Smith-Shawver (0-2) took the loss Tuesday against the Rays after allowing four runs on five hits and two walks while striking out three over 3.1 innings.
Smith-Shawver immediately fell behind when Junior Caminero launched a 455-foot solo homer in the first inning, though Atlanta quickly tied the game. The right-hander's outing unraveled in the third, when Liam Hicks' two-run homer put Tampa Bay ahead for good before Victor Mesa added an RBI single. Smith-Shawver returned for the fourth but recorded only one out before being replaced by Brent Suter after a Yandy Diaz double, leaving Smith-Shawver with a 7.71 ERA through his first five starts of the season.
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Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Gives up five runs in loss
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Smith-Shawver (0-1) took the loss against the Nationals on Tuesday, allowing five runs on six hits and three walks while striking out five across four innings.
The five runs Smith-Shawver allowed in Tuesday's outing were his most in four starts this season, with four of those runs coming in the second inning. The 23-year-old right-hander finished his start having tossed 86 pitches (57 strikes) while generating 16 whiffs, and his five punchouts were a season high. Even though his start against Washington wasn't great, the fact that Smith-Shawver has tossed at least 86 pitches in each of his last two appearances is an encouraging sign that he has fully recovered from Tommy John surgery that he underwent in June of 2025. Atlanta is currently deploying a six-man rotation, so that puts Smith-Shawver in line to face the Rays at home next week.
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Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Tosses five innings in no-decision
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Smith-Shawver did not factor into the decision Wednesday against the Dodgers, allowing three runs on five hits and three walks while striking out three over five innings.
Smith-Shawver allowed a run in the second inning before Tommy Edman took him deep for a two-run homer in the third. Atlanta has made it clear that the right-hander will get an opportunity to show what he can do as part of a six-man rotation, and any further success could give him a shot at a permanent role should the club eventually return to five starters. Smith-Shawver has allowed nine runs across 13.2 innings through three starts this season. He's lined up for another difficult matchup Tuesday against the Nationals.
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Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Rough return to rotation
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Smith-Shawver didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 6-4 loss to the Twins, giving up four runs on five hits and three walks over 4.1 innings. He struck out three.
Making just his second big-league appearance of the season, Smith-Shawver retired the first seven batters he faced before the wheels began to come off in the third inning, as four straight Minnesota hitters reached base before the right-hander coaxed a double play out of Josh Bell to escape the jam. Smith-Shawver wasn't so lucky in the fifth, getting the hook after 75 pitches (49 strikes) following a bases-loaded walk to Bell. Atlanta has indicated the 23-year-old will remain in the rotation for now as part of a six-man unit -- the team is in the middle of a three-week stretch with just one scheduled off day that takes them to Sept. 3 -- but he'll need to perform better to keep his spot. Smith-Shawver is set to make his next trip to the mound at home next week against the Dodgers.
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Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Promotion coming soon
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Atlanta manager Walt Weiss said Wednesday that Smith-Shawver is "on the cusp" of being recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett, Barrett Sallee of 680 The Fan Atlanta reports.
Smith-Shawver has been on the shelf for most of the season while recovering from June 2025 Tommy John surgery, but he was activated in late July and then sent to Gwinnett after making a lone 4.1-inning spot start for the big club. The right-hander has turned in a pair of strong starts since heading to Gwinnett, including a gem of an outing Tuesday in which he struck out seven over 5.1 scoreless frames while permitting just one baserunner. Per Mark Bowman of MLB.com, Weiss made it clear Wednesday that he prefers to keep a five-man rotation intact, so once Smith-Shawver gets called up, Atlanta will likely look to move two of Reynaldo Lopez (knee), Tyler Mahle, Bryce Elder, Grant Holmes and Martin Perez to the bullpen.
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Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Activated ahead of start Wednesday
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Atlanta activated Smith-Shawver (elbow) from the 60-day injured list Wednesday.
