Atlanta Braves position battles with one week remaining in 2018 ST

Braves still have position battles as we’re one week from Opening Day

Spring Training battles are always fun to pay attention to in March. The Atlanta Braves had many heading into the ST season — mostly with the bullpen, rotation and bench. These positions are looking a little clear as we’re less then a week until 2018 Opening Day.

Can you believe we’re this close to meaningful baseball again?! These winter months have gone so slow. And now with this cold weather back, it feels like it’s winter all over again. Nope, we’re a few days into Spring and we’re all ready for baseball!

The Braves still have a few position battles going on. Let’s take a look at where we’re at as of March 23rd. You can be the judge in the comment section below…who are you expecting to be the Braves 5th starter, left fielder and bullpen?

Starting Rotation

At the start of Spring Training, the Braves had two pitchers that were locks in the starting rotation — Julio Teheran and Mike Foltynewicz. These two have been very impressive so far this Spring Training. Together, they’ve pitched 34.2 innings, allowed only two runs, nine walks and have 19 strikeouts.

Brandon McCarthy has pitched well enough this spring and is now considered a lock. He’s pitched 12.2 IP, 1.42 ERA, 2 runs, 9 hit, 1 walk, 8 strikeouts. He’s also pitched in a minor league game on the back fields.

Braves 24-year-old lefty, Sean Newcomb, has also pitched very well this Spring Training and has slotted himself into the Braves starting rotation. 15.1 IP, 2.35 ERA, 5 runs (4 earned runs), 9 hit, 5 walk, 15 strikeouts

With less than a week remaining in the spring season, we’re still looking to fill the final spot in the rotation. Though the Braves won’t need this pitcher until April 11th, we’re still going to need one.

Scott Kazmir – 9.2 IP, 4.66 ERA, 6 runs (5 earned runs), 10 hits, 6 walks, 4 strikeouts

Max Fried – 6.2 IP, 6.75 ERA, 5 runs, 13 hits, 2 walk, 6 strikeout

Luiz Gohara – hasn’t pitched yet because of a groin strain and than a sprained ankle

Matt Wisler – 13.1 IP, 3.38 ERA, 5 runs, 14 hits, 2 walks, 9 strikeouts

Anibal Sanchez – 4 IP, 4.50 ERA, 2 runs, six hits, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts (pitches again today)

Left Field

Top prospect Ronald Acuna had a very impressive 2018 Spring Training, but the Braves made the decision to send him to Triple-A — because of the extra year of control. Sucks, but we’ll probably see him around mid-April in Atlanta.

Tucker has put up great numbers so far. If I had to guess, he could be our starting left fielder on Opening Day.

Preston Tucker – .386/.460/.591, 17-44 at the plate, 6 doubles, 1 HR, 8 runs, 10 RBIs, 6 BB, 4 K

Lane Adams – .234/.250/.362, 11-47 at the plate, 3 doubles, 4 runs, 2 RBI, 1 walk, 19 strikeouts, 2 stolen bases

Ronald Acuna – .432/.519/.727, 19-44 at the plate, 1 double, 4 HR’s, 8 runs, 11 RBIs, 4 base steals, 4 BB, 8 strikeouts

Ezequiel Carrera – .214/.214/.214, 3-14 at the plate, 2 runs, 1 RBI, 1 stolen base

Dustin Peterson – .259/.286/.519, 7-27 at the plate, 1 double, 2 HRs, 6 runs, 6 RBIs, 1 walk, 11 strikeouts

Catcher

I’ll go ahead and throw this one in there because the stats are glaringly different. Kurt Suzuki is having a great offensively Spring Training, while Tyler Flowers isn’t. Spring stats shouldn’t affect that much, but will Suzuki cut into some of Flowers PT?

Tyler Flowers – .105/.292/.105, 2-19 at the plate, 1 run, 1 RBI, 5 walks, 9 strikeouts

Kurt Suzuki – .417/.464/.542, 10-24 at the plate, 3 doubles, 3 runs, 5 RBIs, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts

Third Base

Unless the Braves decide neither of these guys can handle a full season at the hot corner and sign a free agent, Johan Camargo will be our everyday third baseman when he returns. Rio Ruiz gets the opportunity to prove he’s worthy of an MLB spot once again.

