaging 95 miles per hour. Fuentes is the Braves’ third-ranked prospect and could be in line to make one more start after Wedensday. Right-Hander Spencer Strider continues his rehab stint and will soon return to the rotation.
Once Strider returns, the Braves will be faced with another roster decision. Fuentes’s performance over the next two weeks will tell whether or not if he’ll get sent back to Gwinnett. If Fuentes stays, Perez could once again find himself on the wrong end of a designation for assignment. Perez was designated for assignment on April 12 and he re-signed three days later and started on April 17.
The Braves welcome the Philadelphia Phillies into town for a three-game series
The Braves will welcome the Philadelphia Phillies for a three-game series over the weekend. After shifting things against the Nationals, left-hander Chris Sale will start against the Phillies on Sunday. Sale carved up the Phillies last week when he faced them, striking out seven in seven innings, while allowing one earned run.
Today's originally scheduled starter Martin Perez will now start tomorrow instead of Chris Sale. There's a chance Sale would start Friday. But the Braves haven't finalized their rotation plans for the Phillies series.
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) April 22, 2026
Starting Sale on Sunday, right-handers Grant Holmes and Bryce Elder will start on Friday (Holmes) and Saturday (Elder).
Holmes was okay in last time out against the Phillies. In 4.2 innings, Holmes allowed three earned runs, two walks, and six strikeouts. Elder did not face the Phillies, but struck out six in 6.2 innings against the Nationals on April 20.
(Top Image Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images)
