1. RHP Derek Lowe

2. RHP Jair Jurrjens

3. RHP Javier Vazquez

4. RHP Kenshin Kawakami

5. LHP Tom Glavine

ROTATION ANALYSIS: The Braves won't need a fifth starter until April 19, and Glavine, rehabbing conservatively after last season's shoulder and elbow surgery, will take advantage of that to increase his arm strength and his velocity, now at 79 or 80 mph -- about four or five mph short of what he's looking for. Three new starters -- Lowe, Vazquez and Kawakami -- mean that several young pitchers who started for the Braves last season will be bumped back to Class AAA.

BULLPEN:

LHP Mike Gonzalez (closer)

RHP Blaine Boyer

RHP Peter Moylan

RHP Jorge Campillo

RHP Jeff Bennett or RHP Buddy Carlyle

LHP Boone Logan or LHP Eric O'Flaherty

RHP Rafael Soriano or RHP Manny Acosta

BULLPEN ANALYSIS: Manager Bobby Cox doesn't obsess over having left-handed relievers as long as he has right-handers who can retire both left- and right-handed batters. Still, the Braves thought they had plenty of lefties with Logan and O'Flaherty until those two teamed up to cough up 11 runs to the Mets on March 22. Soriano (slowed early by a respiratory infection) and Acosta have not been sharp. If LHP Tom Glavine begins the season on the disabled list to work up velocity and arm strength, that opens an eighth bullpen spot for the first two weeks of the season; the Braves don't need a fifth starter until April 19.

LINEUP:

1. CF Jordan Schafer or Gregor Blanco

2. 2B Kelly Johnson

3. 3B Chipper Jones

4. C Brian McCann

5. RF Jeff Francoeur

6. SS Yunel Escobar

7. LF Matt Diaz or Garret Anderson

8. 1B Casey Kotchman

LINEUP ANALYSIS: Manager Bobby Cox will roll the dice and bat C Brian McCann in the cleanup position even though McCann will get regular days off. If RF Jeff Francoeur and LF Matt Diaz keep up their spring training hitting, Cox will be able to adjust his lineup with no loss of power when McCann gets a breather. Speaking of which, Ross has been catching RHP Kenshin Kawakami, which appears to be the season-long pairing. Escobar and Johnson will swap places in the lineup from time to time, depending on Escobar's proficiency at moving the leadoff runner over.

RESERVES:

OF Matt Diaz or Garret Anderson

INF Martin Prado

INF/OF Omar Infante

INF/OF Greg Norton

C David Ross

RESERVES ANALYSIS: The Braves have too many outfielders for available positions, which means that whoever makes the Opening Day squad knows he can be replaced at any moment. Garret Anderson, signed in the offseason with the idea of playing in left, was slowed this spring by a right calf strain. OF Gregor Blanco lost ground in the competition simply by being out of sight, out of mind while playing for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic. Either he or Brandon Jones could make the Opening Day roster if Anderson's calf is not fully ready.

ROOKIE WATCH: RHP Tommy Hanson and CF Jordan Schafer made strong cases for being on the Opening Day roster, but the reality is that neither has played Class AAA ball yet, and there are roster- and payroll-management issues attached to premature promotion. But those issues will go flying out the window if the Braves get off to a slow start. In any case, expect both to be called up at the first opportunity.

MEDICAL WATCH:

C David Ross (strained right groin) exited the March 31 game. He will be re-evaluated on April 1.

OF Garret Anderson (strained right calf) was running hard, apparently without ill effect. Whether he will be game-ready for probable chilly weather on Opening Night in Philadelphia remains to be seen.

RHP Rafael Soriano (ulnar nerve transposition surgery in August 2008) got off to a slow start this spring, thanks to a respiratory infection. In late March he strained a side muscle, which could send him to the disabled list to start the season.

RHP Peter Moylan (Tommy John surgery on right elbow in May 2008) was ahead of schedule and could conceivably be on the Opening Day roster.

RHP Tom Glavine (shoulder and elbow surgeries) followed a conservative rehab schedule, knowing that the Braves don't need his services as a fifth starter until April 19.

RHP Tim Hudson (Tommy John surgery on right elbow in August 2008) is targeting an August return date, barring setbacks.