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Braves' Drake Baldwin: Draws start at DH versus lefty
Rotowire
Baldwin will start at designated hitter and bat second in Friday's opener versus the Royals.
Per Mark Bowman of MLB.com, Atlanta manager Walt Weiss noted Thursday that he planned to use Baldwin at DH and Jonah Heim at catcher against left-handed pitching, and that's how things are set up Friday against Royals southpaw Cole Ragans. The left-handed-swinging Baldwin had virtually even splits in his rookie season, slashing .299/.358/.460 against lefties and .267/.336/.472 versus righties. Being used in the DH slot on days he doesn't catch is a big boost to Baldwin's outlook for counting stats.
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Braves' Mike Yastrzemski: Sitting against southpaw
Rotowire
Yastrzemski is absent from the lineup for Friday's opener against the Royals.
The left-handed-hitting Yastrzemski could start against some left-handed hurlers, but he'll begin his Atlanta tenure on the bench as the Royals send ace southpaw Cole Ragans to the hill. Eli White will grab the start in left field and bat sixth.
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Braves' Aaron Bummer: Hangs onto bullpen spot
Rotowire
Bummer will begin the season as part of Atlanta's bullpen, Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
The 32-year-old southpaw will likely slot in behind Dylan Lee in the pecking order for high-leverage work. Bummer has been a fairly reliable middle-relief option for Atlanta over the last two seasons, posting a 3.69 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 120:35 K:BB in 109.2 innings, but in 98 appearances he has just seven wins, four holds and zero saves.
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Braves' Dylan Lee: Secures bullpen role
Rotowire
Lee has won a spot in Atlanta's Opening Day bullpen, Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
The 31-year-old figures to be the top left-hander in the bullpen, although he could face competition from Aaron Bummer for that assignment. Lee is coming off a career-best 2025 season in which he recorded 19 holds, more than doubling his previous best, along with a 3.29 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 76:14 K:BB over 68.1 innings for Atlanta.
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Braves' Jonah Heim: Will begin season as backup catcher
Rotowire
Heim has secured a spot on Atlanta's Opening Day roster, Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
It will likely be a temporary assignment while Sean Murphy (hip) is on the IL, but Heim will back up Drake Baldwin to begin the season. Heim hasn't been able to match his career-best 2023 campaign with the Rangers, and over the last two seasons the 30-year-old switch hitter managed just a .217/.269/.334 slash line.
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Braves' Jorge Mateo: Wins bench role
Rotowire
Mateo claimed a spot on Atlanta's Opening Day roster, Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
The veteran utility player will provide some extra depth at shortstop behind Mauricio Dubon while Ha-Seong Kim (finger) is on the IL. Mateo has stolen double-digit bases in each of the last five seasons despite inconsistent playing time -- he went 15-for-17 on the basepaths in 2025 despite seeing just 83 plate appearances for the Orioles.
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Braves' Tyler Kinley: Set for setup role
Rotowire
Kinley will begin the season as part of Atlanta's bullpen, Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
No surprise here after Kinley posted a 0.72 ERA, 0.68 WHIP and 22:6 K:BB over 25 innings for Atlanta last season following his trade from the Rockies, and then re-signed with the NL East squad on a one-year, $4.5 million deal this offseason. Raisel Iglesias and Robert Suarez will be the top right-handed high-leverage arms for Atlanta, but Kinley could still post strong a strong holds total as one of the primary options for the seventh inning -- his career high in holds is 15, set in 2024 for Colorado.
Braves' Ha-Seong Kim: Hitting shelf to begin season
Rotowire
Atlanta placed Kim (finger) on its 10-day injured list Wednesday.
Kim isn't expected to be ready to make his season debut until at least some point in the first half of May after he required surgery in January to address a torn tendon in his right middle finger. The 30-year-old reported to spring training March 16 to resume taking part in baseball activities, though he has yet to be cleared to resume swinging a bat. Mauricio Dubon is expected to serve as Atlanta's everyday shortstop while Kim is on the shelf.
