Atlanta’s Opening Day roster is starting to take shape."WhiteFanposts F

anshots Sections Talking Chop User’s GuideTalking Chop PodcastAround the NL EastBaseball Analysis PrimerBraves News: Rotation plans Mariano Rivera Jersey , roster predictions and moreNew,28commentsAtlanta’s Opening Day roster is starting to take shape.EDTShareTweetShareShareBraves News: Rotation plans, roster predictions and moreReinhold Matay-USA TODAY SportsAtlanta Braves NewsBraves defeat Rays 4-2 in inaugural game at CoolToday ParkKevin Gausman turned in his best outing of the spring as the Braves opened up CoolToday Park with a 4-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. Gausman struck out five over 3 1/3 innings while throwing 77 pitches. He will likely need one more start before being ready to join Atlanta’s rotation sometime in early April. Braves open new spring digs at CoolToday ParkThe Braves officially opened up their new facility in North Port on Sunday which by all accounts is one of the most impressive spring facilities in Florida. Braves option Touki Toussaint, Adam Duvall and Dan Winkler to GwinnettThe Braves made some roster moves Sunday morning trimming three more players from the spring roster by optioning pitchers Touki Toussaint and Dan Winkler along with outfielder Adam Duvall. Atlanta Braves Spring Training Stock Watch: (Week 5)With those cuts, Atlanta’s Opening Day roster is starting to come into focus. I discussed the final decisions that are pending and made my prediction for what the roster will look like on Thursday in our final stock watch of the spring. Braves announce starters for opening series in PhiladelphiaThe Braves announced their rotation plans for the first week of the regular season on Sunday. As was previously announced, Julio Teheran will make his sixth-straight Opening Day start against the Phillies on Thursday. He will be followed by a pair of rookies with Bryse Wilson getting the start on Saturday and Kyle Wright getting the nod on Sunday. Sean Newcomb is penciled in to start the home opener against the Cubs.Braves hoping rotation can shoulder loadAtlanta’s rotation was hit hard with nagging injuries during the spring but the team is hoping that its depth will be able to carry the load again in 2019. MLB NewsX-rays negative on Indians 3B Ramirez’s kneeIndians third baseman Jose Ramirez suffered a left knee contusion after fouling a ball off his left leg Sunday against the White Sox. Ramirez had to be carted off the field but X-rays came back negative. There is no timetable yet for his return. Syndergaard unhappy with deGrom talks, travelMets right-hander Noah Syndergaard is not happy with the team’s decision to travel to Syracuse for a final workout before leaving to open the season in Washington. He is also not happy about the lack of progress on contract extension discussions for his teammate Jacob deGrom. PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates bet on themselves a year ago when they traded away stars Gerrit Cole and Andrew McCutchen Babe Ruth Jersey , believing the return they received plus the pieces already in place would help them make inroads in the hypercompetitive National League Central.The results were promising. The Pirates put together just the franchise’s fourth winning season in the last quarter century, finishing 82-79 thanks in large part to the rapid development of a young starting rotation led by Jameson Taillon and Trevor Williams that quickly found its footing. While many of their rivals retooled over the winter, Pittsburgh instead doubled down on its largely homegrown approach.“I think that a seven-game improvement last year was a meaningful step forward, and we are absolutely positioned to take another meaningful step forward and get us back into that range where we have a very good shot at playoffs,” owner Bob Nutting said.To get there, the Pirates needs the core of the rotation of Taillon, Williams http://www.yankeesfanproshop.com/authentic-giancarlo-stanton-jersey , Chris Archer — acquired in an aggressive move at last summer’s trade deadline — and Joe Musgrove to build off a solid 2018 while hoping the offense can become more potent under new hitting coach Rick Eckstein. While the Pirates were a respectable 10th in batting average in 2018 (.254), they ranked in the bottom half of the majors in runs, home runs and slugging.The return of third baseman Jung Ho Kang — who hit 36 homers in 2015 and 2016 before his career was derailed after being arrested on a DUI charge in his native South Korea in late 2016 — should help. First baseman Josh Bell spent a significant portion of his offseason working on regaining the stroke that allowed him to hit 26 home runs as a rookie in 2017, a total that dipped to 12 a season ago.Pittsburgh brought in veteran Lonnie Chisenhall to help out in right field until Gregory Polanco returns from shoulder surgery and shortstop Erik Gonzalez beat out Kevin Newman for the starting shortstop gig. Otherwise Pittsburgh’s lineup will look much as it did in 2018. The Pirates hardly see that as a negative.“Everybody is committed to doing what we can to putting a World Series championship team on the field,” team President Frank Coonelly said over the winter. “And we do know that we can do it.”Some things to look for as Pittsburgh vies for a return to the postseason for the first time since 2015.FIFTH AMENDMENT: The only real question mark on the pitching staff is at the back end of the rotation, where Nick Kingham and Jordan Lyles have spent the spring trying to lock down a roster spot. Kingham endured an up-and-down rookie season in 2018 while Lyles has worked primarily out of the bullpen since 2015.GOLDEN GUN: Leftfielder Corey Dickerson put together the finest season of his career in 2018 after being acquired from Tampa Bay late in spring training. He hit .300 and was a revelation on defense, where he won his first career Gold Glove while patrolling spacious PNC Park. He earned a raise to $8.5 million in 2019 Joe DiMaggio Jersey , the final year of his contract. The 29-year-old Dickerson would like to stay in Pittsburgh long term but the Pirates have been hesitant to re-sign players in their 30s.FIRING FELIPE: While specific roles for the middle relievers remain in a bit of flux, the back end of the bullpen is set. Felipe Vazquez was the team’s only All-Star in 2018 while he converted 37 of 42 save opportunities. Keone Kela, brought over from Texas at the trade deadline, will work in the eighth inning with Kyle Crick getting a shot in the seventh. Their reliability will help shorten the game for Pittsburgh’s starting rotation.HOMEFIELD ADVANTAGE: Pittsburgh’s improved play in 2018 didn’t exactly galvanize the fan base. The Pirates posted their lowest average attendance at PNC Park since it opened in 2001 and its lowest overall since 1996. General manager Neal Huntington has spoken at length about the need to put a compelling product on the field, but that message hasn’t quite resonated.FOR OPENERS: The Pirates begin 2019 on the road at Cincinnati on March 28. Their home opener is on April 1 against the St. Louis Cardinals.