Smith-Shawver will start the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader versus the Mets in what will be his first outing in the majors since he underwent Tommy John surgery in June 2025. The right-hander looked sharp in five rehab starts, collecting a 1.53 ERA and 21:5 K:BB over 17.2 innings. Smith-Shawver threw 86 pitches in his final rehab outing with Triple-A Gwinnett last Thursday, so he should be capable of working long enough in Wednesday's start to qualify for a win. He's not currently scheduled for any additional starts with Atlanta, but Smith-Shawver could force his way into the club's immediate plans if he pitches well Wednesday.
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Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Looks sharp in latest rehab start
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Smith-Shawver (elbow) allowed four hits and one walk while striking out five across 4.1 scoreless innings during his rehab start Saturday with Triple-A Gwinnett.
Smith-Shawver generated 13 whiffs on 72 pitches (43 strikes), and his fastball touched just over 99 mph during Saturday's rehab outing. His rehab assignment is set to run out July 29, so he could make at least a couple of more starts in the minors if Atlanta wants him to build up his pitch count further. Smith-Shawver is working his way back from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent last June.
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Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Not ready for activation
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Smith-Shawver (elbow) will make at least one more rehab start with Triple-A Gwinnett, Ken Sugiura of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Smith-Shawver is in the final stages of his recovery from June 2025 Tommy John surgery. but he's not quite there yet. The 23-year-old right-hander built up to 58 pitches (28 strikes) with Gwinnett on Saturday, but the results weren't pretty as he gave up two runs on five hits and three walks over 2.1 innings. On the bright side, his fastball sat 95-97 mph and topped out at 98.7 mph before he began to fade in his third and final frame. Smith-Shawver's rehab assignment runs out July 29, and if Atlanta decides to max that out, he could fit in three more starts before coming off the IL.
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Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Moving up to Gwinnett
Rotowire
Smith-Shawver (elbow) will make his next rehab start Saturday with Triple-A Gwinnett, Chad Bishop of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
The 23-year-old right-hander is closing in on his return to the big-league rotation following Tommy John surgery in June 2025. Smith-Shawver has made two rehab starts for Single-A Augusta, producing a 9:0 K:BB over seven innings while allowing just one run, and he built up to 46 pitches in his most recent outing July 5. He'll likely need at least two more rehab starts before Atlanta considers activating him, giving him a chance to make his 2026 debut before the end of the month.
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Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Kicking off rehab stint Thursday
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Smith-Shawver (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment Thursday at Atlanta's spring training facility in Florida, Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
The 23-year-old right-hander is set to throw 35-to-40 pitches over two innings in a simulated game. Smith-Shawver is heading into the final stretch of his recovery from June 2025 Tommy John surgery, and he's on track to be an option for Atlanta's big-league rotation sometime after the All-Star break. Over his first seven starts in 2025 prior to developing elbow trouble, Smith-Shawver had a 2.33 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 40:17 K:BB in 38.2 innings.
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Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Throwing bullpen sessions
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Manager Walt Weiss said Friday that Smith-Shawver (elbow) has been throwing bullpen sessions, and the next step in his rehab is to face live hitters, Grant McAuley of the Marietta Daily Journal reports.
There hasn't been much info on Smith-Shawver's progress from Tommy John surgery, but Weiss said the right-hander has been throwing high-intensity bullpens, and it sounds like he's close to facing hitters. Once Smith-Shawver gets in some live batting practice, he'll likely then head out on an extended rehab assignment before having a chance to rejoin Atlanta's rotation later this summer.
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Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Shifts to 60-day IL
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Atlanta placed Smith-Shawver (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Friday.
The right-hander is working through his rehab program after undergoing Tommy John surgery in June of last year, so his move to the 60-day IL early this season was an eventuality. Smith-Shawver could rejoin Atlanta during the second half of 2026 if he can avoid any setbacks.
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Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Opens season on 15-day IL
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Atlanta placed Smith-Shawver (elbow) on the 15-day injured list Wednesday.
Smith-Shawver is still on the mend from the Tommy John surgery he underwent June 9 of last year and isn't expected to be ready to pitch for Atlanta until late in the 2026 season, if at all. Atlanta will eventually move him to the 60-day IL when it needs to open up another spot on the 40-man roster.
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Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Undergoes Tommy John surgery
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Atlanta announced Monday that Smith-Shawver (elbow) underwent Tommy John surgery and will miss the remainder of the 2025 season.
