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. He'll spend the season's first two weeks on the disabled list.

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

RHP Buddy Carlyle

LHP Eric O'Flaherty

RHP Rafael Soriano

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

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 Clint Sammons

RESERVES ANALYSIS: The Braves had too many outfielders for available positions, which means that whoever makes the Opening Day squad knows he can be replaced at any moment. 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. Both he and Brandon Jones will begin the season with Class AAA Gwinnett.

ROOKIE WATCH: CF Jordan Schafer parlayed a good spring into a spot on the big-league roster.

RHP Tommy Hanson made a strong case for being on the Opening Day roster, but the reality is that he has not 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 him to be called up at the first opportunity.

MEDICAL WATCH:

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.

LHP Tom Glavine (shoulder and elbow surgeries) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 1. He should only spend the minimum time on the DL.

C David Ross (strained right groin) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 2.

RHP Tim Hudson (Tommy John surgery on right elbow in August 2008) went on the 60-day disabled list March 4. He is targeting an August return date, barring setbacks.

RHP Charlie Morton (left oblique strain) went on the 15-day disabled list March 30.