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When the Atlanta Braves open the Grapefruit League season on Saturday, don’t expect to see many of the team’s veterans in the lineup. Brian Snitker told MLB.com’s Mark Bowman on Thursday that he plans to ease veterans Marcell Ozuna, Nick Markakis along with both of his primary catchers in Tyler Flowers and Travis d’Arnaud into the lineup.
However, the team’s third base competition is expected to begin right away with Johan Camargo and Austin Riley expected to alternate starts on an every-other-day basis during the early portion of the spring schedule. Adam Duvall, who is again trying to secure a spot on the Opening Day roster, also figures to see plenty of playing time early. Atlanta will announce its pitching plans for this weekend’s game on Friday.
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The first four spots in the Braves’ 2020 lineup are accounted for in Ronald Acuña Jr, Ozzie Albies, Freddie Freeman and Marcell Ozuna. It remains to be seen how Snitker will round out the rest of the lineup and particularly the fifth spot. Bowman runs down four options that could end up hitting fifth in Atlanta’s order.
The Atlanta Braves premiered a new video series “Behind The Braves” on Thursday which will give fans a behind the scenes look at the team in spring training. Episode 1 focuses on pitchers and catchers reporting to the team’s new spring training facility in North Port. New episodes will be released weekly on the Braves’ YouTube channel.
Fox Sports South and Fox Sports Southeast announced their in-game broadcast team for the Braves’ 2020 season on Thursday with one significant change. Kelly Crull joins the network replacing Kelsey Wingert as the team’s in-game reporter. Chip Caray returns as the play-by-play announcer and Jeff Francouer returns for his second season as lead in-game analyst. Tom Glavine and Joe Simpson will also serve as in-game analysts for select broadcasts.
MLB News
The New York Yankees have shut down right-hander Luis Severino indefinitely due to recurring forearm stiffness. Severino has dealt with the soreness throughout the offseason and has undergone MRIs and CT scans which did not reveal anything significant. He is expected to travel to Orlando to see the team physician on Friday.
The Philadelphia Phillies won their arbitration hearing against catcher J.T. Realmuto per MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. Realmuto will earn $10 million this season which is his final year of club control. As the 2019 season closed, the Phillies had interest in working out a longterm deal with Realmuto but that never happened this offseason.
Indians right-hander Carlos Carrasco will undergo an MRI exam on his right leg according to a report by Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plan Dealer. Carrasco was walking with the assistance of a crutch after experiencing discomfort in a recent workout.