The Braves announced their 25-man opening-day roster Thursday afternoon. MLB teams were required to finalize their rosters before 10 a.m. Thursday.
Minus pitchers Luiz Gohara, Chase Whitley and Jacob Lindgren and infielder Johan Camargo, who will begin the season on the 10-day disabled list, here’s the group with whom the Braves will open the season against the Phillies at SunTrust Park:
Rotation (4): RHP Julio Teheran, RHP Mike Foltynewicz, RHP Brandon McCarthy, LHP Sean Newcomb.
Nothing surprising here, as the Braves went with the four they previously confirmed. Newcomb clung strongly to his spot, while the other three were penciled in before camp.
The Braves won’t need a fifth starter until April 8-11. Gohara won’t be ready until May, and with Scott Kazmir released last week, Anibal Sanchez is the front-runner for when the team uses a fifth starter.
Catchers (3): Tyler Flowers, Kurt Suzuki, Chris Stewart.
The Braves had the productive duo of Flowers and Suzuki under contract for another season. Stewart’s inclusion is largely to allow Flowers or Suzuki to pinch-hit until the roster is filled out in the coming weeks.
“It’s similar to where we were last year,” manager Brian Snitker said. “It allows us to use either Flow or Zuke off the bench. And it won’t be that long. Just until we need that extra pitcher.”
Infielders (5): Freddie Freeman, Ozzie Albies, Dansby Swanson, Charlie Culberson, Ryan Flaherty.
Camargo will be activated from the DL in the next week and re-take his starting job at third base. In the meantime, Culberson and newcomer Flaherty will man the position. Rio Ruiz had a disappointing spring and closed poorly, costing himself an opportunity.
Freeman, Albies and Swanson return at their regular spots, each pivotal to the Braves’ immediate and long-term success.
Outfielders (5): Nick Markakis, Ender Inciarte, Preston Tucker, Lane Adams, Peter Bourjos.
Ender Inciarte and Nick Markakis are the reliable veterans in the outfield. Left field will be handled by committee until No. 1 prospect Ronald Acuna’s arrival.
The Braves had several options here, but elected to go with Adams over mid-spring signee Ezequiel Carrera and utilityman Danny Santana.
Adams is out of options, meaning he would be subjected to waivers if he didn’t make the team. Because Santana and Carrera were on a minor-league deals, it made more sense to send them to Triple-A now rather than put him on the initial roster only to lose them later.
Acuna is expected to join the team as soon as April 14 in Chicago. The Braves gain an additional year of contractual control if they leave him in Triple-A until that date.
Dustin Peterson, who doubled and had an impressive sliding catch in Tuesday’s Future Stars game, had a nice spring after he was slowed last season by a broken wrist. He’ll start in the season in Triple-A, where he’ll receive consistent at-bats, but could find his way to the Braves soon.
Bullpen (8): Arodys Vizcaino, A.J. Minter, Sam Freeman, Jose Ramirez, Peter Moylan, Dan Winkler, Rex Brothers, Shane Carle.
This group could include two or three different names by May.
Vizcaino is expected to close games, while Ramirez and Freeman will hope to build off 2017 successes. Minter impressed with his strikeout potential a year ago and backed it up over the past six weeks. He could take over as closer at some point.
Moylan is in his third stint with the team after leading the American League with 79 appearances last season in Kansas City. Winkler has endured two elbow surgeries in three seasons, but said he’s finally 100 percent healthy.
Brothers will operate as a lefty specialist. Carle made the team in part because of a lack of options.
Chase Whitley, on the DL with staph infection, likely will supplant Brothers or Carle upon his return. Lucas Sims, Matt Wisler and Aaron Blair each were unable to earn a long-relief position.
