Which Braves could earn 2026 roles with strong finishes?

Left-hander Joey Wentz

Wentz has been a godsend. The Braves claimed him off waivers in mid-July, simply needing pitching reinforcements. The expectations couldn’t have been lower: Wentz was joining his fourth organization in two years. His last stop was particularly dreadful as he surrendered 14 runs on 17 hits in just eight innings with Minnesota.

Yet the former Braves farmhand has looked far more than competent since rejoining the organization. He has a 2.83 ERA in six games (five starts), providing shocking stability. He’s added a 26:10 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 28 2/3 innings.

Wentz is out of options, but a strong finish would make him a clear candidate to contribute on the opening-day roster next spring. His surge is comparable to Grant Holmes’ a year ago, when the unknown reliever stepped in and proved he could handle multiple roles. Wentz is showing he could have future value in however the Braves need him.

“I’m always happy for guys when they get that opportunity and take advantage of it,” manager Brian Snitker said. “He’s been really, really good. Very consistent. Hopefully he comes out here and does a lot to put him in position for next year, too.”

Right-hander Hurston Waldrep

Waldrep was summoned in a tough spot two weekends ago when the Braves needed innings covered when they resumed their suspended game in Bristol, Tennessee. He impressed with 5-2/3 innings. His encore saw him set career-best marks in innings (six) and strikeouts (six).

Two starts is a tiny sample size, but Waldrep has appeared strikingly different from the deer-in-the-headlights kid who debuted to two poor starts last summer. Snitker said he feels the time Waldrep has spent in Triple-A has transformed him. “He looks like a different guy than I remember,” Snitker said Tuesday.

“Having these two starts this year, and just really everything I’ve worked for this year is a completely different mindset,” Waldrep said. “It’s one where I know what I need to do. I know how it has to happen. I understand how the business works. It didn’t scare me (last year), I wasn’t afraid of the failure I experienced. But it allowed me a chance to grow, go in the office every day and do what I needed to do.”

Reliever Tyler Kinley

The Braves acquired Kinley from the Rockies before the trade deadline. It wasn’t the type of deal that’d garner much attention, but Kinley was a better pitcher away from Coors Field, had a Baseball Savant page glowing with red and seemed to warrant a look. He was better than his surface numbers, including an ERA exceeding 5.00, would suggest.

Kinley, 34, is off to a nice start. He has a 1.93 ERA in his first five appearances as a Brave, surrendering one run in 4 2/3 innings. He’s struck out six and walked four.

So why is he included here? The Braves inherited a 2026 club option on Kinley in the trade. It’s worth $5 million with a $750,000 buyout. So the remaining games are essentially an audition for Kinley to make the 2026 bullpen. So far, he seems worth a $5 million investment, particularly given the Braves will have to address multiple needs this offseason — including the bullpen.

The Braves also have team options on reliever Pierce Johnson ($7 million with $250,000 buyout) and second baseman Ozzie Albies ($7 million with $4 million buyout).

Infielder Nacho Alvarez Jr.

Alvarez’s bid to impress for 2026 was off to a rough start. He was hitting .204 with a .556 OPS in 15 games before a multi-hit effort Tuesday that earned him his first and second career RBIs. Alvarez has mostly looked overmatched offensively in the majors.

If the Braves alter their infield construction for next season, it’d involve acquiring a second baseman or shortstop for the sake of improving the offense. So there isn’t a path to Alvarez earning playing time here if the team is healthy. He’ll need to prove himself a quality utilityman. His trade value has likely dipped