Ritchie (1-2) was tagged with the loss Wednesday in the 7-5 defeat to the Giants after he allowed five runs on five hits and three walks while striking out four in five innings.
Ritchie was tagged for five runs early as he gave up three home runs in the first two innings Wednesday. This was Ritchie's first start since being recalled from the minors last week. The 22-year-old was also a bit wild in the game, throwing strikes on only 54 of his 90 pitches and issuing at least three free passes for a fourth time in seven MLB outings. Spencer Strider's (elbow) presence on the injured list should allow Ritchie to pick up another start next week in San Diego.
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Braves' JR Ritchie: Entering rotation Wednesday
Rotowire
Ritchie is slated to start Wednesday's game against the Giants in Atlanta, Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
After being recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett, Ritchie joined the Atlanta bullpen and made just his second relief appearance since entering the professional ranks in 2022. He ended up piggybacking injured starter Spencer Strider (elbow) in Friday's loss to the Mets, striking out five batters and scattering two hits and two walks over five innings. With Strider landing on the injured list a day later, Ritchie will now be called upon to fill the open spot in the rotation. Strider lacks a clear timeline for a return, so Ritchie should be in line for multiple starts with the big club.
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Braves' JR Ritchie: Looks good in long relief
Rotowire
Ritchie gave up two hits and two walks over five scoreless relief innings in Friday's loss to the Mets. He struck out five.
The rookie right-hander finished out the game after Spencer Strider (forearm) was pulled following a leadoff walk to MJ Melendez in the bottom of the fourth inning while showing greatly diminished velocity. Strider has already been placed on the IL and is being sent for an MRI on Saturday, and Ritchie's impressive relief performance over 73 pitches (42 strikes) makes him the logical candidate to move into the rotation. Over 30.2 innings in the majors this season, Ritchie has a 3.82 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 26:18 K:BB.
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Braves' JR Ritchie: Returning to big leagues
Rotowire
Atlanta recalled Ritchie from Triple-A Gwinnett on Wednesday.
Ritchie had an up-and-down first stint in the majors, posting a 4.91 ERA and 21:16 K:BB over 25.2 innings in his five starts. It appears he will operate in a relief role this time around, providing the team with a bullpen arm capable of covering multiple innings.
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Braves' JR Ritchie: Sent back to minors
Rotowire
Atlanta optioned Ritchie to Triple-A Gwinnett on Tuesday.
Ritchie was tagged for six runs over four innings in Monday's loss to the Marlins. He was terrific in his major-league debut last month but wound up posting a 4.91 ERA and 21:16 K:BB over 25.2 innings in his five starts for Atlanta. With Ritchie back in the minors, Martin Perez should settle into a rotation spot for Atlanta.
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Braves' JR Ritchie: Crumbles in fourth inning
Rotowire
Ritchie (1-1) took the loss Monday against Miami, allowing six runs on six hits and one walk in four innings. He struck out four.
The rookie right-hander turned in his worst major-league start so far, surrendering a season-high six runs in a season-low four innings. Ritchie also plunked a pair of batters on the evening, with most of the damage being done during a disastrous fourth inning that saw the Marlins tag him for five runs. He's set to bring an underwhelming 4.91 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 21:16 K:BB over 25.2 frames into a difficult matchup against the division-rival Nationals this weekend.
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Braves' JR Ritchie: No-decision vs. Cubs
Rotowire
Ritchie did not factor into Wednesday's decision against the Cubs, allowing one run on two hits and three walks while striking out four across 4.1 innings.
Ritchie kept the Cubs off the board through the first four innings of Wednesday's game. He allowed two baserunners in the fifth before being replaced by Tyler Kinley, with the latter giving up an RBI single to Nico Hoerner for the Cubs' only run of the game. Ritchie ran up his pitch count to 87 while tossing 53 strikes (60.9 percent strike rate), but he failed to complete five frames for the first time through four MLB starts. He sits at a 3.32 ERA and 1.43 WHIP across 21.2 innings this season. His next start is slated for next week on the road against the Marlins.
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Braves' JR Ritchie: Set to start Wednesday
Rotowire
Ritchie will make his next start Wednesday against the Tigers in Atlanta, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Ritchie was exceptional in his major-league debut Thursday against the Nationals, earning a win while tossing seven innings of two-run ball and striking out seven batters. He'll now stick around with the major-league rotation for the time being, with Atlanta deciding to shift Reynaldo Lopez to bullpen in order to allow him to fix some mechanical issues. With Spencer Strider (oblique) on the cusp a return from the 15-day injured list, Atlanta will likely have just one spot in the rotation available for either Ritchie or Martin Perez once Strider is back in the fold.
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Braves' JR Ritchie: Added to roster ahead of debut
Rotowire
Atlanta selected Ritchie's contract from Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday.
Ritchie is set to make his major-league debut Thursday versus the Nationals. The 22-year-old has had a dominant run at Gwinnett to begin the 2026 campaign, collecting a 0.99 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 28:13 K:BB through 27.1 innings spanning five starts. It's likely to be just a spot start for Ritchie, as Spencer Strider (oblique) is due to rejoin the Atlanta rotation next week.