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Braves' Daysbel Hernandez: Shelved with shoulder cyst
Rotowire
Atlanta placed Hernandez on the 15-day injured list Wednesday due to a right shoulder sebaceous cyst.
Hernandez didn't pitch after Sept. 6 last season due to right shoulder inflammation, and the issue seems to have lingered into 2026. He didn't make any appearances in spring training, though he was seen throwing a live batting practice session at camp last week. Assuming he hasn't experienced any setbacks since he resumed facing hitters, Hernandez could be cleared to head out on a rehab assignment once the minor-league season gets underway this weekend.
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Braves' Brett Wisely: Jettisoned from 40-man roster
Rotowire
Atlanta designated Wisely for assignment Wednesday.
Wisely bounced around to multiple organizations this offseason and was ultimately unable to capture a spot on Atlanta's Opening Day roster. The utility player's versatility could pique the interest of clubs via waivers.
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Braves' Hurston Waldrep: Lands on IL
Rotowire
Atlanta placed Waldrep (elbow) on the 15-day injured list Wednesday.
Waldrep isn't expected to be available to make his season debut until June or July after he underwent an arthroscopic procedure Feb. 23 to remove loose bodies from his right elbow. Atlanta could shift him to the 60-day IL at some point in the coming weeks when the team needs to free up another spot on the 40-man roster.
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Braves' Danny Young: Moves to IL
Rotowire
Atlanta placed Young (elbow) on the 15-day injured list Wednesday.
Young is unlikely to be ready to make his season debut for Atlanta until later this summer while he works his way back from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent back in May. The southpaw reliever could be shifted to the 60-day IL at some point when Atlanta needs to open up another spot on the 40-man roster.
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Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Opens season on 15-day IL
Rotowire
Atlanta placed Smith-Shawver (elbow) on the 15-day injured list Wednesday.
Smith-Shawver is still on the mend from the Tommy John surgery he underwent June 9 of last year and isn't expected to be ready to pitch for Atlanta until late in the 2026 season, if at all. Atlanta will eventually move him to the 60-day IL when it needs to open up another spot on the 40-man roster.
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Braves' Sean Murphy: Officially heads to IL
Rotowire
Atlanta placed Murphy (hip) on the 10-day injured list Wednesday.
Murphy's move to the IL was merely a formality after Mark Bowman of MLB.com reported at the onset of spring training that the veteran backstop would likely be out until sometime in May while completing his recovery from September surgery to address a right hip labral tear. Per MLB.com, Murphy was able to take on-field batting practice March 9, but it's not clear if he's taking part in defensive work or full baserunning yet. Drake Baldwin and Jonah Heim will open the season as Atlanta's two catchers.
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Braves' Spencer Strider: Moved to IL
Rotowire
Atlanta placed Strider (oblique) on the 15-day injured list Wednesday.
Manager Walt Weiss had previously confirmed Monday that Strider would be headed to the IL after the right-hander strained his left oblique after making a start in a minor-league spring game against the Red Sox last week. Though Weiss is optimistic that Atlanta got out in front of Strider's injury before it worsened, the 27-year-old isn't a lock to be activated from the IL when first eligible April 6. Jose Suarez is the leading candidate to enter the rotation as Atlanta's new No. 5 starter while Strider is on the mend.
Triple-A Gwinnett placed Kerr (elbow) on its 60-day injured list March 18.
After undergoing Tommy John surgery in the summer of 2024, Kerr appeared to be back to full strength for spring training, as he made a one-inning Grapefruit League appearance Feb. 24. He didn't pitch in any games after that, however, with Lindsay Crosby of BravesToday.com relaying that Kerr will require additional rehab from elbow surgery before returning to action at Gwinnett.
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Braves' Joey Wentz: Lands on 60-day injured list
Rotowire
Atlanta placed Wentz (knee) on the 60-day injured list Tuesday.
The transaction clears a 40-man roster spot for waiver pick Osvaldo Bido. Wentz will miss the entire 2026 campaign after undergoing surgery earlier this month to repair a torn ACL in his right knee.
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