Johan Camargo – .241/.303/.414, 7-29 at the plate, 2 doubles, 1 HR, 4 R, 8 RBIs, 3 BB, 4 K’s…Most likely will start the season on the DL

Rio Ruiz – .233/.258/.400, 14-60 at the plate, 4 doubles, 2 HR, 8 runs,10 RBIs, 2 BB, 18 K’s

Ryan Schimpf -.000/.000/.000, 0-16 at the plate, 4 walks, 11 strikeouts …optioned down to Triple-A

Charlie Culberson – .184/.226/.306, 9-49 at the plate, 1 double, 1 triple, 1 HR, 4 runs, 4 RBIs, 3 walks, 13 strikeouts

The Bullpen

Atlanta will most likely start the year off with an eight-man bullpen. It’s extremely difficult to “lock in” any bullpen guys because you just never know, but I would say the Braves have two locks — Arodys Vizcaino and A.J. Minter.

Here you go, pick eight…

Arodys Vizcaino – 8 IP, 4.50 ERA, 6 hit, 4 runs, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts

A.J. Minter – 6.1 IP, 0.00 ERA, 6 hits, 0 runs, 1 walks, 9 strikeouts

Jesse Biddle – 3.1 IP, 0.00 ERA, 2 hit, 0 runs, 0 walks, 0 strikeouts…optioned to Gwinnett

Aaron Blair – 8.2 IP, 4.15 ERA, 10 hit, 4 runs, 5 walks, 4 strikeouts

Sam Freeman – 6.2 IP, 0.00 ERA, 1 hit, 0 runs, 3 walks, 8 strikeouts

Anyelo Gomez – 8.1 IP, 10.80 ERA, 10 hit, 10 runs, 4 walks, 6 strikeouts…Rule 5 pick back to Yankees

Josh Graham – 8 IP, 4.50 ERA, 8 hits, 4 runs, 4 walk, 9 strikeout

Adam McCreery – 3 IP, 3.00 ERA, 6 hits, 1 runs, 0 walks, 2 strikeout

Akeel Morris – 2.1 IP, 0.00 ERA, 1 hit, 0 runs, 4 walks, 1 strikeout

Peter Moylan – 5.2 IP, 4.76 ERA, 6 hit, 3 runs, 1 walks, 8 strikeouts

Philip Pfeifer – 3 IP, 6.00 ERA, 3 hit, 2 runs, 1 walks, 1 strikeouts

Jose Ramirez – 7 IP, 1.29 ERA, 3 hits, 1 runs, 3 walks, 4 strikeouts

Ricardo Sanchez – 2 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0 hits, 0 runs, 1 walks, 2 strikeout

Daniel Winkler – 6 IP, 6.00 ERA, 5 hits, 4 runs, 6 walks, 11 strikeouts

Matt Wisler – 13.1 IP, 3.38 ERA, 14 hits, 5 runs, 2 walks, 9 strikeout

Rex Brothers – 8 IP, 9.00 ERA, 7 hit, 8 run, 6 walks, 13 strikeouts, 4 homers allowed

Chase Whitley – 2.1 IP, 7.71 ERA, 3 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts,

Lucas Sims – 13.1 IP, 10.13 ERA, 18 hits, 15 runs, 10 walks, 9 strikeouts

Shane Carle – 11.2 IP, 3.09 ERA, 10 hits, 4 runs, 2 walk, 2 strikeouts, 2 homer allowed

Josh Ravin – 7 IP, 3.86 ERA, 6 hits, 3 runs, 3 walks, 11 strikeouts, 1 homer allowed

Jason Hursh – 2.2 IP, 23.62 ERA, 8 hits, 7 runs, 3 walks, 0 strikeouts

Miguel Socolovich – 6.1 IP, 9.95 ERA, 6 hits, 7 runs, 3 walks, 4 strikeouts

Luke Jackson – 5.1 IP, 8.44 ERA, 7 hits, 6 runs (5 earned runs), 5 walks, 5 strikeouts

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Bench Positions

The current thought is that the Braves will keep four positional players on their bench to start the season. A catcher (Kurt Suzuki/Tyler Flowers) will be one of these players and Culberson will be another.

So two more spots are available. Right now, you’d have to go with Preston Tucker (if he doesn’t win LF job) and Danny Santana (ugh). There is also more talk about carrying three catchers. So Chris Stewart is another option.