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Braves' JR Ritchie: Making MLB debut Thursday
Rotowire
Atlanta will select Ritchie's contract from Triple-A Gwinnett to start Thursday's game against the Nationals, Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Considered to be one of the best pitching prospects in Atlanta's farm system, Ritchie has posted a 0.99 ERA and 1.03 WHIP alongside a 28:13 K:BB through 27.1 innings (five starts) at Gwinnett this season. He's now earned the right to make a start with Atlanta and will take on a Nationals offense that ranks second in MLB with 142 runs scored through 25 games. The 22-year-old's time in the majors is likely to be brief, as Spencer Strider (oblique) is nearing the end of his rehab assignment and could return from the injured list next week. However, an impressive outing Thursday could buy Ritchie another start in the big leagues.
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Braves' JR Ritchie: Strong start to campaign
Rotowire
Ritchie has posted a 1.72 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 15:7 K:BB through 15.2 innings over three starts for Triple-A Gwinnett this season.
The 22-year-old right-hander is coming off his best outing of the year so far Tuesday, allowing just one run over seven innings against Nashville with a 7:1 K:BB. Ritchie isn't yet on the 40-man roster and may be behind Didier Fuentes in the pecking order for a promotion as a result if Atlanta needs rotation help, but he's building a string case to make his big-league debut at some point in 2026.
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Braves' JR Ritchie: Sharp in spring debut
Rotowire
Ritchie tossed two scoreless, no-hit innings in Atlanta's Grapefruit League game against the Twins on Sunday, walking one and striking out one.
The 22-year-old right-hander tossed 19 of 32 pitches for strikes in his spring debut. Ritchie is knocking on the door of the majors after posting a 3.02 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 61:27 K:BB through 11 starts and 59.2 innings for Triple-A Gwinnett last season, and while Atlanta doesn't want to rush him, he could be an injury or two away from getting thrust into the rotation.
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Braves' JR Ritchie: Fans career-high 11 at Gwinnett
Rotowire
Ritchie gave up one hit and two walks over six scoreless innings for Triple-A Gwinnett on Wednesday. He struck out 11.
The 11 Ks were a career high for the 22-year-old right-hander at any level. Ritchie has made an impressive return from May 2023 Tommy John surgery, beginning the season at High-A and now sitting one promotion away from his big-league debut. Over seven starts for Gwinnett, he's posted a 3.62 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 39:16 K:BB through 37.1 innings, and while Atlanta has little reason to bring him up in September, Ritchie could get an audition for a rotation spot next spring.
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Braves' JR Ritchie: Strong start to season
Rotowire
Ritchie has posted a 2.57 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 17:8 K:BB through 21 innings over four starts for High-A Rome.
The 21-year-old right-hander is looking to stay healthy this year after making a late-season return from Tommy John surgery in 2024. Ritchie's strikeout rate is down in the early going -- he fanned 48 over 42.1 innings between Single-A and High-A last year -- but he built up to 6.2 innings in his most recent outing April 22, allowing two runs on three hits with a 5:0 K:BB. Atlanta won't rush Ritchie up the ladder, but a promotion to Double-A in the second half wouldn't be surprising if he continues to have success in the South Atlantic League.
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Braves' JR Ritchie: Begins rehab assignment
Rotowire
Ritchie (elbow) allowed one hit and struck out one over two scoreless innings in his first rehab start Monday in the rookie-level Florida Complex League.
Ritchie appeared in his first game since undergoingTommy John surgery last May. Since being taken with the No. 35 overall pick in the 2022 First-Year Player Draft, the 20-year-old Ritchie has logged just 29.2 innings in the professional ranks. He's posted a 3.34 ERA and 40:8 K:BB during that time and could move his way up prospect lists if he's able to prove his health and regain his pre-surgery velocity and command.
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Braves' JR Ritchie: Headed for Tommy John surgery
Rotowire
Ritchie is scheduled to undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery Wednesday to repair a moderate UCL tear in his right elbow, Geoff Pontes of Baseball America reports.
In addition to sidelining Ritchie for the remainder of the 2023 campaign, the upcoming procedure is expected to keep the 19-year-old on the shelf for the majority -- if not all -- of the 2024 minor-league season. A 2022 first-round supplemental pick, Ritchie had turned in a 5.40 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 25:3 K:BB in 13.1 innings over four starts with Single-A Augusta before being deactivated May 11.
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Braves' JR Ritchie: Goes on IL
Rotowire
Single-A Augusta placed Ritchie (undisclosed) on its 7-day injured list Thursday.
Ritchie was deactivated five days after he exited his fourth start of the season with an unspecified injury. Over 13.1 innings with Augusta this season, Ritchie owns a 5.40 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 25:3 K:BB.
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Braves' JR Ritchie: Dealing with undisclosed injury
Rotowire
Ritchie left his most recent start for Single-A Augusta with an apparent injury, Garrett Spain of Battery Power reports.
He faced the minimum while striking out six through three innings in his May 6 start against Kannapolis, but he suffered an apparent injury on a pitch in the fourth inning and then missed badly on two pitches before calling for the catcher to come visit. The manager and trainer came out as well and Ritchie left with an undisclosed injury. The 6-foot-2 righty boasts a 25:3 K:BB in 13.1 innings while going around three innings per start for the GreenJackets.
