Atlanta Braves

The Braves signed Sandy Leon on a minor league deal.

Fantasy Impact: Leon will hold a depth role behind the plate for Atlanta. He'll likely open the season in Triple-A.

Ronald Acuna Jr. (knee) is unlikely to be ready by Opening Day, per Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos. (Source: Justin Toscano on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Acuna is a candidate to start the season on the injured list as he continues to recover from a torn ACL. The Braves will likely have a clearer timeline of a potential return date in spring training.

Spencer Strider (elbow) is unlikely to be ready for Opening Day, per Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos. (Source: Justin Toscano on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Anthopoulos stated previously that Strider may not be able to make his season debut until June. The Braves will likely be able to provide a clearer timeline at the start of spring training.

Joe Jimenez underwent knee surgery and is expected to miss the next 8-to-12 months. (Source: Mark Bowman on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: This is a major loss for the Braves, as Jimenez pitched to a 2.62 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP over 69 appearances last season. The Braves will likely look to replace the injured reliever with a free agent option prior to the start of the 2025 season.

The Braves have declined their club option on Travis d'Arnaud. (Source: Mark Feinsand on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: The Braves originally stated they were going to pick up the veteran's option, but they have changed course. He will now hit the free agent market after posting a .238 average, with 15 home runs, and 48 RBI in 99 games last season.

The Braves have exercised their club option on Marcell Ozuna. (Source: Mark Feinsand on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Ozuna will return to the Braves' roster after a great 2024 season. The veteran DH posted a .302 average, with 39 home runs, and 104 RBI last season.

The Braves have declined their $7 million club option on Luke Jackson. (Source: Mark Feinsand on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Jackson will now head to free agency. The 33-year-old posted a 5.09 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP in 52 appearances last season.

The Braves have signed Aaron Bummer to a two-year, $13 million deal. (Source: Braves on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Bummer was already signed for two years under club options, but the re-worked deal with save the Braves on payroll in 2024. He posted a 3.58 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP with the Braves last season.

The Braves have Reynaldo Lopez have agreed to a three-year, $30 million deal. (Source: Braves on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Lopez and the Braves worked out a re-worked deal that will help save the team some on its payroll in 2024. The 30-year-old is coming off a season where he posted a 1.99 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP in 26 games with the Braves.

Jorge Soler has been traded to the Los Angeles Angels. (Source: Jeff Passan on X)

Fantasy Impact: Soler was traded to the Braves last season after signing a three-year, $42 million deal with the Giants. The return to the Braves has yet to be announced, but Soler figures to be a near-everyday player for the Angels in 2025.

Braves manager Brian Snitker said Max Fried was pulled early partially because of when he was hit by a comebacker in the first inning. (Source: Justin Toscano on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Fried allowed five runs on eight hits across two innings. The Padres swept the Braves on Wednesday as San Diego advances to play the Dodgers in the NLDS.

Sean Murphy is batting seventh and catching Sunday vs the Royals. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: Murphy will get the nod behind the plate as the Braves look to clinch a playoff spot. He is hitting .098 in September.

Matt Olson went 2-for-4 in the Braves' 2-1 victory over the Royals.

Fantasy Impact: Despite not contributing to the runs or RBIs, Olson managed to notch a couple of hits, which could help maintain his batting average, currently sitting at .247 for the season. With 29 homers and 98 RBIs this year, Olson remains a significant power threat, although his high strikeout rate (166 strikeouts) continues to be a concern for fantasy managers. His consistent power numbers and ability to get on base (.339 wOBA) keep him relevant in fantasy lineups, but the lack of multi-category contributions in games like today's shows some of the limitations in his fantasy impact.

The Braves optioned John Brebbia to Triple-A Gwinnett.

Fantasy Impact: Brebbia was sent down to make room for Reynaldo Lopez who was activated from the injured list.

The Braves-Mets games scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday have been postponed due to inclement weather. (Source: Joel Sherman on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: According to Joel Sherman, the plan is to play a doubleheader on Monday. MLB will likely officially announce the start times for both games soon.

Spencer Schwellenbach delivered a strong performance, allowing just one earned run on three hits and one walk while striking out four over seven innings in Tuesday's 5-1 victory against the Mets.

Fantasy Impact: This outing continues a solid season for Schwellenbach, who now boasts a 3.47 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP through 20 starts. His ability to maintain a high strikeout rate (9.4 K/9) and a favorable strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.30) reinforces his value in fantasy leagues, particularly in formats that reward strikeouts and WHIP. Given his consistent performance and ability to limit base runners, Schwellenbach remains a reliable option for fantasy managers seeking stability in their pitching rotations.

Michael Harris II delivered a strong performance in the Braves' 5-1 win against the Mets, going 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, two runs scored, and two RBI.

Fantasy Impact: This outing underscores his potential as a valuable asset in fantasy lineups, especially given his ability to contribute across multiple categories. Harris II's season batting average now sits at .266, with his power numbers showing a promising uptick to 16 home runs. While his strikeout rate remains a concern, his consistent ability to put the ball in play and generate extra-base hits can offset those strikeouts for fantasy managers looking for outfield productivity. His performance in this game should reassure managers of his role in a potent Braves lineup, making him a viable option in most fantasy formats.

Austin Riley (hand) will not return this season. (Source: Justin Toscano on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Riley underwent a CT scan Monday that revealed there was not enough healing in his hand for him to return this season. Gio Urshela will likely remain the primary third baseman for the Braves for the remainder of the season.

Gio Urshela contributed significantly in the Braves' 6-2 victory over the Marlins, going 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI.

Fantasy Impact: His performance included a key home run that bolstered the Braves' offense in their win. Despite a modest season batting average of .246, Urshela's ability to drive in runs, now totaling 49 RBI, remains a critical asset for fantasy managers. His power numbers have been less than stellar with only seven home runs over 121 games, but games like this highlight his potential value in deeper fantasy leagues, especially in matchups favorable to hitters. His low walk and strikeout rates suggest a relatively stable, if unspectacular, fantasy option at third base.

Charlie Morton struggled in Friday's 4-3 loss to the Marlins, allowing four earned runs on seven hits and four walks while striking out three over six innings.

Fantasy Impact: This performance slightly inflates his already middling ERA to 4.08 and WHIP to 1.32 for the season, which are concerning metrics for fantasy managers relying on him for better outcomes. His strikeout rate remains decent at 9.2 K/9, but his FIP at 4.42 suggests some underlying issues that haven't improved. Given these numbers, Morton's reliability as a fantasy starter is becoming more questionable, and managers might want to consider matchup-based plays or seek more consistent options.