The Atlanta Braves reached the 100-win plateau for the second straight season this weekend. Despite injuries to their starting rotation in the form of Max Fried and Charlie Morton, plus some inconsistency from Kyle Wright, Atlanta is expected to have one of the deeper postseason rosters in the league.
That shouldn't come a huge surprise given their overall talent level. This team is expected to finish the season as the No. 1 seed overall. However, having all that talent means some players who would otherwise make the postseason roster will have to watch from home. Some of these players may currently be on the September roster, while others could expect a call-up, but will be stuck waiting by the phone.
Braves who shouldn't be on the postseason roster: AJ Smith-Shawver
I'm going against my best judgement here, as Smith-Shawver is the best young pitcher in the Braves system and thew quite well just a week ago in a combined start with Darius Vines in Gwinnett. However, there's a reason Atlanta is being cautious with Smith-Shawver's health, as he's only 20 years old and any added high-intensity innings could be detrimental to his longevity.
As one Atlanta insider wrote a few weeks back, a return for Smith-Shawver may not be in the cards.
"AJ Smith-Shawver has been sidelined since Aug. 15 with right shoulder discomfort. The likelihood of him being an option this year seems slim," Mark Bowman wrote.
Smith-Shawver had some productive appearances this summer and surprised Braves fans with how quickly he adjusted to the MLB level. In his recent Triple-A start, he was clocked throwing upwards of 98 MPH.
Talent is definitely not an issue with Smith-Shawver, but his health remains a long-term concern, especially at such a young age. Expect him to be ready for spring training if the team opts against pitching him in the postseason.
Braves who shouldn't be on the postseason roster: Vaughn Grissom or Braden Shewmake
While both Grissom and Shewmake have performed well in Gwinnett, they have struggled at the plate in the majors at times. Shewmake is a better defensive player, but Atlanta has already addressed that issue by bringing in Nicky Lopez from the Kansas City Royals. Lopez often struggles with his bat, but he's about on par with Shewmake.
Grissom doesn't provide a clear upgrade, either, as Orlando Arcia and Ozzie Albies are the starting middle infielders. Both possess the ability to break the game open with their bat, but they also won't ruin it with their glove. Grissom, despite spending all offseason working with Ron Washington at shortstop, has not done much to improve defensively. In fact, it's the one area of weakness that is keeping him from being an everyday player in the major leagues.
Because of this, either Shewmake or Grissom can be relied upon in October, despite their talent in various aspects of the game. A 100-win team like the Braves does not need to settle. If Atlanta is not satisfied with their middle infield depth, then perhaps Ehire Adrianza could receive a promotion after his rehab starts are finished.
Braves who shouldn't be on the postseason roster: Forrest Wall
Forrest Wall is a good story, and he can steal a base when called upon. For some teams, that would be deserving of a postseason roster spot. However, Atlanta will need to stack its roster with starting pitching and bullpen help due to injuries to Fried and Morton. This will likely eliminate a spot normally held for a pinch runner, which Wall certainly qualifies as.
Wall doesn't offer much with his bat, and he's not the first, second or even third choice to start at most positions. Per Atlanta's official depth chart, he's listed as the fourth or fifth-string second baseman, depending on if Adrianza is in the Braves postseason plans.
Wall could receive another opportunity come spring training to prove himself, but he's been up and down all year, with Atlanta often using him in roster moves as a demotion candidate. It would make a lot of sense for the Braves to keep him off the playoff roster and rely on their natural speed, including Ronald Acuña Jr., who is on pace for a 40-70 season of his own.
