The Braves played well in spring training even without the bats of 3B Chipper Jones and C Brian McCann, who were away from camp for three weeks as part of Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. The late-spring buzz surrounded rookie CF Jordan Schafer winning a spot on the opening-day roster.
PLAYER NEWS: --3B Chipper Jones says the bone bruise in his left thumb is "good enough," and he wanted to be in the lineup for the Braves' home opener, so he was. The bruise affects how hard he can grip the end of his bat.
--OF Garret Anderson's strained right calf feels better, but he won't hazard a guess as to when he'll be able to play in the field, preferring the traditional "day-to-day" prognosis.
--CF Jordan Schafer says he has never been nervous on a baseball field, and that includes his major league debut in Philadelphia and the Braves' home opener. Manager Bobby Cox calls that a good approach to have.
--RHP Kenshin Kawakami felt no particular emotions or butterflies in the season opener or the Braves' home opener; that kind of thing, he says, is reserved for when he pitches. Kawakami debuts Saturday versus the Nationals.
MEDICAL WATCH:
3B Chipper Jones (bone bruise on left thumb) was scratched from the April 8 lineup. He returned to action April 10.
LF Garret Anderson (strained right calf) was scratched from the April 8 lineup, but he appeared in the game as a pinch hitter. He again was out of the lineup April 10 and is day-to-day.
LHP Tom Glavine (shoulder and elbow surgeries) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 1. He is expected to make a minor league rehab start on April 12, and he could join the Atlanta rotation later that week.
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.
ROTATION:
1. RHP Derek Lowe
2. RHP Jair Jurrjens
3. RHP Javier Vazquez
4. RHP Kenshin Kawakami
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
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
RESERVES:
OF Matt Diaz or Garret Anderson
INF Martin Prado
INF/OF Omar Infante
INF/OF Greg Norton
C Clint Sammons
