Braves-Rockies injury report: Atlanta missing a few flamethrowing right-handers vs. Colorado

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - The Atlanta Braves open a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies on Friday, marking the fifth of 15 regular season games broadcast on Gray Media in 2025.

After being injured for most of 2024 and the start of 2025, outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. (knee) and right-hander Spencer Strider (right elbow) have returned to the active roster. But even after their returns, the team has struggled to gain any traction in the NL East and has struggled as of late.

Right-hander AJ Smith-Shawver’s NL Rookie of the Year Award-worthy campaign came to an end on May 29 after he tore his right ulnar collateral ligament, forcing him to miss the remainder of 2025 and some of 2026.

Bryce Elder, who is starting for Atlanta on Friday, will fill Smith-Shawver’s spot in the rotation for the time being.

The team is also without bullpen arm Daysbel Hernandez as he is dealing with right forearm inflammation, retroactive to June 5. The right-hander had been one of the team’s best relievers up to this point, pitching to a 2.22 ERA in 24.1 innings.

As for Colorado, it seems as though no matter what they do, the team will be in the gutter with or without its injured players.

The Rockies are on pace to be one of the worst, if not the worst, baseball teams in history. They currently sit at 13-55, a record that comes out to 31-131 over a full 162. For reference, the 2024 Chicago White Sox — the worst team in MLB history — had a record of 41-121.

The Braves won their previous series against the Milwaukee Brewers, and they have the potential to gain a little momentum against a measly Rockies squad.

Here’s the full injury report:

• INF Nacho Alvarez Jr. (left wrist inflammation) - expected return is late June
• OF Stuart Fairchild (dislocated right pinkie) - expected return is TBD
• RHP Daysbel Hernandez (right forearm inflammation) - expected return is TBD
• RHP Joe Jimenez (left knee surgery) - will not return before August, could miss the entirety of 2025
• RHP Reynaldo López (right shoulder inflammation) - expected return is TBD
• RHP AJ Smith-Shawver (torn right UCL) - underwent Tommy John surgery on June 9, out for the season and part of 2026

Rockies injury report

Here is the current Rockies injury report:

• OF Kris Bryant (lumbar degenerative disk disease) - expected return date is TBD
• RHP Ryan Feltner (back spasms) - expected return date is TBD
• LHP Austin Gomber (left shoulder soreness) - expected return is mid-June
• RHP Tanner Gordon (left oblique strain) - expected return date is TBD
• INF Ezequiel Tovar (left oblique strain) - expected return date is TBD

First pitch is at 7:15 p.m. EST on Friday.

How to watch Braves on Gray

Gray Media will simulcast these 15 Atlanta Braves games throughout the Southeast this season.

Fans can watch the Braves on Gray by tuning into PeachtreeTV, Atlanta’s CW Network. Fans can also watch games on YouTube TV, over the air on channel 17.1 and on channel 17 on Dish Network and DirecTV and channel 7 on Xfinity and Spectrum.

If you are in another market outside of Atlanta, you can find your channel at BravesOnGray.com.