MARCH 24, 2023 • AJC.COM
ATLANTA BRAVES 89-73 · 2ND IN NL EAST
89-73 · 2ND IN NL EAST
These Braves prospects could help the big-league club in 2023 Last year, Braves rookies finished first and second in National League Rookie of the Year voting. At the beginning of the season, no one saw...
Eddie Rosario - Could return this weekend Rosario (back) could be back in Atlanta's lineup Saturday or Sunday, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Impact Rosario and Michael Harris were both late scratches from Friday's game due to back issues, but manager Brian Snitker said the team was just being cautious. Rosario has hit just 3-for-21 at the plate in Grapefruit League action, but he was a little more productive during the WBC and still figures to be Atlanta's primary left fielder in 2023.
MARCH 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Michael Harris II - Expected to return Saturday Harris (back) is expected to return to Grapefruit League action Saturday, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Impact Harris was scratched from Atlanta's lineup Friday against Boston because of back tightness, but it doesn't seem to be much of a concern. He should be in center field for the reigning NL East champs on Opening Day next Thursday.
MARCH 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Braves' Kyle Wright still on track for first turn through starting rotation For Wright, the beginning of the season will be atypical. In a matter of days, his teammates will head north for opening day in Washington,...
MARCH 24, 2023 • AJC.COM
Lucas Luetge - Clean outing Thursday Luetge struck out one in a perfect eighth inning during Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Mets.
Impact A.J. Minter worked the ninth, as manager Brian Snitker perhaps offered a preview of how he intends to deploy his bullpen lefties while Raisel Iglesias (shoulder) is on the shelf. Luetge, who has a 7:1 K:BB this spring through 5.2 innings, posted strong numbers for the Yankees the last two seasons in middle relief but managed only nine holds in 107 appearances, and he could wind up seeing more high-leverage work for Atlanta in 2023.
MARCH 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Jared Shuster - Stays steady in rotation battle Shuster gave up two runs on two hits and two walks over six innings in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Mets. He struck out two.
Impact Facing most of New York's Opening Day lineup, Shuster wasn't dominant but kept the opposition off-balance, and the young lefty rebounded nicely after allowing two runs in the third inning. His competition for Atlanta's fifth starter job, Dylan Dodd, will get his chance to make a final statement Friday against the Red Sox. Shuster, a first-round pick in 2020, has posted an 18:4 K:BB through 18.2 innings this spring while serving up only one home run.
MARCH 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Eddie Rosario - Scratched with back stiffness Rosario was scratched from Atlanta's lineup Friday due to lower-back stiffness, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
Impact As was the case with Michael Harris -- who was also a late scratch with a back issue -- this move is considered precautionary. The fact that Atlanta would have to take a bus to Fort Myers for the spring road game at JetBlue Park likely factored into the decisions. Rosario is set to open the season as Atlanta's left fielder, at least against right-handed pitching.
MARCH 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Braves-Nats Opening Day starting pitchers: Fried vs. Corbin It will be a battle of southpaws when Max Fried and Patrick Corbin take the mound for Opening Day at Nationals Park on Thursday. The Braves...
MARCH 24, 2023 • MLB.COM
NL Central Preview: Cards seek repeat without Pujols, Molina
Two familiar faces from St. Louis’ run to the NL Central title last season aren’t around anymore as the Cardinals attempt to become the division’s first repeat champion in six year...MARCH 24, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
NL East Preview: Braves, Phillies, Mets to duke it out again
The National League East made a strong argument as the majors’ toughest division in 2022 and lines up as perhaps even better this seasonMARCH 24, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Michael Harris II - Scratched with back tightness Harris was scratched from Atlanta's spring training game against Boston on Friday due to back tightness, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Impact He was reportedly removed from the lineup as a precaution, and the issue doesn't seem to be of very high concern. While he sits, Sam Hilliard will take his spot in center field.
MARCH 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Max Fried - Tapped for Opening Day start Fried will start for Atlanta on Opening Day on March 30 versus the Nationals.
Impact It's no surprise, of course, following a National League Cy Young runner-up campaign. Fried has been excellent this spring, tossing 11.1 scoreless innings while notching 14 strikeouts.
MARCH 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
MLB 26-and-under power rankings: No. 2 Atlanta Braves
It's easy to see why the Braves are No. 2 in our talent rankings. Their young hitting breaks the scale with names we've been familiar with f...MARCH 24, 2023
Mets get preview of pitching prospect Mike Vasil against Braves NORTH PORT, Fla.— Mike Vasil went from facing up-and-coming minor league hitters in the Arizona Fall League to facing the Atlanta Braves’ de...
