--OF Josh Anderson was traded to the Tigers on March 30 for minor league RHP Rudy Darrow. That narrowed the battle for the center field job down to rookie Jordan Schafer and Gregor Blanco, with one of the two probably ticketed for Class AAA Gwinnett.

Darrow, 25, split last season between high Class A and Class AA, going a combined 5-3 with 10 saves and a 2.02 ERA.

--RHP Derek Lowe was officially selected the Opening Day starter by manager Bobby Cox. Lowe had a 3.27 spring ERA through March 30.

--RHP Peter Moylan has been working on a new changeup with former Brave Gene Garber. Moylan, not seriously expected to return from last May's Tommy John surgery until this May, is pushing to be on the Opening Day roster.

--RHP Manny Acosta, once a reliable seventh- and eighth-inning setup guy, will have to be more consistent and make better pitches in the final week of spring to make the Opening Day roster.

--LHP Jo-Jo Reyes, C Clint Sammons and INF Diory Hernandez were optioned to Class AAA Gwinnett. RHP Tommy Hanson, C Alvin Colina, OF Jason Heyward, INF Brandon Hicks and INF Freddie Freeman were reassigned to minor league camp. The Braves had 36 active players remaining in camp.

--LF Matt Diaz, who lost 30 pounds in the offseason through diet and exercise, has been right on every pitch for the last two weeks of spring training.

BY THE NUMBERS: 30 -- Pitchers who appeared for the Braves in the 2008 season.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I feel dangerous again." --RF Jeff Francoeur