Predicting the Braves' Opening Day roster

ATLANTA -- It¡¯s that special time of year, when we argue about who should fill the final bench and bullpen spots on an Opening Day roster. Before getting too worked up about why Eli White, Nick Allen, Christian Cairo or Bryan De La Cruz should begin the season on Atlanta¡¯s bench, remember Forrest Wall rounded out the bench to begin the 2024 season.

To the Braves¡¯ credit, they rewarded Wall for having a strong spring. But sometimes, when it comes to your chances to make a big league roster, it¡¯s better to be out of options than to be the Grapefruit League batting champ.

Here is my first crack at predicting the Braves¡¯ Opening Day roster. Updates will be made every couple of weeks during Spring Training.

Catchers (2): Sean Murphy, Chadwick Tromp
Murphy may be asked to catch four out of every five games as he attempts to bounce back from last year¡¯s disappointing, injury-marred season. Tromp will fill the backup role while top prospect Drake Baldwin gets more seasoning and stays prepared until there¡¯s a clear opportunity to play on a regular basis.

First baseman (1): Matt Olson
Olson has been Atlanta¡¯s starting first baseman for 485 of the 486 games the Braves have played since he was acquired before the 2022 season. Marcus Semien (469), Freddie Freeman (467) and Francisco Lindor (467) are the only other players to make 460-plus defensive starts within that span.

Second baseman (1): Ozzie Albies
If Albies stays healthy, his bat can still compensate for the defensive value he has lost over the past few years, while battling injuries and losing arm strength.

Shortstop (1): Orlando Arcia
This will be Arcia¡¯s third and possibly final season as Atlanta¡¯s starting shortstop. The pressing concern is finding a middle infielder who can handle shortstop or second base if Albies is injured this year.

Third baseman (1): Austin Riley
Riley¡¯s bid for a fourth straight 30-homer season and first Gold Glove Award ended when he fractured his right hand in August.

Outfielders (4): Michael Harris II, Jurickson Profar, Jarred Kelenic, Bryan De La Cruz
Once Ronald Acuña Jr. returns within the season¡¯s first two months, he will join Harris and Profar as the everyday outfielders. As Acu?a completes his recovery from a torn right ACL, Kelenic will be the primary right fielder, but he could platoon with the right-handed-hitting De La Cruz.

DH (1): Marcell Ozuna
Ozuna is one of nine players in baseball with a 900-plus OPS since the start of 2023.

Bench/Utility (2): Nick Allen, Luke Williams
The Braves took infielder Christian Cairo in the Rule 5 Draft, meaning he needs to remain on the big league roster all season or they would have to pass him through waivers and offer him back to the Guardians before being able to keep him in their Minor League system. But it still feels like Allen, whose bat conjures memories of Rafael Belliard, may have the inside edge to begin the season as the backup infielder. Being out of options improves Williams¡¯ bid to serve as the bench¡¯s Swiss Army knife again.

Starting Pitchers (5): LHP Chris Sale, RHP Reynaldo López, RHP Spencer Schwellenbach, RHP Grant Holmes, RHP Ian Anderson
Holmes and Anderson are both out of options. This gives them an advantage over AJ Smith-Shawver, who is aiming to find a lasting rotation spot. Once Spencer Strider returns from elbow surgery near the end of April, Holmes or Anderson could be moved to the bullpen.

Relief Pitchers (8): RHP Raisel Iglesias, RHP Pierce Johnson, LHP Dylan Lee, LHP Aaron Bummer, RHP Daysbel Hernández, LHP Angel Perdomo, RHP Anderson Pilar, RHP Dany Jiménez
Pilar, who had 27 strikeouts and one walk over 21 innings in the Dominican Winter League, was a Rule 5 pick out of the Marlins¡¯ system. If he impresses during camp, the Braves may choose to keep him. If not, they¡¯ll return him to Miami and take a chance on some of the other guys who will be in camp to audition.

Iglesias, Johnson, Lee, Bummer and Hern¨¢ndez are essential locks for five of the eight spots. If Perdomo has a good camp, he¡¯ll give the ¡®pen a third left-handed option. The final two spots are up for grabs. Pilar will certainly be given a fair chance to earn a spot. Jim¨¦nez walked far too many batters over the past few years with the A¡¯s. But unlike recent non-roster invitee Chad Kuhl, Jim¨¦nez has remaining Minor League options. This is important because someone will be sent down when Anderson or Holmes moves to the ¡®pen upon Strider¡¯s return.