The Atlanta Braves starting rotation has very different goals than we would have expected from the pitchers a few months ago. Rather than trying to give the Braves the best chance to win in a given night, the rotation's biggest goal is keeping arms healthy.
With Spencer Strider and Hurston Waldrep the only two starting pitchers currently in the rotation expected to provide meaningful innings for the Braves in 2026, Bryce Elder, Carlos Carrasco, Joey Wentz, and Erick Fedde's jobs are to eat as many innings as possible to keep the bullpen and other starters' arms fresh.
Unfortunately for Atlanta, that hasn't necessarily been the case.