MARCH 23, 2023 • MERCURYNEWS.COM
Mike Soroka - Optioned to Triple-A Soroka (hamstring) was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday.
Impact Slowed for most of camp by a right hamstring strain, Soroka just made his Grapefruit League debut Wednesday with an outing that lasted only 1.1 innings. He'll need to get stretched out on the farm before Atlanta can map out a plan for his first major-league appearance since 2020. The good news is that he seems to be over this latest physical setback.
MARCH 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Braves notes: Jared Shuster passes biggest test yet, Brandon Gaudin debuts in booth NORTH PORT, Fla. — This spring, Jared Shuster has faced a healthy dose of big-league hitters.
MARCH 23, 2023 • AJC.COM
Braves RHP Raisel Iglesias to start season on IL Atlanta Braves closer Raisel Iglesias will start the season on the injured list with inflammation in his right shoulder.
MARCH 23, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM
Braves closer Iglesias headed to IL with inflamed shoulder
Atlanta Braves closer Raisel Iglesias will open the season on the injured list due to right shoulder inflammationMARCH 23, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
2023 fantasy baseball rankings: Shohei Ohtani, Jordan Walker and more Jake Ciely's 2023 fantasy baseball rankings: Shohei Ohtani in Top 15 of hitters and pitchers, Spencer Strider and more young rising stars.
MARCH 23, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Eddie Rosario - Set as starter in left Rosario appears locked into the starting role in left field for Atlanta, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
Impact The 31-year-old outfielder underwent laser eye surgery last year and struggled to pick up the ball after his return, but he's appeared to be something close to his old self at the plate this spring, rapping out his first extra-base hit Monday in Grapefruit League play (a double off the Rays' Zach Eflin) after going 3-for-17 with two homers and a double for Puerto Rico during the WBC. Rosario was a big part of Atlanta's postseason run in 2021, winning the NLCS MVP after slashing .271/.330/.573 over 33 regular-season games, but his career .270/.305/.462 line is a more realistic goal over a full campaign if he returns to form.
MARCH 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Nick Anderson - Could make Opening Day bullpen Anderson could wind up being on the Opening Day roster with Raisel Iglesias (shoulder) set to begin the season on the injured list, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
Impact He already got optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett on Monday, but Iglesias' injury changes the bullpen picture for Atlanta and opens up a spot. Anderson didn't pitch in the majors at all last year after undergoing elbow surgery in October 2021, but he has a career 39.6 percent strikeout rate in the majors over 87.1 innings and has posted an 11:1 K:BB over eight innings this spring. The 32-year-old could work his way into a high-leverage role once he shows he's all the way back, although A.J. Minter and Joe Jimenez are expected to handle the bulk of the closing duties in Iglesias' absence.
MARCH 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Hoskins' knee torn; Wainwright, Iglesias out as openers near
A trio of NL pennant hopefuls are suddenly dealing with injuries to some pretty important playersMARCH 23, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
A.J. Minter - Likely first in line for saves Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said Thursday that Minter "obviously would be the obvious guy" to fill in at closer while Raisel Iglesias (shoulder) is sidelined, Justin Toscano of t...
Impact Snitker did backtrack a bit after that, adding that "it may be a matchup scenario-type thing." Still, it seems telling that Minter is the first guy that came to mind when the manager was asked the question, likely putting him at the top of the pecking order. Joe Jimenez is probably next in line. Atlanta is hopeful that Iglesias will need only a minimum stay on the injured list.
MARCH 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Raisel Iglesias - Hoping for minimum IL stay Manager Brian Snitker indicated Thursday he hopes Iglesias (shoulder) will only require the minimum 15 days on the injured list, Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution...
Impact Iglesias was diagnosed with low-grade right shoulder inflammation after feeling off while playing catch Wednesday. He will be shut down for the next week before hopefully ramping things back up. "To get him right, we shut him down, will build him back and hopefully can get him sooner than later," Snitker said. A.J. Minter is the favorite to close games for Atlanta while Iglesias is out.
MARCH 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Raisel Iglesias (shoulder) to open season on IL Braves closer Raisel Iglesias has low-grade shoulder inflammation and will start the season on the injured list. The right-hander won’t thro...
MARCH 23, 2023 • MLB.COM
