Battle For Fifth Rotation Spot Intensifies This Weekend

The Atlanta Braves are sending the two favorites for the 5th spot on back-to-back days

The Atlanta Braves are probably hoping someone separates themselves in the battle for the 5th rotation spot. 

Both favorites for the job, 2023 All-Star Bryce Elder and top free agent signee Reynaldo López, get starts this weekend as they continue to make their case for that Opening Day roster spot. 

Elder's the first to continue adding to his resume, getting the start at home today against the Baltimore Orioles. Here's the lineup Atlanta will send out in CoolToday Park: 

RF Ronald Acuña Jr Luis Liberato
LF Jarred Kelenic
3B Austin Riley
1B Matt Olson
DH Marcell Ozuna
CF Forrest Wall
SS David Fletcher
C Chadwick Tromp
2B Luke Waddell

UPDATE (12:37 PM ET): Per the Braves, Ronald Acuña Jr was removed from the lineup with right knee soreness. While it is the same knee that had the ACL injury in 2021, the team has deemed this to be only a "precaution". Luis Liberato has been inserted in his place, batting leadoff and playing right field. 

Per the team's game notes, prospect Darius Vines is one of the pitchers scheduled to follow Elder today. 

In our most recent roster projection, published this morning, we put López on the roster and have Elder in AAA Gwinnett to start the season, owing to the additional roster flexibility that López in the rotation gives you. Elder tries to counter that argument today, while López is the scheduled starter on the road Saturday, as the Braves travel to Dunedin to take on the Toronto Blue Jays.

In limited action this spring, neither pitcher's done much to separate themselves in the battle. Elder pitched 1.1 innings, allowing two runs on four hits with one walk and one strikeout. López is marginally better, allowing only one run on one hit in his first two innings of work, although that run was a homer allowed to Orioles infielder Jordan Westburg. 

There are other candidates for the 5th starter's job, like prospects AJ Smith-Shawver and Hurston Waldrep, but all expectations as of now are that one of these two earns the job, with López being in the bullpen if Elder wins and Elder being in AAA Gwinnett if López seizes the final spot. 

UPDATE: The Orioles have announced their lineup, with MLB #1 overall prospect Jackson Holliday batting 8th and playing shortstop: 

CF Colton Coswer
RF Anthony Santander
DH Ryan Mountcastle
1B Ryan O'Heard
C James McCann
2B Ramón Urías
3B Jordan Westburg
SS Jackson Holliday
LF Tyler Nevin 

SP Tyler Wells

How to Watch the Atlanta Braves on Friday, March 1st

This game is a home broadcast on MLB.com, with the radio call of Ben Ingram and Joe Simpson overlayed over a video feed, available for subscribers to MLB.tv. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 PM ET.  

Atlanta Braves 2024 Roster Projection 1.5