Guess the Opening Day roster (updated with posters' predictions)

by ryan c on Feb 21, 2026 6:31 PM EST

Spring Training is upon us and everyone is peeing their pants with excitement. As we all know, our Braves were very quiet this offseason and seem set to go to camp with the core of players that were with the team last year. However, there are still questions out there.

Who will be the 5th starter? Who will get the last bench spot? Will Wren really put Teheran or Delgado in the bullpen? So, here's your chance to show your roster picking skills to actually win something (don't get too excited):

My best friend from high school, Chad Gibbs, is author of the book God and Football: Faith and Fanaticism in the SEC. The book itself is doing quite well (very entertaining). His humor and wit can be found on his website: chadgibbs.com.

So, to help my friend out, I will put a little fun in our rosterbation. The first 2 people to guess the exact 25-man roster will receive an autographed copy of the book delivered to their doorstep (so it's okay to agree with someone's post). Only 2 winners will be taken, so if 2 people take your idea of the 25-man, you'll have to take a different route if you want to qualify.

For purposes of space saving, please type your roster with names and numbers like this...

1. Chipper Jones 2. Brian McCann 3. Dan Uggla

not like this...

1. Chipper Jones

2. Brian McCann

3. Dan Uggla

Also...

Assumptions.... Automatics you may leave off of your submission (19):

Starting Pitchers: Jurrjens, Hanson, Beachy

Position Players: McCann, Freeman, Uggla, Pastornicky, Prado, Heyward, Chipper, Bourn

Bench Players: Ross, Hinske, Diaz, Wilson

Bullpen: Kimbrel, Venters, Medlen, O'Flaherty

If you are a gambler and you want to leave one of the 19 above (say you think Jurrjens will be traded before the season) then you must submit a full 25.

Please organize your guesses according to the categories above: SP, position players, bench, and bullpen.

Good Luck. Let'er rip!

Here's a full list of the Non-roster invitees to aid in your 25-man roster building...

http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/team/roster_nri.jsp?c_id=atl

Current entries:

djvog and zachey p: SP: 1. Minor 2. Teheran RP: 1. Vizcaino 2. Martinez 3. Asencio OF: 1. Constanza

ryan c: SP: 1. Minor 2. Teheran RP: 1. Vizcaino 2. Martinez 3. Robert Fish Bench: Sutton

Beachy Keen and abraves257: SP1. Minor 2.Teheran RP: 1. Viz 2. Martinez 3. Gearrin Bench: Sutton

rxadam: SP: 1. Minor 2.Delgado RP 1.Martinez 2.Varvaro 3.Fish Bench: 1.Constanza

JKowalek: SP 1. Minor 2,Teheran RP 1. Gearrin 2. Varvaro 3. Martinez Bench: Durango

Mr. Sanchez: SP: 1. Minor RP: 1. Varvaro 2. Hoover 3. Gearrin 4. Martinez Bench: Constanza (Medlen as starter)

bighop and scpharmd: SP: 1. Minor 2. Teheran RP: 1. Varvaro 2. Vizcaino 3. Martinez Bench: 1. Constanza

Jhey1212: SP: 1. Minor 2. Teheran RP:1. Varvaro 2. C-Mart 3. Asencio Bench: Durango

bravestatoo: SP: 1. Minor 2. Medlen RP: 1. Vizcaino 2. Teheran 3. Martinez 4. Hoover Bench: Simmons

ab1990: SP: 1. Delgado 2. Minor RP: 1. Martinez 2. Gearrin 3. Varvaro Bench: Gartrell

JohnRocker4CyYoung: SP: 1. Minor 2. Medlen RP: 1. Vizcaino 2. Gearrin 3. Martinez 4. Varvaro Bench: Constanza

(Contest closes on March 11th)

This FanPost does not express the views or opinions of Talking Chop.

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Comments

Supernewb, you did not qualify. You moved Medlen into SP role, but didn’t replace him in the bullpen. Try again.

If the 2012 Opening Day starting lineup has a Diaz instead of a Heyward, I will be buying a new TV.

by ryan c on Feb 21, 2026 6:32 PM EST reply actions

SP: 1. JJ 2. Beachy 3. Minor 4. Medlen 5. Teheran ; BP: 6. Kimbrel, 7. Venters, 8. EOF, 9. Varvaro, 10. Martinez, 11. Ascensio. Starers: 12. BMac, 13. FF, 14. 15. Uggla, 16.Pastornicky, 17. Chipper, 18. Prado, 19. Bourn, 20. Heyward. Bench: 21. Ross, 22. Diaz, 23. Wilson, 24. Hinske, 25. Constanza.

I say Hanson and Hudson both start on the DL.

Everyone gets two free stupid comments. After that, I start charging.

by Wren_and_Stimpy on Feb 21, 2026 11:15 PM EST reply actions

I say Hanson and Hudson both start on the DL.

why Hanson? he is fine. why on earth would he be on the DL to start the season?

by JoelGuzman'sScout on Feb 22, 2026 7:43 AM EST up reply actions

Young man thinks he’s some sort of prophet I guess…

You shouldn’t sip liquor.
-justincredubil02

no, Jack Daniel is whiskey.
-ChopMaster

"Welcome to the show, Brandon Beachy. I think you’re going to stay a while."

by abraves257 on Feb 22, 2026 4:39 PM EST up reply actions

SP: JJ, Hanson, Beachy, Minor, Teheran
RP: EOF, Venters, Kimbrel, Medlen, Martinez, Asencio, Varvaro
Positions: Mccann, Freeman, Uggla, Pastornicky, Chipper, Prado, Bourn, Heyward
Bench: Ross, Wilson, Hinske, Diaz, Constanza

by Quilvio Veras on Feb 22, 2026 4:11 PM EST reply actions

And everyone’s picks could be busts if they decide to go with 4 starters for awhile if it looks like Huddy is only a week or two away. Then they’d probably carry and extra bullpen arm. Someone gutsy should make their picks reflect that.

by Quilvio Veras on Feb 22, 2026 4:15 PM EST up reply actions

This an excellent point and could be exactly what they decide to do. Teheran and Delgado could each get a start or 2 for the G-Braves, and then whichever of them is sharper gets the call when a 5th starter is actually needed.

by fandave on Feb 22, 2026 8:08 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

That's exactly what I was thinking

They don’t need a fifth starter until April 19. I think they’d prefer an extra reliever until then, keeping Delgado and Teheran off the roster.

Braves will be fine. I'm not worried.

by Bronn on Sep 18, 2025 4:26 PM EDT

by Bronn on Feb 23, 2026 4:17 PM EST up reply actions

Extra benefit of Medlen in that role then

he can relief until the 12th or 13th, if needed, then start on the 19th, without sacrificing service time of one of the kids.

http://sportsandgrits.com/

by Mr. Sanchez on Feb 23, 2026 4:38 PM EST up reply actions

Bench: Constanza, Wilson
Bullpen: medlen, vizcaino, Martinez, Moylan
Rotation: minor, Teheran

Delgado starts in the minors, when Hudson comes back in may, Martinez gets traded and Teheran moves to the pen to be the long man (and stay fresh at the right time of the season). One month later jj is traded and Teheran comes back into the rotation. Delgado is still there for depth. This way Hudson and Teheran will be Have innings left when the playoffs start. I would expect Hanson to take some extra rest late in the season if we can afford it so he can stay fresh and Delgado can get starts.

Wilson will start with the team, but once pastornicky gets comfortable (or if he fails) sutton will come up and be a much better guy on the

by willlinn on Feb 22, 2026 11:19 PM EST reply actions