The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Braves’ bench appearing solid
Flaherty, Tucker have been better than advertised.
The Braves might have set themselves up to have one of the better benches in baseball.
Third baseman Ryan Flaherty has exceeded expectations with nine hits in the first five games. Preston Tucker, thought of as No. 1 prospect Ronald Acuna’s placeholder in left field, blasted a mammoth home run Tuesday and was hitting .421 entering Wednesday, when he hit another three-run homer off Nationals pitching.
It’s a six-game sample size, but as the roster is fleshed out, it’s easy to envision a reliable bench.
Flaherty and Tucker won’t be regulars when Johan Camargo returns from the disabled list and Acuna is called up from Triple-A, likely in mid-April.
The current production of the team’s two new additions likely isn’t sustainable. But unless there’s a drastic dropoff, both can complete a well-rounded bench.
“Obviously making those signings turned out huge for us in the first few games of the season,” first baseman Freddie Freeman said. “Preston got us back in the game (Tuesday), (reliever) Shane (Carle) with the big three innings for us was pretty much the game for us right there. A lot of guys that just kind of came in and we just wanted to fill in, and now they’re making big-time plays for us to win ballgames.”
Charlie Culberson is the ultimate Swiss Army knife, even serving as the team’s emergency catcher. If one of the players is injured or unable to find his footing, Danny Santana can provide the same versatility if called up from Triple-A.
“We’ve got some versatile guys in there, which is good,” manager Brian Snitker said. “Flaherty adds that, a guy like Camargo when he gets back, he’s in that same mold. You can move all those guys around all over the diamond. It’s going to benefit us down the road.”
Roster moves: The Braves designated catcher Chris Stewart for assignment Wednesday and purchased the contract of reliever Luke Jackson from Triple-A Gwinnett. The move was made so the Braves could have a fresh arm in the bullpen for Wednesday’s series finale against the Nationals, after Anibal Sanchez pitched three innings Monday and Carle pitched 3⅓ innings in Tuesday’s 13-6 win following starter Julio Teheran’s third-inning exit.
Stewart began the season as an extra, third catcher but started three consecutive games after injuries to Tyler Flowers (oblique) and Kurt Suzuki (bruised hand). Flowers is on the 10-day disabled list, but Suzuki is expected to return Friday at Colorado.
The Braves traded for veteran catcher Carlos Perez on Sunday after the Suzuki injury, and Perez made his first start Wednesday. He could serve as Suzuki’s backup until Flowers returns from the DL, and the Braves could have Stewart available at Triple-A if he clears waivers and accepts a minor league assignment.
Runners in scoring position: The Braves feel good about this statistic and how it might bode for their season: Five games in, they were hitting more than 100 points better with runners in scoring position than any other team. After going 8 for 13 in those situations Tuesday, the Braves had a stunning .480 average (24 for 50) with four homers and league-leading marks of 35 RBIs, a .541 OBP and .760 slugging percentage with runners in scoring position.
They got a fifth homer with runners in scoring position in the first inning Wednesday when Tucker hit a threerun shot off Max Scherzer.
The next-best batting averages in the majors with runners in scoring position entering Wednesday belonged to the Padres (.353) and Rockies (.346).