The Atlanta Braves are 4-4 to start Grapefruit League play and are coming off a 6-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday. Today they will face the Philadelphia Phillies with Chris Sale taking the ball making his second start this spring.
Braves News & Notes
Ronald Acuna
Acuna the defending National League MVP had an MRI on Friday that revealed he had irritation around his meniscus but the expectation is that he’ll be ready for opening day. He had played in three games hitting .143 with a .429 OPS; he had gone 1-7 with a double and an RBI. Last season he hit .337 with a 1.012 OPS, 41 home runs, 106 RBI, and 73 stolen bases.
AJ Smith-Shawver
Smith-shawver who is the Braves top prospect and the 66th ranked overall prospect by ITD made his spring debut on Wednesday and he struggled going two innings giving up three runs on four hits; he walked one and struck out three against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Hurston Waldrep
Waldrep who is the Braves second-ranked prospect and the 85th overall prospect by ITD made his spring debut yesterday against the Toronto Blue Jays going two innings, he didn’t give up a run or a hit; he did walk two and strike out two.
Chris Sale
Sale made his spring debut and Braves debut on Tuesday against the Pirates and he looked healthy and effective going two innings, he didn’t give up a run or a hit; he didn’t issue a walk and struck out four. He’ll start again today. If Sale can’t stay healthy it would give the Braves one of if not the best rotation in all of baseball in 2024.
Ken Giles
Giles made his return to a professional mound for the first time since July 8, 2022, when he was with the Seattle Mariners, he went 0.1 innings giving up just a walk. Now with the Braves he pitched Wednesday going one inning, he didn’t allow a walk, a hit, or a run and struck out all three batters he faced. On Saturday he faced the Blue Jays against going an inning, this time he once again didn’t allow a run or a hit, he did walk one and struck out one. He’s fitting to make the bullpen out of camp and is making a real case to do so.
