Did we want Didier Fuentes back in Atlanta? I wanted him back and taking a rotation spot. Of course, the whole “must stay down after being optioned unless recalled due to injury” rule put a minor spanner in that particular set of works… until the Braves apparently found a way around it through the miracle of life:
This move does create some short-term implications. Lee has started off very well for the Braves, with a 34 ERA-, 39 FIP-, 82 xFIP-, and five shutdowns to two meltdowns, with one of the meltdowns having nothing to do with him (Eli White’s misadventures, 2026 edition). He already has 0.4 fWAR in 13 innings after finishing 2025 with 0.3 fWAR in total. With his temporary absence, the Braves only have Aaron Bummer (much, much worse in the early going than his prior Braves tenure) and Jose Suarez (enigmatic to say the least) from the left side. Martin Perez could theoretically fulfill that role, but unless Fuentes is taking his starting spot tonight, that won’t matter for this series.
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Fuentes returns for this third stint in about four weeks of play. He made the Opening Day roster and had a nice four-inning relief appearance against the Royals before going back to Triple-A. He was recalled last week and had a pretty wild start against the Nationals, with a 7/1 K/BB ratio and a homer allowed, but four runs charged to him in three innings of work. Maybe the Braves throw him in there against the Tigers with Perez held back, or maybe it’ll be the reverse — or maybe he’s just added length while Dylan Lee spends some time with his expanding family. Anyway, stay tuned.
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