This was the expected outcome after Smith-Shawver was diagnosed with a torn UCL in his pitching elbow, which he suffered May 29. Smith-Shawver was placed on the 60-day injured list the following day and is looking at a lengthy rehab. Prior to his injury, Smith-Shawver (3-2) made nine starts for Atlanta this season, registering a 3.86 ERA and 42:21 K:BB across 44.1 innings of work. Grant Holmes and Bryce Elder round out Atlanta's rotation behind Chris Sale, Spencer Strider and Spencer Schwellenbach. Fellow starter Reynaldo Lopez (shoulder) remains on the 60-day IL.
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Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Diagnosed with torn UCL
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Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said Friday that Smith-Shawver has been diagnosed with a torn UCL in his right elbow, Grant McAuley of the Marietta Daily Journal reports.
Atlanta placed Smith-Shawver landed on the 15-day injured list Thursday, after team doctors determined that he had sustained a right elbow strain during his start earlier that day in the first game of a doubleheader versus the Phillies. After further evaluation, it was apparent that Smith-Shawver was headed for a long-term absence, so Atlanta transferred him to the 60-day IL on Friday. With UCL damage in his elbow having now been confirmed, Smith-Shawver will require a surgical procedure, though Snitker noted that it hasn't been determined whether the right-hander would require Tommy John surgery or another type of procedure. Surgery of any kind would almost certainly spell an end to Smith-Shawver's season while also affecting his availability for the start of the 2026 campaign. Bryce Elder will be called up from Triple-A Gwinnett to join the rotation as a replacement for Smith-Shawver, who will finish the 2025 season with a 3-2 record to go with a 3.86 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 42:21 K:BB across 44.1 innings.
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Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Shifts to 60-day IL
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Atlanta transferred Smith-Shawver (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Friday.
The right-hander landed on the 15-day IL after suffering an elbow strain during the first game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Phillies, and his quick move to the 60-day IL is an indication it isn't a minor issue. The severity of the strain isn't yet known, but Smith-Shawver will be sidelined for at least the next two months.
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Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Hit by comebacker, exits game
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Smith-Shawver was removed from his start in the first game of Thursday's doubleheader against Philadelphia after getting hit in his lower right leg by a comebacker, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. He struck out a batter and gave up two earned runs on three hits and one walk over 2.2 innings prior to his exit.
A 96-mile-per-hour line drive off the bat of Bryson Stott connected with Smith-Shawver's foot/ankle during the third inning. The 22-year-old righty attempted to remain in the game after getting hit but faced just one additional batter before manager Brian Snitker pulled the plug on him. Atlanta will presumably take a look at the young starter to make sure he didn't suffer any structural damage, and the team should offer an update on his status relatively soon.
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Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Atlanta-Philadelphia postponed
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Smith-Shawver and Atlanta will not play the Phillies on Wednesday after the game was postponed due to rain, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
Smith-Shawver will have a second consecutive start postponed, with his May 21 outing also getting pushed back a day due to rain in Washington. Wednesday's contest will be made up Thursday, as Atlanta and Philadelphia will play a split doubleheader. Per Mark Bowman of MLB.com, Smith-Shawver will pitch in Game 1.
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Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Atlanta-Washington postponed
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Smith-Shawver and Atlanta won't play the Nationals on Wednesday after the game was postponed due to rain in Washington.
The two teams will make up the postponed game Sept. 16 as part of a doubleheader. Smith-Shawver's start has been pushed back a day to Thursday's series finale in Washington, per Gabe Burns of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
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Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Throws six strong innings
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Smith-Shawver (3-2) picked up the win Thursday against the Nationals, allowing one unearned run on two hits and two walks across six innings. He struck out six.
The only damage against Smith-Shawver came in the sixth inning, when a two-out fielding error by Austin Riley allowed CJ Abrams to score from second base. It was another excellent start from the 22-year-old, who's allowed just one earned run in his last 19.2 innings. On the year, Smith-Shawver has a 2.33 ERA and a 40:17 K:BB across 38.2 innings. He's in line to make his next start Thursday for a road matchup against Washington.
