Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said there are still some roster spots “up for grabs” with final cuts about a week away.
Once the Braves set their roster and Gonzalez settles on a lineup, he said he won’t necessarily use platoons in the traditional sense of always matching batters against opposite-handed pitchers.
“It’s going to be, ‘Pick your spots,’ like a soft platoon,” Gonzalez said. “Pick your best eight every single day. Sometimes you go with the matchup or sometimes you feel like even though this guy is the same side (as the pitcher), if you feel like he can give you good at-bats, you go with it. For me it’s not a straight platoon situation. We will play it by ear.”
The Braves will have regular players for at least four of eight positions: catcher Christian Bethancourt, first baseman Freddie Freeman, shortstop Andrelton Simmons and right fielder Nick Markakis.
Non-roster invitee Eric Young Jr. appears to have the edge in center field after Melvin Upton went down with a foot injury. Prospect Jace Peterson, acquired from the Padres in the Justin Upton trade, is in line to play second base as he continues to impress in Grapefruit League play.
But Gonzalez may end up using multiple players at third base and in left field.
Chris Johnson, last year’s third baseman, hit well against lefties but struggled against right-handed pitchers. Alberto Callaspo and Phil Gosselin are among the players who could fill in at third.
Left fielder Jonny Gomes also has been much better against left-handers. Joey Terdoslavich and Zoilo Almonte are among the candidates to be utility outfielders.
Gonzalez said his “soft platoon” approach applies to the other positions, too.
For example Gonzalez said Peterson could get the day off against certain lefties with Gosselin at second. Gonzalez said if Freeman has played several games in a row and the Braves face an ace lefty such as Clayton Kershaw, Freeman could sit with Johnson at first and Callaspo at third. And the manager said one of his lefty outfielders and catcher A.J. Pierzynski can come off the bench to play against certain right-handed pitchers.
“Throughout the field we can do a lot of different stuff,” Gonzalez said.
