Braves finalize 2024 Opening Day roster

ATLANTA -- The Braves finalized their Opening Day roster on Tuesday, when they outrighted Jackson Stephens to Triple-A Gwinnett to create a spot for Jesse Chavez.

Chavez rejoined the Braves on a Minor League contract on Monday. He pitched in a game on the back fields in North Port, Fla., on Tuesday. Chavez's contract was purchased on Thursday and he will open the season as Atlanta’s long reliever.

The Braves filled their final bench spot last week when they chose Forrest Wall over Luke Williams.

Here is the club’s Opening Day roster:

Catcher (2): Sean Murphy and Travis d'Arnaud

d’Arnaud was an All-Star in 2022, and Murphy gained this same honor last summer. Splitting time in a nearly equal manner should help keep both veterans strong throughout the season.

First baseman (1): Matt Olson

Olson hit a franchise-record 54 homers and set a modern franchise record with 139 RBIs last year. He has been the Braves’ starting first baseman in every game the past two seasons. Marcell Ozuna can play first if needed.

Second baseman (1): Ozzie Albies

Albies hit a career-high 33 homers after undergoing arthroscopic right shoulder surgery following the 2022 season. When healthy, he has been one of the game’s most productive middle infielders.

Shortstop (1): Orlando Arcia

Arcia won the shortstop job in Spring Training last year and became an All-Star. Can he repeat his success this year?

Third baseman (1): Austin Riley

Riley is set to be Atlanta’s third baseman into the next decade. The only question is, how many MVP Awards might he win within this span?

Outfielders (4): Ronald Acuña Jr., Michael Harris II, Jarred Kelenic, Adam Duvall

This is a great defensive trio. Kelenic struggled early but recently generated good results with the new swing he developed at the start of Spring Training. He’ll platoon in left field with Duvall.

DH (1): Marcell Ozuna

Ozuna silenced his doubters during last year’s 40-homer season. The veteran slugger will try to find that same groove this year.

Bench/Utility (2): Luis Guillorme, Forrest Wall

Guillorme came to camp guaranteed a roster spot as long as he entered the season healthy. Carrying him and David Fletcher would have been redundant, so Fletcher began the season with Triple-A Gwinnett. Wall likely won’t get much playing time, but the Braves are rewarding him for his strong effort during Spring Training. If the team wants Wall to get regular at-bats at the Triple-A level, Luke Williams would likely be promoted to fill the final bench spot.

Starting Pitchers (5): LHP Max Fried, RHP Spencer Strider, RHP Charlie Morton, LHP Chris Sale, RHP Reynaldo López

López might not throw 97-98 mph fastballs as a starter. But his velocity will improve as he further acquaints himself with this role, and it looks as if he might be effective enough with his fastball sitting between 94-96 mph as a starter. López might eventually move to the bullpen, but now that he’s stretched out, it makes sense to see how he might fare in the rotation. This would give Bryce Elder another chance to exceed expectations after starting the season in the Minors. López and Sale haven’t completed a full season as a starter since 2019. So Elder and top prospect AJ Smith-Shawver might play key roles in the rotation this year.

Relief Pitchers (8): RHP Raisel Iglesias, LHP A.J. Minter, RHP Joe Jiménez, RHP Pierce Johnson, LHP Tyler Matzek, LHP Dylan Lee, LHP Aaron Bummer, RHP Jesse Chavez

Matzek and Lee both proved they were healthy during Spring Training. It looked like Stephens would be the team’s long reliever, but the Braves changed course after the White Sox released Chavez, who is set to begin his fifth stint with Atlanta and fourth since the start of 2021.