ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – On a night when the Atlanta Braves clinched their first losing season since 2017, rookie right-hander Hurston Waldrep endured his worst start of the year in an 11-3 loss to the Houston Astros.
“Kind of beat myself a little bit,” Waldrep said. “Didn’t execute when I needed to.”
Waldrep’s final line included eight earned runs across 4.2 innings (84 pitches) on eight hits and two walks while striking out four Astros. It was the first time all season he had allowed more than two runs in a game.
Hurston Waldrep struggled mightily against Houston: 4.2 IP, 8 H, 8 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 84 pitches
He exited when it was 6-0 with two runners on, but both came around to score after Dane Dunning took over. Houston ended up scoring six runs in the 5th inning.#Braves 0, #Astros 10
— Aaron Schmidt (@ASchmidtSports) September 13, 2025
Prior to Friday, Waldrep carried a 1.33 ERA and 1.06 WHIP through seven starts since his promotion from Triple-A Gwinnett for the Sunday continuance of the MLB Speedway Classic at Bristol, Tennessee. He’s been a silver lining for a rotation that’s been plagued with injuries all season long.
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But, as every up-and-coming pitcher learns, there will eventually be a dud.
“I think he handled (the start) fine,” manager Brian Snitker said. “I don’t think he ever gave in or anything. It just wasn’t working for him. His splitter was up in the zone, and if that pitch is up in the zone, it gets whacked, but you’re going to have that.”
Waldrep looked sharp early, striking out Carlos Correa on three pitches and breezing through the first two innings. But things unraveled in the third, when Astros rookie Zach Cole — in his first career at-bat — launched a two-run homer.
But, unlike Waldrep, it just happened to be Cole’s night. The 25-year-old recorded RBI singles in the fourth and fifth innings as the runs continued to pile on for Waldrep.
Regardless of how he played on Friday, this string of starts has been somewhat of an audition for 2026.
In a perfect world, the team rolls out Chris Sale, a healthy Spencer Schwellenbach, Spencer Strider, Waldrep and one other pitcher. That final spot could go to Joey Wentz, Bryce Elder or Reynaldo Lopez, who threw a bullpen prior to Friday’s game and was pain-free in his shoulder for the first time in several years.
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In the meantime, the Braves wrap up this three-game series against Houston on Sunday before going to Washington D.C and Detroit. They return to Truist Park on Sept. 22, where they’ll play the Nationals and Pittsburgh Pirates in the final homestand of the season.
Waldrep will get two to three more starts to work on his craft before the focus turns to making the 2026 starting rotation come spring.
“I feel really good, physically and mentally,” Waldrep said. “Even after tonight, it doesn’t disprove anything or make me feel any sort of failure … just keep growing and keep moving.”