Top Braves News
-
Braves' Spencer Strider: Dazzles in spring debut
Strider (elbow) struck out six batters over 2.2 perfect innings during his Grapefruit League debut Monday versus the Red Sox.
Cleared to pitch for the first time since April 5, 2024 after completing his recovery from an internal brace procedure on his right elbow, Strider looked as dominant as ever Monday. He found the strike zone on 23 of his 27 pitches and struck out six of the eight batters he faced, with the other two outs coming on a weak popout into foul territory and a first-pitch groundout. His velocity also appeared right in line with pre-surgery levels, with Strider topping out at 98 miles per hour on a first-inning strikeout of outfield prospect Roman Anthony. Since Strider will still need to get stretched out over the course of multiple starts, he remains on track to open the season on the 15-day injured list, but his dominant performance Monday makes a mid-to-late April debut increasingly realistic and is likely to send his ADP soaring.
... See More ... See Less -
Braves' Sandy Leon: Cut from big-league camp
Atlanta reassigned Leon to minor-league camp Monday.
Leon's dismissal leaves Atlanta with just two healthy backstops in big-league camp: Drake Baldwin and Chadwick Tromp. Barring an addition from outside the organization, the two will begin the season as Atlanta's catching tandem until Sean Murphy (rib) is ready to make his 2025 debut. Leon is likely to open the campaign as organizational catching depth at Triple-A Gwinnett.
... See More ... See Less -
Braves' Reynaldo Lopez: Cleared to make next start
Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said Monday that Lopez is "fine" and has been cleared to make his next Grapefruit League start Saturday versus the Tigers, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
After Lopez's average fastball velocity sat at around 93 miles per hour -- 2.5 ticks below his season average from 2024 -- in his last Grapefruit League outing back on March 7 against the Twins, Atlanta opted to have the right-hander make his most recent spring appearance on the back fields of camp this past week. Lopez apparently made it though that outing without incident, perhaps suggesting that the diminished velocity he displayed March 7 was simply a bout of arm fatigue. Lopez's investors will still want to keep close tabs on his start Saturday, which will likely be the final time he takes the hill this spring before making his season debut next week in Atlanta's four-game opening series in San Diego.
... See More ... See Less -
Braves' Jurickson Profar: Took batting practice Sunday
Profar (wrist) took batting practice Sunday and could return to Grapefruit League action Thursday, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Profar's batting practice came a day earlier than expected, which would seem to be a good sign as he works his way back from a bone bruise in his left wrist. He could be back in Grapefruit League games soon and getting in some extra reps in minor-league contests is a possibility, as well. Profar is expected to be ready to roll come Opening Day.
... See More ... See Less -
Braves' Grant Holmes: Fully stretched out
Holmes tossed 93 pitches (63 strikes) in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Blue Jays, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out three.
The right-hander seems ready for Opening Day as he prepares to begin the season in Atlanta's rotation. Holmes posted a 3.56 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 70:15 K:BB over 68.1 big-league innings last year while working primarily in relief, but the organization had plenty of success in 2024 with Reynaldo Lopez's conversion to the rotation.
... See More ... See Less -
Braves' Chris Sale: Officially tapped for Opening Day
Atlanta announced Monday that Sale will be its Opening Day starter March 27 in San Diego.
If there was any doubt the reigning National League Cy Young winner would be taking the ball for the opener, the club has now removed it. Sale has followed up his Cy Young-winning campaign with a nice spring, posting a 3.52 ERA and 15:4 K:BB over 15.1 frames.
... See More ... See Less -
Braves' Jake Marisnick: Misses Opening Day roster
Atlanta reassigned Marisnick to minor-league camp Sunday.
The journeyman outfielder signed as a non-roster invitee in February and went just 4-for-27 with nine strikeouts in 13 games during spring training. Marisnick didn't play in the majors last season and is likely to spend most of 2025 back in the minors.
... See More ... See Less -
Braves' Curt Casali: Assigned to minor-league camp
Atlanta assigned Casali to minor-league camp Sunday.
Casali was brought in by Atlanta on a minor-league deal in January after appearing in 41 regular-season games for the Giants in 2024. Even with Sean Murphy rehabbing from a fractured rib on his left side, Casali will start the 2025 campaign in Triple-A, leaving Drake Baldwin, Chadwick Tromp and Sandy Leon to battle for catching duties to begin the campaign.
... See More ... See Less -
Braves' Buck Farmer: Sent to minor-league camp
Atlanta reassigned Farmer to minor-league camp Sunday.
The right-hander joined the club as a non-roster invitee in February and appeared to have a good chance of making the Opening Day roster, but his four runs allowed and 8:4 K:BB over 5.2 spring innings apparently weren't good enough. Assuming Farmer doesn't receive big-league interest from another organization, he'll likely begin the campaign at Triple-A Gwinnett.
... See More ... See Less -
Braves' Jake Diekman: Moved to minor-league camp
Atlanta assigned Diekman to minor-league camp Sunday.
Diekman signed a minor-league contract with Atlanta in February after appearing in 43 regular-season games for the Mets in 2024 with a 5.63 ERA and 1.47 WHIP. He opened spring training with five scoreless outings but gave up four earned runs over his last two appearances. The 38-year-old southpaw will likely be dispatched to Triple-A Gwinnett but could see major-league action at some point in 2025.
