‘Big Sexy’ to start for Braves in SunTrust Park exhibition game Friday

Bartolo Colon will start for the Braves in Friday’s exhibition game against the Yankees at SunTrust Park, the first game at the new Cobb County ballpark. (Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com)

Credit: Curtis Compton

Credit: Curtis Compton

Bartolo Colon will start for the Braves in Friday’s exhibition game against the Yankees at SunTrust Park, the first game at the new Cobb County ballpark. (Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com)

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Bartolo Colon will throw the first pitch in a game at SunTrust Park, albeit an exhibition game.

The 43-year-old former Cy Young Award winner, known as “Big Bart” or “Big Sexy,” will start Friday’s exhibition game against the Yankees, the first of at least a half-dozen Atlanta pitchers likely to see action in the final game before things count.

Colon and fellow 40-something starter R.A. Dickey are set to pitch at least a couple of innings apiece before handing things over to relievers, some of whom could still be competing for opening-day roster spots Friday.

Colon will make his official Braves debut with a start in the second game of the season April 5 at New York against his former Mets team, and Dickey makes his regular-season debut April 7 in Game 4, a series opener at Pittsburgh.

Julio Teheran will make his fourth consecutive opening day start for the Braves on Monday against the Mets at Citi Field.