After scouring the waiver wire and trade market for depth, the Braves decided to add a catcher from their ranks as they open the season on Monday at the Mets.
The Braves recalled catcher Anthony Recker from Triple-A Gwinnett Sunday. He will join catchers Tyler Flowers and Kurt Suzuki on the 25-man roster.
The Braves had considered carrying eight relief pitchers but ended up with the standard seven. They are closer Jim Johnson; right-handers Arodys Vizcaino, Josh Collmenter, Chaz Roe and Jose Ramirez, and left-handers Ian Krol and Eric O’Flaherty.
With three off days from opening day through April 13, the Braves aren’t likely to need an extra reliever during that span. After the stretch it’s possible they will send Recker back to Gwinnett.
“We met as a group and felt this roster would give us the most flexibility and best opportunity to compete,” Braves general manager John Coppolella said.
The non-catcher position players on the bench are Chase d’Arnaud, Jace Peterson and Emilio Bonifacio. All three players can play the infield and outfield positions.
The regular lineup will include one rookie, shorstop Dansby Swanson. The other starters are catcher Tyler Flowers, first baseman Freddie Freeman, second baseman Brandon Phillips, third baseman Adonis Garcia and outfielders Matt Kemp, Ender Inciarte and Nick Markakis.
Right-hander Julio Teheran is scheduled to start against the Mets on Monday. Joining him in the rotation are left-hander Jaime Garcia and right-handers Bartolo Colon, R.A. Dickey and Mike Foltynewicz.
Four Braves players begin the season on the 10-day disabled list: infielder/outfielder Micah Johnson (left wrist) and right-handers Mauricio Cabrera (right elbow), Armando Rivera (right shoulder) and Dan Winkler (right elbow).
