Joey

Wentz

There had been optimism after initial tests that the 28-year-old hurler was going to be able to avoid significant injury, but unfortunately that’s not the case. The Braves will now have to scramble to add depth to replace Wentz in their starting rotation mix. His injury could open the door for Bryce Elder to secure the fifth spot in the team’s Opening Day rotation.

There’s optimism based on initial tests that Wentz managed to avoid a serious right knee injury. He was carted off the field during Sunday’s spring training contest after a collision while covering first base. The 28-year-old southpaw will undergo further imaging for precautionary reasons but it doesn’t sound like a worst-case scenario. He would have some fantasy appeal in deeper leagues if he makes Atlanta’s season-opening rotation.

The 28-year-old southpaw was able to walk off the field and into the clubhouse under his own power and his exit is believed to be precautionary. He’ll likely head for further evaluation to be on the safe side, but it doesn’t sound like anything serious at the moment.

He struck out three and walked two against his former team. Wentz wound up with a 4.92 ERA in 13 starts and one relief appearance for Atlanta last season, but his peripherals were somewhat better than that. He’s pretty likely to have a spot in middle relief if he fails to crack the team’s rotation.

No word yet on the financial terms of the deal. The 28-year-old southpaw was arbitration-eligible for the first time after registering a 5.60 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and a 92/43 K/BB ratio over 98 innings between the Pirates, Twins and Braves in 2025. Wentz pitched almost exclusively during his 14 appearances (13 starts) with the Braves in 2025, though he could be relegated to more of a swingman role in 2026.

All of the runs came in the second, which started off with a walk and a homer before Wentz went on to allow three more hits. Wentz took the loss to the organization he started the year with and finished up 5-7 with a 5.60 ERA in 13 starts and 26 relief appearances. All of those starts came with the Braves, and he was 3-6 with a 4.92 ERA and a 64/23 K/BB in 64 innings for Atlanta. He actually looked adequate enough as a starter to warrant keeping his roster spot this winter, but we’ll see if the Braves feel the same way.

Wentz nearly matched his season-high in the strikeout department in his return to the Motor City, limiting the Tigers to just a pair of runs on six hits and two walks in his longest outing since late August. The 27-year-old lefty closes out the season with a home outing on Friday against the Pirates.

Wentz was pulled from a 2-2 game after going through the lineup twice. He had thrown 93 pitches, so even if the Braves were comfortable letting him face the top of the order for a third time, his pitch count was arguing for his removal anyway. Wentz will face his old friends in Detroit next weekend.

Wentz was originally scheduled to start on Monday, but he was moved up a day, with the team deciding to push Spencer Strider back a day. That move did not work out. Wentz allowed one run in the first two innings, but the Mariners jumped all over him in the third inning and chased him from the game. Wentz’s upcoming matchups don’t inspire much confidence, and he can be dropped in most formats.

The decision to push Strider back to Atlanta’s upcoming series against the Cubs isn’t injury-related, according to the club. It’ll be lefty Joey Wentz taking the ball for Sunday afternoon’s matinee in his place. The hard-throwing 26-year-old, who is tentatively scheduled to start on Tuesday night, is coming off a lackluster performance his time out against the Cubs on Monday where he notched only one strikeout and surrendered three runs over five innings. He’s no longer occupying real estate in must-start territory for fantasy purposes at this advanced stage of the season.