... See More ... See Less -
Braves' Spencer Strider: Set for spring debut Monday
Strider (elbow) will make his first start of spring training Monday against the Red Sox, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
It's a big step for Strider, who will be seeing his first game action since he underwent an internal brace procedure on his elbow last April. The right-hander will begin the campaign on the injured list, but he could make his 2025 debut in late April if he remains on schedule with his rehab.
... See More ... See Less -
Braves' Austin Riley: In Saturday's lineup
Riley (hand) will start at third base and bat second in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Twins.
Riley was forced to make an early exit from Friday's contest after getting hit on the right hand by a pitch, but no damage was done and he's right back in the lineup a day later. The 27-year-old has had a very successful spring so far, going 8-for-26 with two RBI and two runs scored over 11 games.
... See More ... See Less -
Braves' Angel Perdomo: Making case for bullpen spot
Perdomo struck out two over 1.1 perfect innings of relief in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals.
Entering the game in relief of Spencer Schwellenbach in the fifth inning, Perdomo fanned Dylan Crews to end the frame and then rang up Stone Garrett in the sixth. Perdomo didn't pitch last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery and had a delayed start to his spring, but the 30-year-old southpaw has shown flashes of high-leverage potential in camp. While Atlanta could elect to stash him on the IL to begin the season, Perdomo should have a spot waiting for him in the bullpen once he's deemed ready.
... See More ... See Less -
Braves' Ozzie Albies: Quiet spring continues
Albies went 0-for-3 in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals.
The switch-hitting second baseman has been getting his work in this spring, and while Albies hasn't had much luck at the plate, he also hasn't raised any alarms with his play. Through 26 plate appearances, he's gone 4-for-24 with a double as his only extra-base hit and a 2:6 BB:K. Albies is locked into his starting job at the keystone and a prime spot in Atlanta's batting order.
... See More ... See Less -
Braves' Spencer Schwellenbach: Fans seven Nats on Friday
Schwellenbach gave up two runs on four hits over 4.2 innings in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals. He struck out seven without walking a batter.
The 24-year-old right-hander wasn't quite as sharp as his line indicated, as he plunked one batter and got charged with a wild pitch, but it was mostly another successful spring outing for Schwellenbach. Over 12.2 Grapefruit League innings, he's delivered a 16:1 K:BB and appears just about ready for Opening Day.
... See More ... See Less -
Braves' Austin Riley: Day-to-day after avoiding fracture
Riley avoided a fracture to his right hand after being hit by a pitch Friday and is considered day-to-day, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Riley was hit by a pitch in Friday's spring training game versus the Nationals. X-rays came back clean, and it appears a scheduled CT scan also was negative. Riley might sit out a day or two if he's sore, but he's avoided the worst-case scenario.
... See More ... See Less -
Braves' Austin Riley: X-rays on hand are negative
X-rays on Riley's right hand came back negative, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Riley had to exit Friday's Grapefruit League tilt versus the Nationals following a hit by pitch. While it appears for now that he has avoided any fractures, Bowman notes it was a CT scan that found a fracture in his right hand last season after an X-ray didn't turn up anything. Riley will receive a CT scan next.
... See More ... See Less -
Braves' Austin Riley: Departs after HBP
Riley was removed from Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals as a precaution after being hit by a pitch on the right hand.
The hit-by-pitch was a scary moment for Atlanta and Riley, who sustained a fracture in the same hand last August that cost him the rest of the 2024 season. It's encouraging that the organization labeled his exit as a precaution, but the team will likely send him for medical imaging to get a clearer diagnosis.
... See More ... See Less -
Braves' Eli White: On track for bench role
White appears to be on his way to winning a utility role with Atlanta over Luke Williams, Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Both players can play the infield and the outfield, but White has raked this spring, batting .455 (10-for-22) in 11 Grapefruit League appearances with a 1:2 BB:K while Williams has gone just 2-for-26 (.077). White would be unlikely to see much playing time in a bench role, as manager Brian Snitker tends to give his starters all the work they can handle, but the 30-year-old could get some early opportunities. With Ronald Acuna (knee) set to begin the season on the IL, Jurickson Profar (wrist) not 100 percent, and Jarred Kelenic and Bryan De La Cruz set to form a shaky platoon in right field, White might be needed in the outfield corners more than expected. His career .568 OPS in the majors is ugly, but White did slash .294/.388/.447 with eight homers and 24 steals in 26 attempts over 78 games for Triple-A Gwinnet last year.
... See More ... See Less -
Braves' Nick Allen: Could be favorite for bench spot
Allen's defense at shortstop makes him the likeliest choice for a bench spot on Atlanta's initial 26-man roster, Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
The team's starters rarely get a day or even an at-bat off, so Allen's lack of offense isn't a big impediment to him winning the job if manager Brian Snitker is purely looking for the best defensive option. Allen has shown stolen-base ability in the minors and posted some PCL-inflated slash line promise at Triple-A Las Vegas in the A's system, but his .209/.254/.283 career line over 760 big-league plate appearances offers an accurate portrait of his fantasy upside should the 26-year-old find his way into consistent playing time.
... See More ... See Less
2024 Team Statistical Rankings
| Avg | R | HR | ERA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team |
.243 (15th) |
704 (15th) |
213 (4th) |
3.49 (1st) |
Injuries
| Player | Injury |
|---|---|
| R. Acuna RF Ronald Acuna RF | Knee |
| S. Strider SP Spencer Strider SP | Elbow |
| J. Profar LF Jurickson Profar LF | Wrist |
| S. Murphy C Sean Murphy C | Ribs |
| I. Alvarez 3B Ignacio Alvarez 3B | Wrist |
| Buy Tickets |
|---|