The 2026 season brings some new things for the Braves.
Walt Weiss is the new manager and the AJC has a new beat writer, Chad Bishop.
As spring training approaches, keep up with all the Braves news, big and small, in updates from Bishop and some of our other sports writers.
The Braves defeated the Baltimore Orioles, 7-5, on Saturday at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Florida.
They scored three in the top of the eighth with back-to-back-to-back home runs by John Gil, Cal Conley and Chadwick Tromp.
Noted prospect John Gil, Cal Conley and Chadwick Tromp homered in consecutive at-bats against Orioles pitcher Chayce McDermott to give the Braves a 6-2 lead in the top of the eighth.
Team officials are excited see to the 19-year-old Gil in major-league camp this spring.
Spencer Strider's work has been completed for the day with two innings and 32 pitches, 18 for strikes.
Strider's comments after being taken out of the game:
"The goal is to try to be in the zone. Everything’s coming out of my hand right. Slider was really good, curveball was good. Got a strikeout with the curveball. Laid one in for a strike. Change-ups out of the hand were good. That was really the goal for the day – try to narrow it in, kind of set the bar in the zone."
The Braves took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second against the Baltimore Orioles and Kyle Bradish with an inning-opening single by DaShawn Keirsey Jr., Luke Waddell's fly ball to left that was misplayed and turned into a double, and then singles by Tristin English. Georgia Tech fans may recognize Waddell and English as former Yellow Jackets.
Spencer Strider retired the side in order. He threw nine pitches, hitting 94 mph. He got two flyouts to right and a line drive to center was snared by Eli White.
The Braves ace is making his spring training debut, hoping to find his form after coming back from a UCL injury in 2024 and returning in 2025. Strider is expected to throw two innings today against the Baltimore Orioles in Sarasota, Florida.
The Braves and starting pitcher Spencer Strider are on the road today in Sarasota, Florida. First pitch from Ed Smith Stadium scheduled for 1 p.m.
The Braves improve to 5-2 in the Grapefruit League with a 15-8 win over the Red Sox on Friday at CoolToday Park.
Ronald Acuña Jr. went 2-for-3 with a walk, hit a grand slam and two stolen bases. Mike Yastrzemski went 3-for-3 with 3 RBIs and hit two homers.
The Braves travel to Sarasota on Saturday to face the Orioles. Spencer Strider is expected to be on the mound for the Braves.
Braves reliever Hunter Stratton allows four hits in the seventh, including a two-run homer to Nathan Hickey.
Braves still leading the Red Sox 15-7 in the bottom of the eighth.
Perils of being on the beat during spring training is you may have to go conduct an interview while the game is ongoing. Such was the case today when the Braves were scoring 11 runs in the third inning.
A recap:
- Jurickson Profar RBI single
- Mike Yastrzemski RBI single
- Ozzie Albies two-run double
- Yastrzemski scores on a wild pitch
- Michael Harris RBI single
- Ronald Acuna grand slam
- Matt Olson home run
Yastrzemski also hit a solo homer in the fourth.
Braves leading 14-4 in the fifth.
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