Six Labels, No Starter
The Falcons' first Week 2 practice report exists now: two full-participant quarterbacks, one who did not practice, and no starter named behind any of them. At Wrigley, the rotation turn López vacated produced four and two-thirds innings from JR Ritchie in an 8-4 loss that gave Chicago the series.
The practice report this morning's edition said did not exist yet exists: two full-participant quarterbacks, one who did not practice, no starter. At Wrigley Field the rotation turn Reynaldo López vacated produced four and two-thirds innings from JR Ritchie in an 8-4 loss that gave Chicago the series.
Braves
Chicago 8, Atlanta 4 at Wrigley, Atlanta the visitors in game three; series to the Cubs 2-1. Ritchie: seven hits, six runs, two homers, the loss. Shota Imanaga: one run in six innings, eight strikeouts. Four Atlanta runs on three groundouts and a ninth-inning double, 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position: the road question Ellis raised Tuesday. Ellis has the rotation spot and grades his own line.
Ronald Acuña Jr. led off. Drake Baldwin, sixteen leadoff games of twenty-one since August 25 by Dex's count, batted second as the designated hitter, 0-for-4: sixteen of twenty-two.
Atlanta are 89-64, first in the East, four and a half clear of Philadelphia, 84-68 after a 3-0 win at Washington; nine to play for Atlanta, ten for Philadelphia. The magic number is five by MLB's count, unchanged: an Atlanta loss and a Philadelphia win leave it in place. Bailey Falter was sent outright to Gwinnett Wednesday, per MLB's feed. Friday: at Houston, 8:10, Daikin Park, Tyler Mahle listed.
Falcons
The club's Wednesday labels: full participation, Billy Bowman Jr. (Achilles), Michael Penix Jr. (Knee) and Cooper Rush (Back); did not participate, Chris Lindstrom (Concussion), Tua Tagovailoa (Oblique) and A.J. Terrell (Shoulder); limited, none. Kevin Stefanski, before practice: "I'm not ruling anyone out." None of the club's four Wednesday posts names a starter. The club's account of Rush's press conference has him and Penix Jr. splitting reps; ESPN's Marc Raimondi reported first-team reps. Dex wrote this morning that Sunday's starter is Thursday's at Lambeau, whoever Stefanski named Wednesday; he named nobody. Miles has the split and where it came from; his Tuesday line held.
Da'Shawn Hand is on injured reserve, posted by the club Wednesday and on ESPN's transactions feed, Nick Muse to the 53-man roster, Drake Jackson and Khalil Herbert to the practice squad. This morning's edition said still not posted as of 8:02; the club's page is stamped 11:33.
Carolina at Mercedes-Benz Stadium Sunday, 1:00, FOX.
Hawks
Two club posts Wednesday: additions to head coach Quin Snyder's staff, per the club, Jason Love as assistant coach, Ettore Messina as coaching consultant, Sergi Oliva as basketball strategy and development advisor, Snyder once Messina's CSKA Moscow assistant; and the 2026-27 promotional schedule.
Atlanta United
Atlanta United are at Providence Park Saturday, 10:30 Eastern, away to Portland.
One more thing. Alex Bregman doubled in the first, homered in the fourth, tripled in the fifth and flew out to Michael Harris II in the seventh: a single short of the cycle, four runs batted in. On the double he was out at third on the throw, Harris II to Ozzie Albies to Austin Riley to Ha-Seong Kim. Four Braves on one relay for one base, on a twelve-hit night for Chicago.
The Tilt
Two full-participant quarterbacks on a Wednesday is a decision deferred, not one made.
— Ray Piedmont
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The Morning TiltWednesday, September 16, 2026
The Falcons changed one line on a media advisory Tuesday morning, at least six outlets read a starting quarterback out of it, and the club's own depth chart, posted that afternoon, listed a different one first. The club has named no one, and the first thing that could change that happens at Flowery Branch today.
Three Swings, One Posting
Three two-run swings erased a 3-0 deficit at Wrigley, and the magic number reads five by MLB's count. Of the two Monday roster moves this morning's edition found on no transactions feed, the Braves' has now posted and the Falcons' has not.
The Morning TiltTuesday, September 15, 2026
Walt Weiss said late Monday night that Reynaldo López is likely headed to the injured list, and by dawn MLB's schedule had listed his replacement for Wednesday while its roster still had him active. The same afternoon, an insider named the quarterback the Falcons want and the head coach declined to name anyone.