LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Veteran Freddy Garcia, who started the last game the Braves played — Game 4 of the division series — will start the first they play this year Wednesday in a Grapefruit League opener against Detroit.
Garcia, who is competing for the fifth-starter spot, will face Detroit at Champion Stadium, and be followed by Kris Medlen in another game Thursday against the Tigers at Lakeland, Fla.
The rest of the rotation for the first time through this spring has Brandon Beachy starting against Houston on Friday, Julio Teheran vs. Washington on Saturday, and Alex Wood and David Hale against Detroit and Houston in Sunday split-squad games. Wood is Garcia’s primary competitor for fifth starter, and either could also shift to the bullpen.
Buchter's chances: During batting-practice matchups Monday, Gonzalez got a look at hard-throwing lefty Ryan Buchter, 27, who has no major league experience but is a candidate for a bullpen spot. Buchter had 103 strikeouts with 51 walks in 62 relief innings in Triple-A Gwinnett in 2013, his eighth minor league season.
“You keep looking down those (statistical) columns and the thing that scares you a little bit is the bases on balls,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “Probably sooner than later, (pitching coach Roger McDowell) and I will probably sit down and talk to him about it, because that’s the key…. His arm is outstanding, and he’s got a good breaking pitch. But once you’re in the major leagues and they start figuring out you can’t throw it over the plate, they’re not going to swing at it.”
Etc. Minor league outfielder Todd Cunningham has been taking some ground balls at second base. Gonzalez said it was to give him some more versatility for the future, comparing it to young first baseman/outfielder Joey Terdoslavich working some at catcher…. Infielder Tyler Pastornicky, coming back from August knee surgery, was cleared to begin fielding ground balls this week. Gonzalez said it's likely he'll be held out for the first 10-12 Grapefruit League games, but wouldn't rule out his chances of being ready when the regular season begins.
