Dylan Lee to paternity list, Didier Fuentes recalled
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 19: Dylan Lee #52 of the Atlanta Braves throws a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on April 19, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images 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: The #Braves today recalled RHP Didier Fuentes to Atlanta and placed LHP Dylan Lee on the paternity list. Additionally, INF Ha-Seong Kim tonight begins a rehabilitation assignment with Double-A Columbus. — Atlanta Braves (@Braves) April 28, 2026 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.
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.