Lineups For Today's Game at Philadelphia - March 30

Here is the Braves lineup for this afternoon's game versus the Philadelphia Phillies:

1. Ronald Acuna, Jr - LF
2. Ozzie Albies - 2B
3. Freddie Freeman - 1B
4. Josh Donaldson - 3B
5. Nick Markakis - RF
6. Brian McCann - C
7. Dansby Swanson - SS
8. Julio Teheran - P
9. Ender Inciarte - CF

The Phillies will counter with this starting lineup:

1. Jean Segura - SS
2. Cesar Hernandez - 2B
3. Bryce Harper - RF
4. Rhys Hoskins - 1B
5. J.T. Realmuto - C
6. Nick Williams - LF
7. Odubel Herrera - CF
8. Maikel Franco - 3B
9. Jake Arrieta - P

The game starts at 4:05 p.m. on MLB Network.

Braves Hold Off Phils On Opening Day

There was no love for the Braves pitching staff on Opening Day in the City of Brotherly Love.

Mike Foltynewicz grinded out seven strikeouts during six innings of work, while only surrendering one run on six hits.  Luke Jackson followed Folty with 1 1/3 innings of hitless baseball, walking one and striking out one.  A.J. Minter followed Jackson and closed out the 8th inning, getting out Cesar Hernandez to fly out to Ender Inciarte and Rhys Hoskins to ground out to Ozzie Albies.  Only blemish on Minter's appearance was a two out double to Bryce Harper.  After Minter, it was a rough ride for the bullpen.

The Braves extended their lead to 3-1 in the top of the 9th inning after an RBI single by Ronald Acuna, Jr.  Arodys Vizcaino came in to close the game out in the bottom of the 9th inning, he never got out of the inning.  The inning started well for Vizcaino, as he was able to get J.T. Realmuto to look at a called third strike.  He wasn't so lucky with the next batter, Nick Williams.  Vizcaino hung a 1-2 slider and Williams put it into the right field bleachers, to make the score 3-2, with one out.

Odubel Herrera followed the home run with a single to left field.  Manager Gabe Kapler decided to pinch run for Herrera with the veteran outfielder, Andrew McCutchen.  Vizcaino seemed to settle down as he was able to get Maikel Franco to foul out to Freddie Freeman.  However, he was unable to get pinch hitter Andrew Knapp out, as he doubled off the right field wall.

With the tying and winning runs in scoring position, Manager Brian Snitker had seen enough.  He walked out to the mound and signaled for Darren O'Day.  This was O'Day's debut with the Braves, as he was acquired on July 31, 2018 from the Orioles along with Kevin Gausman.  However, O'Day had torn his left hamstring on June 30 and had season ending surgery.

Darren O'Day wasted little time putting out the fire.  He got Jean Segura to pop out to Nick Markakis on the second pitch he had thrown in almost nine months to end the game.

After the game, Brian Snitker said that while he was disappointed Vizcaino wasn't able to come in and close out the game.  He said he isn't worried about Vizcaino's job and that it was just the first game of the season.  Snitker expects Vizcaino to use the off day tomorrow to shake this game off and get back to being the closer he was last year, after missing the entire second half of the 2018 season with shoulder inflammation.

Opening Day: Braves vs. Phillies

 
Rejoice baseball fans! Opening Day has finally arrived!!

Here is the Braves lineup for this afternoon's game versus the Philadelphia Phillies:

1. Ronald Acuna, Jr - LF
2. Ozzie Albies - 2B
3. Freddie Freeman - 1B
4. Josh Donaldson - 3B
5. Nick Markakis - RF
6. Brian McCann - C
7. Dansby Swanson - SS
8. Mike Foltynewicz - P
9. Ender Inciarte - CF

The Phillies will counter with this starting lineup:

1. Jean Segura - SS
2. Cesar Hernandez - 2B
3. Bryce Harper - RF
4. Rhys Hoskins - 1B
5. J.T. Realmuto - C
6. Nick Williams - LF
7. Odubel Herrera - CF
8. Maikel Franco - 3B
9. Aaron Nola - P

The game starts at 3:05 p.m. on MLB Network.

Braves Sign Keuchel

In a surprise move, the Braves have won the Dallas Keuchel sweepstakes!  The Braves beat out teams like the Yankees, Cardinals and Twins for the services of the former Cy Young winner.

The terms of the contact were not disclosed, but Braves GM, Alex Anthopoulos, did state in a release that the contract was for one year, with a player option for a second.

Manager Brian Snitker said that there is a slim chance Keuchel will be ready for the opening series at Philadelphia.  However, Keuchel will be ready for the opening series at home against the Cubs.

To make room on the roster, the Braves will send LHP Max Fried to Gwinnett when Keuchel is ready to join the rotation.

Opening Day Roster Announced

It is Opening Day Eve, and the Atlanta Braves have announced their 25 man roster (game ratings are in parenthesis):

Position Players:
Ronald Acuna, Jr (89)
Ozzie Albies (87)
Johan Camargo (80)
Charlie Culberson (69)
Josh Donaldson (87)
Tyler Flowers (75)
Freddie Freeman (90)
Ender Inciarte (79)
Matt Joyce (75)
Nick Markakis (77)
Brian McCann (76)
Dansby Swanson (74)

Pitchers:
Jesse Biddle (75)
Shane Carle (73)
Mike Foltynewicz (80)
Max Fried (74)
Kevin Gausman (76)
Luke Jackson (76)
A.J. Minter (85)
Sean Newcomb (75)
Darren O'Day (85)
Julio Teheran (77)
Josh Tomlin (69)
Jonny Venters (77)
Arodys Vizcaino (77)


The pitching rotation looks like this:

Mike Foltynewicz
Julio Teheran
Sean Newcomb
Kevin Gausman
Max Fried

The Braves are set to open the season tomorrow at Philadelphia.