LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – The Braves are expected to have two or three of their many prospects make starts in the first week or so, but soon afterward they’ll settle into a rotation of five starters who will build pitch counts and innings aiming for the opening-day rotation.
As of now, manager Fredi Gonzalez indicated that five would be Julio Teheran – a lock for his third consecutive opening-day start – and, in no specific order, Bud Norris, Matt Wisler and veteran non-roster invitees Kyle Kendrick and Jhoulys Chacin.
“We’re going to build those guys up as starters, get them stretched out and prepared to go north,” Gonzalez said. “Those are going to be the main five guys. But I think early in camp, at least the first time in the rotation, you can start a (Aaron) Blair or a (Lucas) Sims, or a (Sean) Newcomb, you can start a Williams Perez. And still, the rest of the (main five) guys, we’ve got it worked out where they’ll have six or seven starts to get stretched out.
“You get to see the young guys early. Then we’ll flip-flop them when it comes to getting three or four innings, the young guys will come in second or third (in relief during games).”
Newcomb is ranked as the Braves’ No. 1 pitching prospect, and Blair and Sims aren’t far behind among the group that is closest to being ready for the majors.
Gonzalez will announce Monday his planned starters for the first spring training games, which begin Tuesday when the Braves host the Orioles at Champion Stadium.
There is zero suspense this year regarding the Braves’ planned starter for the regular-season opener April 4 against the Nationals. Teheran has started each of the past two openers, and is the only returner from last year’s rotation with as many as 20 career starts.
Gonzalez smiled when a reporter jokingly asked what Teheran needed to do this spring to “win” the opening-day assignment.
“He’s just got to survive,” Gonzalez said. “I haven’t announced (an opening-day starter); I think most managers don’t like to announce it because it’s bad luck this early in camp.”
