The Atlanta Braves announced a roster move before Friday's game against the Colorado Rockies.
The Atlanta Braves enter Friday with MLB’s best record at 22-10, sitting comfortably on top in the National League East despite dealing with a ton of pitching injuries that would sink most teams.
Their rotation and bullpen have been hit repeatedly, yet the Braves continue to win, a reality that should concern the rest of the league. Ahead of Friday’s matchup against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field, the club made another significant round of roster adjustments.
“The #Braves today recalled RHP Hunter Stratton to Atlanta and selected RHP Anthony Molina to the major league roster. The club designated RHP Joel Payamps and LHP Jose Suarez for assignment,” the Braves wrote on X.
The moves reflect both performance struggles and the need for roster flexibility. Jose Suarez, who had been with Atlanta for parts of the past two seasons, simply never found his stride in 2026.
The 28-year-old left-hander posted a 6.61 ERA across 16 1/3 innings and continued to battle command issues. Suarez is out of minor league options, leaving the Braves with no choice but to designate him for assignment.
Once a dominant setup arm with the Milwaukee Brewers, Joel Payamps has not resembled that pitcher for two seasons. He allowed nine runs in 7 2/3 innings with Atlanta this year and struggled with both command and hard contact.
The Braves took a chance on him after claiming him last September and tendering him a contract over the winter, but the results never stabilized. Like Suarez, Payamps is out of options, making a DFA the only path to open roster space.
In their place, the Braves are turning to Hunter Stratton and Anthony Molina. Stratton pitched well for Atlanta last season and has been solid at Triple-A, giving the Braves a new right-handed arm capable of handling middle-inning work.
Molina, a waiver claim this past offseason from the Colorado Rockies, will get another chance at the MLB-level. He struggled over the past two seasons in Coors Field, posting a 6.96 ERA, but he has improved in the minors in Atlanta's system.
These moves also give the Braves something they have lacked all season: optionable bullpen arms. With Raisel Iglesias on the injured list and several relievers out of options, Atlanta had been operating with almost no roster flexibility. Stratton, Molina, Dylan Lee and Didier Fuentes all have options, giving the Braves the ability to cycle fresh arms as needed.
For a team already winning at a historic pace, adding flexibility and removing struggling pieces only strengthens their position as the NL’s early powerhouse.