MIAMI – After indicating Saturday that they planned to carry Pedro Ciriaco as their fifth outfielder, and never mentioning the possibility of carrying 13 pitchers instead of 12, the Braves surprised everyone Sunday by leaving Ciriaco off the opening-day roster and going with an extra pitcher.
More surprising was that unexpected pitcher who made the roster was left-hander Josh Outman, who last pitched in a game March 26 and was shut down afterward due to soreness near his left collar bone.
Given his recent inactivity and health situation, placing him on the opening-day roster seemed more than likely to be a procedural move, possibly leading to Outman being released, although the Braves gave no indication that was the case. They might also have Outman on the roster as a placeholder, in effect, while pursuing a better backup outfield option.
The Braves added five players to the disabled list Sunday: pitcher Mike Minor (shoulder), center fielder Melvin Upton (foot) and outfielder Joey Terdoslavich (wrist) were placed on the 15-day DL, and pitchers Shae Simmons and Dan Winkler, both recovering from Tommy John elbow surgery, went on the 60-day DL.
Also Sunday, the Braves placed two on the restricted list: pitcher Arodys Vizcaino, who was hit last week with an 80-game drug suspension, and Cuban outfielder Dian Toscano, who has still not arrived because of problems with his papework. They do not count against the 40-man roster while on the restricted list.
After Outman had a battery of tests last week that showed the shoulder was structurally sound, he was scheduled to see a specialist in St. Louis late in the week to determine if he had some sort of vascular or nerve condition that was causing his discomfort. The Braves had not updated his condition since then and had indicated Saturday that he would likely open the season on the disabled list.
They had planned to have Ciriaco on the bench as a right-handed hitting backup at several positions in the infield and outfield, and that plan could still come to fruition soon if the Outman roster designation was perhaps only a temporary, procedural move.
The team had a 3 p.m. flight from Orlando to Miami on Sunday, and team officials offer an explanation for the roster decision or did respond immediately to questions about the Outman situation.
Outman, 30, had an 8.55 ERA and .355 opponents’ average in spring training, and allowed at least one run in each of his past four appearances, giving up 11 total hits in 3 2/3 innings during that period. The lefty signed a one-year, $925,000 contract in early January, after posting a 2.86 ERA in 40 appearances for the Yankees and Indians in 2014, with a .229 opponents’ average that included .169 (10-for-59) by left-handed batters.
There were no other surprises on the opening-day roster, as the Braves had indicated Saturday that right-hander Cody Martin, with no major league experience, had made the squad as a long reliever. The Braves play the Marlins in their season opener Monday at 4:10 p.m.
Braves’ 25-man opening-day roster:
Outfielders: Nick Markakis, Jonny Gomes, Eric Young Jr., Kelly Johnson
Infielders: Freddie Freeman, Jace Peterson, Chris Johnson, Andrelton Simmons, Alberto Callaspo, Phil Gosselin
Catchers: Christian Bethancourt, A.J. Pierzynski
Starting pitchers: Julio Teheran, Alex Wood, Shelby Miller, Eric Stults, Trevor Cahill
Relief pitchers: Craig Kimbrel, Jason Grilli, Jim Johnson, Juan Jaime, Cody Martin; lefties Luis Avilan, Andrew McKirahan, Josh Outman
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