Wentz (5-7) took the loss Friday against Pittsburgh, allowing four runs on eight hits and two walks in four innings. He struck out three.
Wentz didn't go out on a high note against a soft Pittsburgh lineup in his final appearance of 2025, working his second-shortest outing since becoming a starter in mid-July. The eight hits represented his second-most allowed of the season, though the southpaw at least managed to toss three scoreless frames around a four-run Pirates second inning. Wentz spent time with three different teams this year, and he'll close the campaign with an uninspiring 5.60 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 92:43 K:BB over 98 frames (13 starts).
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Braves' Joey Wentz: Fans seven in no-decision
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Wentz came away with a no-decision in Saturday's 6-5 win over the Tigers, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out seven.
The southpaw left the mound after 84 pitches (55 strikes) in line for his sixth win, but the bullpen let the lead slip away before Atlanta's offense rallied late. Wentz's performances have been erratic since joining the rotation, and over his last eight starts he's failed to complete five innings four times, leading to a 5.64 ERA, 1.64 WHIP and 37:14 K:BB through 36.2 innings during that span. He's scheduled to take the bump one more time in 2025, at home next weekend against the Pirates.
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Braves' Joey Wentz: Goes four innings vs. Houston
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Wentz did not factor into the decision Sunday against the Astros, allowing two runs on six hits and a walk over four innings. He struck out five.
It's the third straight start that Wentz has failed to make it past the fourth inning, though Sunday's outing is certainly a step in the right direction after he was tagged for eight runs (six earned) in just 2.1 frames his last time out against the Mariners. Overall, Wentz is 3-5 with a 4.75 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 54:19 K:BB across 55 innings with Atlanta this season.
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Braves' Joey Wentz: Implodes vs. Mariners
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Wentz (5-6) took the loss Sunday against the Mariners, allowing eight runs on eight hits and a walk across 2.1 innings. He struck out two.
It was a rough day for Wentz, who's now given up 19 runs in just 16.1 innings over his last four starts. Overall, the left-hander sports a 5.12 ERA with a 1.31 WHIP and 49 strikeouts across 51 innings with Atlanta this year. Wentz will look to get on track in his next outing, tentatively scheduled to come next week at home against the Astros.
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Braves' Joey Wentz: Taking mound Sunday
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Wentz is starting Sunday's game against the Mariners, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Spencer Strider was initially penciled in to start Sunday's series finale, but he'll get extra rest while Wentz is pushed up in the rotation. The southpaw has gone fewer than five frames in two of his past three starts, but overall Wentz has been a decent rotation piece for Atlanta with a 3.88 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 47:17 K:BB over 48.2 innings (nine starts).
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Braves' Joey Wentz: Poor showing in fourth loss
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Wentz (4-4) took the loss Friday against the Mets, allowing six runs on nine hits and two walks in 3.1 innings. He struck out three.
It was one of the worst outings of the year for Wentz, who tied a season high in runs allowed and set a season worst in hits allowed. The 3.1 innings were also the left-hander's fewest in a start this season. With Chris Sale (ribs) on a rehab assignment, Wentz could soon revert back to the bullpen. Wentz has a 3.94 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 34:14 K:BB over 38 frames for Atlanta, and his next appearance tentatively lines up to come on the road against the division-rival Marlins.
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Braves' Joey Wentz: Notches win with quality start
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Wentz (4-3) earned the victory over Cleveland on Saturday, allowing one run on three hits and two walks while striking out five batters over six innings.
The only run the Guardians scored off Wentz came on a third-inning Brayan Rocchio homer. The left-handed hurler was otherwise outstanding, recording his second quality start of the campaign and his second straight victory. Wentz has done well since moving into Atlanta's rotation July 19, registering a 2.87 ERA with a 25:11 K:BB over 31.2 innings spanning six starts. As such, he seems like a lock to remain in a starting role even when Chris Sale (ribcage) comes off the IL, which is likely to happen before the end of August.
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Braves' Joey Wentz: Earns third win
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Wentz (3-3) earned the win against the Marlins on Sunday, allowing one run four hits and three walks with two strikeouts over 5.1 innings.
Wentz generated just five whiffs on 88 pitches and allowed 11 hard-hit balls but limited the Marlins to a single run in the second inning. Since joining the rotation July 19, the southpaw has posted a 3.16 ERA over 25.2 innings. He'll carry a 5.03 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 54:30 K:BB across 62.2 frames this season into a road matchup with the Guardians next weekend.
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Braves' Joey Wentz: Tough night against Brew Crew
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Wentz (2-3) took the loss Tuesday as Atlanta fell 7-2 to the Brewers, coughing up five runs on seven hits and a walk over 5.1 innings. He struck out three.
Most of the damage off the southpaw came in the third inning, when Milwaukee strung together four singles -- two of which didn't leave the infield -- along with a walk, a stolen base and a wild pitch to cross the plate four times. Despite the stumble, Wentz has a 3.09 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 24:7 K:BB over his first 23.1 innings with Atlanta, and the team's injury-ravaged rotation has no better options to take a turn every fifth day. He'll look to bounce back in his next start, which is scheduled to come at home this weekend against the Marlins.
