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.
