The Braves are expected to further evaluate Hurston Waldrep.

EDGE Analysis

Waldrep's velo was down and he was removed after 36 pitches while pitching for Triple-A Gwinnett on Sunday. There should be an update on him later in the week.

Atlanta optioned Waldrep to Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday.

EDGE Analysis

Waldrep looked rusty in two starts and one relief appearance during his first stint with the big club this season, posting an 8.44 ERA, 2.16 WHIP and 9:10 K:BB over 10.2 innings. The young right-hander could eventually get another chance in the Atlanta rotation after the All-Star break, but he'll try to sharpen up at Gwinnett first. JR Ritchie is entering the rotation in Waldrep's place.

Waldrep (0-1) took the loss against the Pirates on Tuesday, allowing seven runs on six hits and five walks with two strikeouts over 3.1 innings.

EDGE Analysis

All seven runs came via two Ryan O'Hearn home runs, but Waldrep threw just 45 of 84 pitches for strikes and generated only five whiffs. The 24-year-old has been shaky so far in his return to Atlanta's rotation, allowing 10 earned runs over two starts after throwing two scoreless frames in relief in his first appearance of the season June 28. He'll try to find his footing entering the All-Star break in a road matchup with the Cardinals this weekend.

Waldrep is slated to start Tuesday's game against the Pirates in Pittsburgh, Lindsay Crosby of BravesToday.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Waldrep made his 2026 debut for Atlanta out of the bullpen before entering the rotation last week when Bryce Elder's turn was skipped. Though he fell just shy of the benchmarks for a quality start after allowing three earned runs over 5.1 innings last Thursday against the Cardinals, Waldrep will end up sticking around in the rotation while Elder slots back in as a replacement for the injured Martin Perez (forearm). Waldrep tentatively lines up for a two-start week, with his second outing expected to come Sunday in a rematch with the Cardinals on the road.

Waldrep took a no-decision Thursday against the Cardinals, allowing three runs on five hits and one walk in 5.1 innings. He struck out four.

EDGE Analysis

Waldrep gave up all three of his runs in the opening frame, but he was at least able to settle in afterwards and push for a quality start. The 24-year-old right-hander threw 76 pitches in his second major-league outing of 2026, so he may not be fully built up to handle a traditional starter's workload quite yet. Waldrep is contending with Grant Holmes' for a rotation spot going forward, and Thursday's showing might have offered the club enough positive takeaways to hand Waldrep another chance to start next week in Pittsburgh.

Atlanta manager Walt Weiss confirmed that Waldrep will start Thursday's game against the Cardinals, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Waldrep made his 2026 debut with Atlanta last Friday, pitching two innings of relief behind starter Reynaldo Lopez. Both pitchers will be in the rotation this week, as Bryce Elder will have his turn skipped. Though Elder is expected to return to the rotation next week, Waldrep could end up sticking around in a starting role, as Atlanta is contemplating moving Grant Holmes to the bullpen. Waldrep's performance Thursday will likely influence that decision, though the right-hander shouldn't be expected to work more than five or six innings, regardless of how well he's pitching. Since completing his recovery from a Feb. 23 elbow procedure and beginning a rehab stint at the beginning of June, Waldrep hasn't tossed more than 71 pitches or covered more than 4.2 innings in any outing.

Waldrep could start Thursday's game against the Cardinals if he isn't needed out of the bullpen Wednesday, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Reynaldo Lopez is starting Wednesday's game, and if he's able to go at least 4-to-5 innings, it will likely be Waldrep that starts Thursday's series finale. If the right-hander has to pitch in relief Wednesday, Grant Holmes could draw Thursday's start. Waldrep had surgery to remove loose bodies from his right elbow back in February, but he threw 55 pitches over two scoreless relief innings during his season debut for Atlanta last week. His highest pitch count in five rehab starts was 71, so the righty is not fully stretched out yet.

Waldrep is a likely candidate to join the Atlanta rotation in the near future, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 24-year-old right-hander was added to the 26-man roster Friday and threw 55 pitches over two relief innings that day, working behind Reynaldo Lopez. Lopez's next start is scheduled for Wednesday and manager Walt Weiss has hinted that the duo could be piggybacked, but Atlanta is also likely looking for ways to get Bryce Elder some extra rest, as he showed reduced velocity in his last start and has struggled over the second half of June. Once Waldrep is further stretched out, he could join a six-man rotation that gets the team through to the All-Star break -- Atlanta doesn't get another day off before the break once they begin a series against the Cardinals on Tuesday.

Waldrep allowed two hits and four walks while striking out three over two scoreless innings of relief in Friday's 3-1 win over San Francisco.

EDGE Analysis

Waldrep made his major-league season debut Friday. He had pitched in the minors, starting five games at three different levels, though he pitched to a combined 3.52 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 13:11 K:BB in those games prior to his call-up. Waldrep doesn't appear to be fully stretched out -- he threw 55 pitches (28 strikes) in Friday's game. The right-hander also has some control issues to work through before he could be trusted with a starting role. Atlanta has a gap in its rotation that will likely last through July, so it's possible Waldrep and Atlanta's starter Friday, Reynaldo Lopez, end up working in some sort of tandem arrangement. Atlanta hasn't revealed its plans for the next time this spot in the rotation comes up next week at home versus St. Louis.

Atlanta recalled Waldrep from Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday.

EDGE Analysis

Waldrep has yet to make his season debut for Atlanta after undergoing surgery to remove loose bodies from his right elbow back in February. The 24-year-old was reinstated from the IL on June 12 and has been with Gwinnett ever since. Atlanta placed Robert Suarez (elbow) on the 15-day IL, opening a roster spot for Waldrep with the big-league club.