The Weekly Wood Chipper
A Weekly Recap to Breakdown Braves Baseball and Fantasy Implications
LAB REPORTS
A Weekly Recap to Breakdown Braves Baseball and Fantasy Implications
I’m trying something new! For the followers I have that love all things Braves and those that tolerate my fantasy takes, here’s the introduction of a weekly recap with a personal spin! Chipper Jones is my all-time favorite Brave. He was my favorite player growing up a Braves fan. Why ”Weekly Wood Chipper?” Well, it’s kind of catchy for one thing, but two, that’s where my creativity ended… Simply though, it’s a weekly update with a silly title to breakdown the action from the previous week in Braves Country. The best, the worst, the guys who rake, and the guys just up there choppin’ wood, and a little waiver wire too. I’ll mix in some fantasy takes as I go and at the end of each weekly update.
What this weekly checkpoint will do is give me more of a desire to write each week with a topic, and I’ll get to look back on the week’s results for my favorite baseball team. On a personal note, my family just came out to join me in our new state after a career change! We’ve changed, but my love for the Braves hasn’t. And man, do we have a wild and fun week to recap, so let’s get chippin’ (won’t be the last wood joke, I promise).
New Faces in the Battery
This week was a big one for the up and coming Braves farm system after their recent selections in the 2026 MLB Draft. Their first pick at 9th overall, was an outfielder out of the University of Virginia, AJ Garcia. He’s a contact-first hitter with a great eye at the plate. He’s an on-base-machine as evidenced by him having more walks than strikeouts in both of his last two seasons of college baseball. Garcia has the potential to provide a tremendous lift to an otherwise thin OF group in Atlanta. He is a great size at 6’3, 195. From what I’ve read, it still seems he has some power in his bat to tap into also, so there’s a lot to like about the Braves top selection.
The Braves other first round selection was outfielder Carter Beck, who was selected 26th overall out of Indiana State. A lefty bat like Garcia, Beck also gets on base at a high clip (.446 OBP this year). Beck became the 3rd Indiana State player taken in the first round. The last was pitcher Sean Manaea in 2013. Scouts apparently love the quality of contact Beck made as a college player. The junior slugged .637 and hit 16 homers while swiping 12 bags too. The speed is a 50+ grade for Beck on MLB.com.
The Braves going with two bats was interesting to me. I swear they’ve always gone with an intriguing prep arm more often than not. I didn’t truly notice the anomaly until I saw Braves reporter Grant McAuley say they had taken an arm with their top pick in 15 of the previous 17 drafts. A sure sign that Atlanta wants to get deeper in the outfield. Also, the profile points to a continued change in hitting approach for this ball club. Braves’ hitters are tied for 6th best in strikeouts this season after having The 14th most last year and tied for 7th most in 2024. It’s less feast or famine for Braves hitters this year, and a welcomed new approach from second-year hitting coach, Tim Hyers.
Splinter Updates (Injuries…) & Trade Deadline Talk
The Atlanta faithful have been watching for the return of injured starters Spencer Schwellenbach and Spencer Strider. Sadly, coach Walt Weiss has seemed to point to the possibility they may not return this year with his recent comments to the media. He told Braves’ beat writer Mark Bowman that it’s “hard to say” if either will return this year. I thought we might see Schwelly this year, but I’m thinking he may barely come back as a starter before the postseason or help the bullpen in October. Recently, GM Alex Anthopoulos (AA) said he has been throwing bullpens still, but he will have to face live hitters before beginning a rehab assignment. Those tend to take 30 days at least, so time is running out.
I do believe this affects how the Braves will look at the trade deadline to some extent. They can’t bank on either Spencer’s return. The need for a starter or two is still ever-present. Their current rotation consists of Chris Sale, Bryce Elder, Grant Holmes, Martin Perez, and Reynaldo Lopez. Elder had fallen back to earth after a great start to the year with a 4.12 ERA before tonight’s start. I think they have to go big at the trade deadline. Their farm system is grossly underrated, especially with the rise of OF Eric Hartman, who is absolutely mashing for the Braves in High-A. Throw the kitchen sink at Tarik Skubal or Logan Webb if they are somehow available. Reid Detmers is another target I believe for the club if the Angels do come around to actually furthering the future of their franchise. Sonny Gray was another name I’ve seen, but I don’t see Boston selling with how they’ve been of late. Maybe Robbie Ray from San Fran? I just hope AA pulls the trigger and goes all in.
Riley & Drake Rake Again
This past week hopefully was a turning point for Austin Riley’s season. The Braves 3B has struggled mightily to say the least. Even after the hot week, he’s batting a paltry .217. He is batting .500 in the last 7 days and .273 for July. A much-needed improvement. The Braves need him to get going. I’d be looking to pick Riley up in 10-12 teamers again if he was dropped and you need help at the hot corner. The lineup is too good, and we know what Riley can do when he’s hot at the plate.
Drake Baldwin on the other hand, has been outstanding this season, and among the best catchers in baseball. He’s up to 18 homers after last week’s power binge, marked by a 2-HR performance against Texas on July 19th. After hitting .063 in June, he’s hitting a much better .344 in July. I’m excited to see his breakout year continue in the second half, especially when Ronald comes back to give lift to the top of the Braves lineup. Even after his month-long injury, the Braves’ backstop is right around the top 5 in fantasy points leagues.
Free Wood Sale- Atlanta Edition (Waiver Wire)
Braves utility-man Mauricio Dubon has been so big for Atlanta this year and for fantasy managers looking to plug him into their lineups with his valuable multi-positional eligibility. He’s hitting .263 with 45 runs scored, 10 homers, and 53 RBIs. He is still surprisingly under 50% rostered in Yahoo leagues. Closer to 70% in ESPN and CBS. The Braves have 7 games this week AND next week against SD, at BAL, at NYM, and then home vs. the Nats. Fire up Dubon and any key cogs you have in the Braves lineup.
Elder has a two-step this week if he has somehow been dropped. One pitcher I’d be looking to pickup for Atlanta is Martin Perez. Depending on when he returns from the IL, he could be looking at a two-start week next week (at NYM, WSH). He’s been a bright spot for the Braves rotation with a 6-6 W-L record and a 3.54 ERA. Great innings eater. He will have been on the IL for the 15 game minimum, so no rehab start for Perez.
Lastly, take a look at AJ Smith-Shawver (AJSS) if you’re in a deeper league, or want a fun stash if pitching is at a premium in your league. With the state of the Atlanta rotation currently, AJSS slotting into the core group makes sense. He’s been touching 99+ mph in his rehab starts, and is coming off a 4.1 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K performance in his most recent rehab appearance. He’s worked up to 72 pitches and his rehab runs out at the end of July.
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