For the first two months of the season, Gerald Laird has served as a personal catcher of sorts for rookie Julio Teheran. But Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez had Brian McCann catch Teheran on Friday night and indicated his priorities have changed.
He’s more concerned with getting McCann and hot-hitting Evan Gattis in the lineup than having the veteran Laird catch Teheran. Laird had caught eight of Teheran’s first nine starts before Friday.
“That’s the tricky part carrying three catchers,” Gonzalez said. “It’s good because days Gattis or McCann don’t play, it’s nice to have Laird on the bench where you could use Gattis or McCann as a pinch hitter and not have to worry about third catcher.”
