The Braves likely won’t use a fifth starter the first time through their rotation, a luxury afforded by an early off day, manager Brian Snitker said Friday.
The Braves’ first six games are on the road, a trip that includes two off days. The first comes April 2, immediately following opening day. The second off day is April 8, sandwiched between the team’s finale in Washington and home opener against Phillies. That created options for the Braves, who have suggested throughout spring they might not rely on five starters to open the season.
As currently planned, the Braves will pitch a bullpen game April 6 against the Nationals, which would’ve been the fifth starter’s first turn. Doing so allows the Braves to temporarily carry an extra reliever or bench bat. They plan to use a fifth starter the second time through the rotation’s turn during a home series against the Marlins.
“We’re just probably going to use that fifth spot out of the bullpen,” Snitker said. “It’ll be like what we did last year, pretty much. It’ll depend on how we get there. We have guys stretched out and have some multiple inning guys where we could do that.”
Max Fried, the team’s opening-day starter, Charlie Morton, Ian Anderson and Drew Smyly will comprise the initial four-man rotation. Bryse Wilson is expected to be the fifth starter after beating Kyle Wright in the spring competition. A scheduled bullpen game could be good news for Huascar Ynoa’s opening-day roster bid, since Ynoa proved valuable starting such games last season. Veteran Josh Tomlin could also start a bullpen game.
Soon enough, the Braves should get another rotation boost when All-Star Mike Soroka returns from a torn Achilles that ended his 2020 season after three starts. The hope remains Soroka returns in late April. Wilson, Wright and Ynoa would then be important depth behind the Braves’ primary five starters.
Notes from Friday:
- Wilson, who was scheduled to start Friday, was optioned to the alternate training site before the Braves’ 7-6 win over the Twins. It trimmed the Braves’ roster to 36. Wilson will likely return to be the team’s fifth starter during its first homestand. Sean Newcomb started in Wilson’s place, striking out four in two scoreless innings.
- Pablo Sandoval picked the right time to heat up. The veteran corner infielder went 3-for-3, bumping his average to .429. Sandoval is trying to make a final push for the opening-day roster. The Braves’ bench competition is still wide open.
“Pablo, he’s amazing to me, just likes to play baseball,” Snitker said. “You look at him every day, how he goes about it. He does anything you ask of him. How intense he is, how professional he is in his work. He’s an aggressive guy. He knows he can hit and he’s aggressive.”
- The Braves’ back-up catcher battle is in the final stretch, too. Alex Jackson started and had a two-RBI single. William Contreras followed him, collecting two hits, including a double. The Braves have been happy with how both players are trending.
One factor in the team’s catcher decision: The minor-league season won’t begin until May. The backstop the Braves don’t carry will be stationed at the alternate training site in Gwinnett, working out with other minor leaguers until the season begins. The catcher who makes the roster will play sparingly behind veteran Travis d’Arnaud.
“That’s part of the conversation we’re still going through,” Snitker said. “We haven’t made a decision yet as to which way we’re going to go, but that’s part of the conversation. Another part of the conversation is weighing the options of the two and the lack of actual games down here for a period of time. I don’t know that they’ll even start games in the minor-league camp until the middle of the month. We’re still juggling that with those two guys, who it might be, the pros and cons of either or.”
- Twins outfielder Kyle Garlick, who was briefly a Brave this offseason, homered off Nate Jones in the third inning. It was the first run Jones has allowed in seven appearances this spring. Jones proceeded to walk Miguel Sano but struck out Max Kepler to complete his inning.
- Fried is scheduled to make his final spring start Saturday against the Orioles. Fried will oppose Aaron Nola in his first career opening-day start April 1 in Philadelphia. The Braves have four exhibition games remaining.
