Roster Odds – Updated 4/7

Latest Transactions

4/7: Opening Day roster is set. Let’s run it back.
4/3: LHP Kyle Muller optioned to AAA Gwinnett; selected the contract RHP Darren O’Day, placed RHP Luke Jackson on the 60-day IL
4/2: IFs Phil Gosselin, Ryan Goins, and Pat Valaika assigned to minor league camp
3/31: LHP Dylan Lee and OF Travis Demeritte optioned to AAA Gwinnett; UT Brock Holt released
3/30: C Chadwick Tromp optioned to AAA Gwinnett; 1B John Nogowski re-assigned to minor league camp
3/28: RHP Jacob Webb optioned to AAA Gwinnett

Bench – Infielders

Position Player Opening Day Odds Roster Status OFR Prospect Rank Options
1B Matt Olson 100% 40-man roster n/a n/a
2B Ozzie Albies 100% 40-man roster n/a n/a
3B Austin Riley 100% 40-man roster n/a 3
SS Orlando Arcia 100% 40-man roster n/a n/a
UT Luis Guillorme 100% 40-man roster n/a 0
UT David Fletcher 0% ↓ Non-roster invite (reassigned) n/a n/a
UT Luke Williams 0% ↓ Non-roster invite (reassigned) n/a 1
UT Andrew Velazquez 0% ↓ Non-roster invite (reassigned) n/a 0
SS/2B Luke Waddell 0% ↓ Non-roster invite (reassigned) 18 -
SS Nacho Alvarez 0% ↓ Non-roster invite (reassigned) 7 -
UT Alejo Lopez 0% ↓ Non-roster invite (reassigned) n/a 1
1B/3B Phillip Evans 0% ↓ Non-roster invite (reassigned) n/a 1
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4/2: In determining who would be the second infield back-up behind Orlando Arcia, the Braves have essentially selected “None of the Above” after re-assigning all three remaining in-camp candidates. The Braves may make an acquisition to fill the spot, or go with William Contreras on the bench in a third catcher/back-up outfielder role in the early going. Of course, the Braves could change course at any time and add one of Gosselin, Goins, or Valaika to the roster.

3/31: The Braves announced that “Brock Holt has requested and been granted his release”. This likely means he was informed he was not going to make the club, and rather than accept a minor league assignment the veteran will take a shot at catching on with another major league squad. This move has several ramifications for the bench. First, it makes Alex Dickerson more likely to stick around as a lefty reserve even after the return of Ronald Acuña. It also makes it more likely that one of the Gosselin/Valaika/Goins trio makes the Opening Day roster.

3/26: Pat Valaika played right field on Saturday, a position that he has never played in the major leagues, as the Braves work to figure out the bench.

3/25: Yariel Gonzalez’s longshot bid for a bench job comes to end. His chances went down considerably as the organization brought in veterans Phil Gosselin, Brock Holt, and Pat Valaika to compete for the second back-up infield spot behind Orlando Arcia.

Bench – Outfielder

Position Player Opening Day Odds Roster Status OFR Prospect Rank Options
RF Ronald Acuña Jr. 100% 40-man roster n/a n/a
CF Michael Harris II 100% 40-man roster n/a 3
LF Jarred Kelenic 100% 40-man roster n/a 1
OF Marcell Ozuna 100% 40-man roster n/a n/a
OF Adam Duvall 100% 40-man roster n/a n/a
OF Forrest Wall 100% ↑ 40-man roster n/a 3
OF Eli White 0% ↓ Non-roster invite (reasigned) n/a 1
OF Luis Liberato 0% ↓ Non-roster invite (reasigned) n/a 3
OF J.P. Martinez 0% ↓ 40-man roster (optioned) n/a 2
UT Leury Garcia 0% ↓ Non-roster invite (reassigned) n/a n/a
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3/31: The release of Brock Holt and the optioning of Travis Demeritte pushes the likelihood of Alex Dickerson making the squad to near 100%, barring an outside acquisition.

3/23: Speaking with the Bally broadcast crew on Wednesday, Alex Anthopoulos indicated that they were looking at Acuña being available for outfield duty in early May. Great news for the Braves, but it did finally close the book on the longshot possibility of his starting the season as the DH. 

3/23: Waters optioned. Barring an injury outbreak of some sort he was not going to make the team anyway, but a hamstring tweak keeping him out of the line-up the last three games didn’t help his chances. 

Bench – Catcher

Position Player Opening Day Odds Roster Status OFR Prospect Rank Options
C Sean Murphy 100% 40-man roster n/a 3
C Travis d'Arnaud 100% 40-man roster n/a n/a
C Chadwick Tromp 0% Non-roster invite (reassigned) n/a 1
C Drake Baldwin 0% Non-roster invite (reassigned) 8 -
C Sebastián Rivero 0% Non-roster invite (reassigned) n/a 2
C Tyler Tolve 0% Non-roster invite (reassigned) 32 -
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4/3: Manager Brian Snitker today confirmed that catcher William Contreras has made the team. He will back up at catcher, outfield, and possibly third or first base if necessary. 

3/26: In an interesting development, William Contreras will start Sunday’s game in right field. Outfield continues to be an area of concern, especially defensively, in the weeks before Acuña’s return to the field.

3/18: The most locked-in position is catcher, with incumbent Travis d’Arnaud and free agent veteran acquisition Manny Piña. There is a chance the Braves may use the new bench dynamics to keep a third catcher on the roster, with former San Francisco Giant Chadwick Tromp the likely candidate in that scenario as the team looks to give William Contreras more seasoning in AAA.

