Atlanta Braves Spring Chop: A funny thing happened on the way to the roster

This past weekend might have been described as ‘moving days’ for multiple players trying to earn spots at the ends of the roster.

Towards the end of last week, things were starting to look a bit more settled with both the Atlanta Braves rotation and the bench:

Matt Wisler, 5^th starter
Preston Tucker, 4^th outfielder, and full-time LF for a while

But here on Monday… the winds of change: they are a’blowin’…

A New/Old Face

After a slow (0 for 5) start in limited action, Dustin Peterson seems to be getting both his timing and his power back in big ways.

After starting his own hit parade with a 2-for-4 day on March 1^st, he’s been continuing to hit – and hit well: in March, he’s 6 for 14 with a double and two deep homers.

That will bring D-Pete back into the conversation, especially as Tucker has slowed a bit from his torrid start and Lane Adams is just now finding pitches to hit (he’s now 5 out of his last 20 with a pair of doubles).

But for all those pulling for Peterson after he comes back from a hammate injury this time last year, there’s a few things that will be working against him:

he’s not on the 40-man roster (in fact, the Braves left him exposed to the Rule 5 draft in December)
he’s not the best of defenders in the outfield
he still has all of his minor league options

That still points to guys like Adams, who could spell Ender Inciarte if necessary (and has no remaining minor league options available).

Could Peterson play center, though? I do recall a AA game 2 seasons ago in which Peterson did play CF for a few days – and even he was surprised at that… the players seemed to be having a good laugh over the experience as well – but it didn’t last.

It’s still unknown whether the Braves would want to carry 13 pitchers or 13 position players into April, but if it’s the latter, then there are 4 bench roles available… suggesting 2 infielders and 2 outfielders.

Guys already on the 40-man roster would definitely be preferred, since (a) it’s already full; and (b) Somebody eventually has to be jettisoned to make room for Ronald Acuna, Jr. The idea of bumping two names in this March-April timeframe is difficult to imagine.

So that still points to Tucker and Adams for right now (with Danny Santana not on the 40-man either). Peterson will have to not only beat these incumbents, but do so so convincingly enough to effectively give the Braves no choice. Either that, or somebody gets hurt.

Some additional detail on the timing: Atlanta doesn’t need a 5^th starter in the rotation until close to mid-April. Going with 4 starters and 8 in the bullpen would work until then, but in rapid succession, 2 changes might be needed:

Add starter, subtract extra bullpen arm
Add Acuna, subtract OF

So whoever those last outfielders are – at least one should have minor league options available. Both Tucker and Peterson do; Santana does not (and he isn’t on the 40-man either), so that should at least put Peterson 3^rd in the pecking order as this point.

Maybe Just a Hiccup?

So Sunday’s start for Matt Wisler didn’t exactly go as hoped for someone looking like he was about to be handed the 5^th starter’s role.

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He lasted just 3 innings (likely was scheduled to go 4), giving up 4 earned runs on 5 hits, plus he walked his first 2 batters of the Spring and yielded his first home run.

That vaults his ERA to 3.60, though the composite line still looks pretty good for the 25-year-old right-hander, and he had been doing good work until yesterday.

But that probably moves Scott Kazmir up into the 5^th spot – using a light pencil stroke on the scorecard. Kazmir has been good – not great – with a 3.00 ERA, 4 walks and 3 K in 6 innings. His next turn now becomes much more interesting as the coaches watch progress among the starters with keen interest.

Not to be forgotten, Aaron Blair is still doing well – although he also gave up a run on Sunday in 2 innings of work following Wisler. His ERA is now 1.80, though he hasn’t been rewarded with a game start to this point.

But as noted above, with the need for a 5th starter still a full month away, this battle could last until then – though Wisler might have to make his case from Gwinnett when the season opens.

Next: Cruzin' USA

Tonight at Disney: Braves vs. Phillies. Maybe it wasn’t a shot in the dark after all: remember who mentioned Arrieta and the Phils last week?

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