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Braves' Joey Wentz: Credits cutter for recent success
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Wentz adjusted the grip on his cutter last month, which he says has fueled his recent form, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
The 27-year-old southpaw struggled earlier in the season for the Pirates and Twins, but since Atlanta claimed him off the waiver wire July 11, Wentz has delivered a 1.50 ERA, 0.72 WHIP and 21:6 K:BB over 18 innings and four appearances (three starts). "Joey's been great," manager Brian Snitker said after Wednesday's game, in which Wentz blanked the Royals over 6.2 innings. "It's just been about getting him stretched out, and now he is. He's just kind of quietly doing a really, really good job for us. And we're in a situation because we were looking for starters." Wentz's mediocre big-league track record still outweighs his July numbers, but if his cutter has become a true out pitch, he might finally begin to live up to his draft pedigree after being the 40th overall selection in the 2016 First-Year Player Draft.
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Braves' Joey Wentz: Impressive in third start
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Wentz didn't factor into the decision Wednesday against the Royals, allowing just one hit and three walks over 6.2 scoreless innings. He struck out seven.
Making just his third start of the season, Wentz was stellar, holding the Royals to just one hit -- a single by Maikel Garcia to lead off the game. The 27-year-old left-hander has allowed just four runs (three earned) across 15 innings in his first three starts this year. Wentz has pitched for three teams this season (Atlanta, Minnesota and Pittsburgh) primarily in relief, posting a 5.02 ERA with a 1.44 WHIP and 49:26 K:BB across 52 innings. Wentz has certainly pitched well enough to earn an extended look in Atlanta's rotation, especially given how many starters the team currently has on the IL. He'd currently line up to face the Brewers at home in his next outing.
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Braves' Joey Wentz: Season-high six Ks in second loss
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Wentz (2-2) took the loss Friday against the Rangers, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits and one walk in 4.1 innings. He struck out six.
Wentz set a season high in strikeouts, and he also managed to throw a season-high 81 pitches. The 27-year-old left-hander appears close to being fully stretched out to take on a starter's workload, which should enhance his streaming appeal in deeper leagues when he's set for a favorable matchup. Wentz owns a 5.56 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 42:23 K:BB across 45.1 frames, and he's next tentatively lined up to face a Royals team with an .888 OPS versus left-handed pitching since the start of July.
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Braves' Joey Wentz: Receiving another start
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Wentz is slated to start Friday's game against the Rangers in Arlington.
Wentz will pick up a second straight start after he struck out two over four scoreless innings in his first turn through the rotation out of the All-Star break this past Saturday against the Yankees. After having mostly served as a reliever this season across stops with Pittsburgh, Minnesota and now Atlanta, Wentz is still in the process of getting stretched out, so he could be limited to around five innings or 70 pitches Friday.
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Braves' Joey Wentz: Clean outing in no-decision
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Wentz did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing two hits and one walk over four scoreless innings in a 12-9 loss against the Yankees. He struck out two.
Wentz pitched well with four shutout frames, though the Atlanta bullpen followed with a disastrous performance. The southpaw has bounced between three teams this season with mixed results, but he's off to a strong start in Atlanta, posting seven scoreless innings across two appearances. Saturday marked his first start of the year, so it remains to be seen whether he sticks in the rotation or shifts back to a bullpen role.
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Braves' Joey Wentz: Claimed by Atlanta
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Atlanta claimed Wentz off waivers Friday, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
Wentz was designated for assignment by the Twins on Wednesday, and he'll get a fresh start. He replaces Kevin Herget on the 40-man roster. Wentz has appeared in 25 MLB games this season, 19 with Pittsburgh and six with Minnesota. He's posted a 6.88 ERA and a 28:20 K:BB across 34 total innings.
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Twins' Joey Wentz: Claimed by Twins
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The Twins claimed Wentz off waivers from the Pirates on Wednesday.
Wentz is out of minor-league options and will be added to the Twins' active roster prior to Thursday's game against the Rangers. He's posted a 4.15 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 22:11 K:BB over 26 innings at the big-league level in 2025.
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Pirates' Joey Wentz: DFA'd by Pittsburgh
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The Pirates designated Wentz for assignment Saturday, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Wentz has pitched in 19 games for the Pirates this season, posting a 4.15 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 22:11 K:BB over 26 innings. His last outing took place back on May 27, when he earned a win in relief by throwing 3.2 innings of one-run ball. Per Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com, both righty reliever Isaac Mattson and catcher Brett Sullivan have lockers in Pittsburgh's clubhouse Saturday, so it sounds like additional moves are forthcoming.
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Pirates' Joey Wentz: Claimed by Pittsburgh
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The Pirates claimed Wentz off waivers from the Tigers on Tuesday.
Wentz was used as a full-time reliever this season for the first time, holding a 5.37 ERA and 60:27 K:BB over 55.1 innings. The left-hander is under team control through 2029 and is still just 26, so the Pirates thought he was worth a shot. Wentz is out of minor-league options, so he will report directly to the major-league club.
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Tigers' Joey Wentz: Scrubbed from 40-man roster
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The Tigers designated Wentz for assignment Friday, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Wentz struck out three over two scoreless frames in Thursday's loss to the Angels, but he had mostly struggled of late with a 5.66 ERA since July 1. The transaction frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for the return of Casey Mize (hamstring) from the 60-day injured list.
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Tigers' Joey Wentz: Earns first career save
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Wentz tossed three scoreless innings of relief to earn the save in Tuesday's 15-1 win over the Mariners. He walked one and struck out three.
It was about the easiest first career MLB save imaginable for Wentz, as he entered the game with that 15-1 lead already established. The lefty came into the night with a 6.57 ERA and 2.11 WHIP since the start of July, so it was refreshing to see him pitch well, even in the low-leverage spot. Wentz has limited fantasy value moving forward, however, given his middle-relief role and lack of consistency.