Starting Rotation

Position Player Opening Day Odds Roster Status OFR Prospect Rank Options
LHP Max Fried 100% 40-man roster n/a 3
RHP Spencer Strider 100% 40-man roster n/a n/a
RHP Charlie Morton 100% 40-man roster n/a n/a
LHP Chris Sale 100% 40-man roster n/a n/a
RHP Reynaldo Lopez 100% ↑ 40-man roster n/a n/a
RHP Bryce Elder 0% ↓ 40-man roster (optioned) n/a 3
RHP Huascar Ynoa 0% ↓ 40-man roster (optioned) n/a 1
RHP AJ Smith-Shawver 0% ↓ 40-man roster (optioned) 1 2
RHP Hurston Waldrep 0% ↓ Non-roster invite (reassigned) 2 -
RHP Darius Vines 0% ↓ 40-man roster (optioned) 11 2
LHP Dylan Dodd 0% ↓ 40-man roster (optioned) 12 2
RHP Allan Winans 0% ↓ 40-man roster (optioned) 21 2
RHP Taylor Widener 0% ↓ Non-roster invite (reassigned) n/a 2
RHP Ian Anderson 0% 40-man roster (optioned) n/a 1
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4/3: The rotation will be Fried, Morton, Anderson, Ynoa, and Wright (not necessarily in that order) with either Tucker Davidson or Spencer Strider as the sixth starter. Both Davidson and Strider will make the team out of camp, per manager Brian Snitker.

4/3: With Kyle Muller heading back to the minors, the rotation seems settled. The only question seems to be if Tucker Davidson will start the season in the major league roster or be optioned and then brought back up when the sixth starter is needed.

3/23: Alex Anthopoulos named Kyle Wright and Huascar Ynoa as the favorites for the 4th and 5th rotations spots. Muller, Davidson, and Strider were name-dropped as still in the mix.

3/23: In a surprise move, Touki Toussaint was optioned. With the news of 28-man rosters and likely six-man rotations, Toussaint would have seemed to be in line for swingman duties, but the Braves must have seen something in his Monday start that they wanted him to work on.

3/22: With news today that the league will have 28-man rosters in April with no limitations to the number of pitchers we are modifying the percentages accordingly. Good outings from Ynoa and Strider also taken into account.

Bullpen

Position Player Opening Day Odds Roster Status OFR Prospect Rank Options
RHP Raisel Iglesias 100% 40-man roster n/a n/a
LHP AJ Minter 100% 40-man roster n/a n/a
RHP Joe Jiménez 100% 40-man roster n/a n/a
RHP Pierce Johnson 100% 40-man roster n/a 0
LHP Tyler Matzek 100% 40-man roster n/a n/a
LHP Aaron Bummer 100% 40-man roster n/a n/a
LHP Dylan Lee 100% 40-man roster n/a 2
RHP Jesse Chavez 100% ↑ Non-roster invite n/a 0
RHP Jackson Stephens 0% ↓ Designated for assignment n/a 0
RHP Reynaldo Lopez 0% ↓ 40-man roster n/a n/a
RHP Huascar Ynoa 0% ↓ 40-man roster (optioned) n/a 1
RHP Ken Giles 0% ↓ Non-roster invite (reassigned) n/a n/a
LHP Ray Kerr 0% ↓ 40-man roster (optioned) n/a 1
RHP Daysbel Hernandez 0% ↓ 40-man roster (optioned) n/a 3
RHP Tommy Doyle 0% ↓ Non-roster invite (reassigned) n/a 1
RHP Allan Winans 0% ↓ 40-man roster (optioned) 21 2
RHP Jake Walsh 0% ↓ Non-roster invite (reassigned) n/a 1
RHP Grant Holmes 0% ↓ Non-roster invite (reassigned) n/a 0
LHP Ben Bowden 0% ↓ Non-roster invite (reassigned) n/a 1
RHP Taylor Widener 0% ↓ Non-roster invite (reassigned) n/a 2
LHP Hayden Harris 0% ↓ Non-roster invite (reassigned) 38 -
RHP Penn Murfee 0% 40-man roster n/a 3
LHP Angel Perdomo 0% 40-man roster n/a 0
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4/3 (update): Manager Brian Snitker confirmed that both Davidson and Strider have made the team. Either could be used out of the bullpen.

4/3: Darren O’Day now is all but guaranteed a spot as an MRI scan confirms a UCL tear for Luke Jackson. Tyler Thornburg is almost a lock at this point as well. Spencer Strider would seem to be in line for another spot, though its possible Brad Brach, Nick Vincent, Jacob Webb, or even Touki Toussaint could be summoned back from the minor league side.

3/30: With Dylan Lee being optioned, Sean Newcomb’s inclusion in the Opening Day bullpen now seems assured. 

3/28: Manager Brian Snitker revealed that RHP Luke Jackson has been dealing with a tight right forearm, but that he has resumed throwing after taking a week off to rest. Jackson has not made his spring debut, and now seems unlikely to begin the season on the active roster. Veteran RHP Tyler Thornburg made his second scoreless appearance of the spring and would seem to be the most likely to at least temporarily assume Jackson’s spit in the bullpen. 

3/28RHP Jacob Webb was optioned this morning. He did not make a spring training appearance, and one would have to wonder if his 40-man roster spot is in jeopardy if the Braves elect to add someone else on, such as Darren O’Day.

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