SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 22: Manager Walt Weiss #22 of the Atlanta Braves looks on from the dugout before the game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on June 22, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)
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The Atlanta Braves are closing in on another postseason appearance, with their pursuit of a National League East title coming down to the final games.
Though the Braves have the lead in the race, they’ll have to continue to hold off the rival Philadelphia Phillies to earn the title.
“Braves fans should not worry about making the postseason, as it would take a historic collapse for the Braves to miss the postseason at this point,” as Baseball Now’s Aaliyan Mohammed noted on Wednesday. “However, they do need to keep a close eye on the Phillies as they look to win the division.”
That makes the potential return of one of Atlanta’s most important offseason additions worth hoping for as the regular season winds down. Two-time All-Star Robert Suarez has been sidelined for nearly three months, but the $45 million reliever just took another significant and surprising step toward returning.
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Suarez has been on the injured list since June 26 with right elbow inflammation, interrupting what had been an excellent first season with Atlanta. But his latest throwing session provided the Braves with their clearest indication yet that he could return in the near future.
Braves manager Walt Weiss offered a surprisingly concise assessment of what he saw.
“I was very encouraged,” Weiss said, according to The Athletic’s Jesus Cano. “To be honest with you, I wasn’t expecting that. I thought he kind of eased into it, but he let it go, and it was really good, and he felt really good afterwards.”
Cano reported that Suarez threw around 15 pitches to hitters on Sunday morning at Truist Park and that his fastball reached as high as 98 mph, suggesting his is inching toward a return to the roster.
The velocity was especially notable because Suarez is attempting to rebuild his workload after a lengthy layoff. He entered the season as a two-time All-Star after consecutive standout seasons with the San Diego Padres.
He has posted a 0.56 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and 26 strikeouts against six walks over 32 innings this season.
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The Braves are not ready to put an exact return date on Suarez, but his next steps are becoming clearer.
“Suarez’s return timeline has been the clearest it’s ever been,” Cano added. “He will likely throw one more live session, and perhaps the Braves can sneak him into a rehab assignment with Triple-A Gwinnett.”
That would give Atlanta a chance to evaluate Suarez in game action before deciding whether he is ready to rejoin the bullpen for the final stretch.
For a Braves team already positioned to reach the postseason, getting Suarez back would add another proven high-leverage option alongside closer Raisel Iglesias.
