The fifth (and likely final) week of the Atlanta Braves Making the Team Meter (MTM), and we are down to just a couple of roster battles. Diory Hernandez was a surprise cut by the Braves, so that may have resolved one bench spot.

As always we'll assume that there is a group that has already made the team, a pretty safe assumption with these guys. I'm finally adding Craig Kimbrel to this list, and we might as well put Brandon Beachy on here as the fifth starter. I'm leaving the three bench spots open since the Braves could go several different directions at this point.

Starters:  Tim Hudson, Derek Lowe, Jair Jurrjens, Tommy Hanson, and Brandon Beachy
Relievers:  Peter Moylan, Jonny Venters, George Sherrill, Eric O'Flaherty, Scott Linebrink, and Craig Kimbrel (1 spot available)
Lineup:  Brian McCann, Dan Uggla, Alex Gonzalez, Chipper Jones, Martin Prado, Nate McLouth, Jason Heyward, and Freddie Freeman.
Reserves:  Eric Hinske and David Ross (3 spots available)

Player, Position	This Week's Trend	Last Week	Notes and Comments
Juan Abreu, RHP			Optioned to the minors, but he had a great spring. If he continues his dominance at Gwinnett, and solves the wildness that has plagued him in the past, he'll be up at some point this season.
Jairo Asencio, RHP			Option to the minors, but he had a great spring (echo). After missing last season he showed the Braves that he hasn't missed a beat on the mound. Could be one of the first relievers called up during the year.
Cristhian Martinez, RHP			The longer Scott Proctor stays around, the worst the Lisp's chances of making the team get. He's been giving up some runs lately, though not in quite the same amounts that Proctor has. His chances drop just a tad.
Mike Minor, LHP			His fortune certainly changed in one week, as it looked like he might be the favorite, but Mark Bowman called it right when he said Beachy would get the fifth spot. The only way Minor makes the team now is if there is an injury in the rotation (lets cross our fingers that Jurrjens is okay).
Scott Proctor, RHP			I'm putting him right there on an equal footing with Martinez. No one really seems to know the Braves thinking on these two. Proctor was suffering from bronchitis when he had a couple of his bad outings.
Kenshin Kawakami, RHP			Still doesn't seem to be favored, though he's still on the team. With a possible injury to Jurrjens, the Braves may keep him around longer than we thought.
Rodrigo Lopez, RHP			There were rumors that he was on the trading block, but with a possible injury to Jurrjens they might keep him around a bit longer. There's a chance he could fill in for Jurrjens in the rotation if the team would rather let Minor develop in the minors.

Player, Position	This Week's Trend	Last Week	Notes and Comments
Brooks Conrad, IF			He's hitting a little better. Still, the 15 strikeouts in 45 plate appearances is frightening. Let's hope he can finish strong. While he's likely to make the team, those extra roster spots that were opened up have to make one wonder.
Brandon Hicks		Cut	I had cut him from our MTM last week, but somehow he survived the last round of Braves cuts and Diory Hernandez didn't. The team may be keeping him around simply as a backup, but they may favor him over Hernandez in the competition with Lucas.
Joe Mather, IF/OF			With the Braves clearing two roster spots this week, and their stated intention to seek a right-handed bench bat, one has to believe that Mather could be the guy the Braves are looking to replace. With his poor spring, we can only hope so.
Matt Young, OF			Still around, though likely still behind some folks. He's not hitting that well either.
Ed Lucas, IF			With Diory getting cut we have to think that Lucas is the favorite to make the team. Hicks would be his only competition right now.
Wilkin Ramirez, OF			He also missed the last cut, but that could just be for the team to get a better look at him. I still maintain that the Braves want him to play everyday at Gwinnett so they can see if he's solved his bad habits.

Arrow Key:
= Chance of making the team is good.
= Chance of making the team is bad.
= Chance of making the team is slightly better than 50-50.
= Chance of making the team is slightly worse than 50-50.