The Braves announced the 26-man roster they’ll carry into their World Series showdown against the AL Champion Houston Astros. It’s largely the same as the roster they carried for their National League Championship Series against the Dodgers, albeit with a few minor changes. Outfielder Terrance Gore will take over a bench spot at the expense of utilityman Johan Camargo, while right-hander Kyle Wright will replace fellow righty Jacob Webb on the pitching staff.
Here’s how the entire roster breaks down…
Right-Handed Pitchers
- Ian Anderson
- Jesse Chavez
- Luke Jackson
- Chris Martin
- Charlie Morton (Game 1 starter)
- Kyle Wright
Left-Handed Pitchers
- Max Fried (Game 2 starter)
- Dylan Lee
- Tyler Matzek
- A.J. Minter
- Will Smith
- Drew Smyly
Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
Wright joins the postseason roster for the first this year as a replacement for Webb, who struggled mightily in the NLCS. Webb appeared in two games and faced 10 batters, yielding four runs on four hits (including a homer) and a walk. The 26-year-old Wright could give manager Brian Snitker a bit more length in relief, as he worked as a starter in Triple-A this season.
Wright hasn’t pitched since Oct. 2 but did fire seven shutout innings that day — the final outing of a season that saw him notch a 3.02 ERA and 3.33 FIP in 137 frames with Triple-A Gwinnett. Wright was unscored upon in his final three Triple-A appearances this season, rattling off 22 shutout innings with a 19-to-4 K/BB ratio. He tossed just 6 1/3 innings for Atlanta at the big league level in ’21, but the former No. 5 overall draft pick has tallied 70 innings with the Braves over the past four years.
Gore, one of the game’s fastest pure runners, will be used as a pinch-runner late in games and perhaps as a defensive replacement if needed. With Adrianza and Arcia both giving the Braves some coverage at virtually any infield position, Camargo’s versatility was dropped for Gore’s more specialized skill set.
Meanwhile, the Braves will have slugger Jorge Soler at their disposal for an entire series (barring injury) for the first time this October. Soler tested positive for Covid-19 just prior to Game 4 of the NLDS in Milwaukee and was subsequently off the roster for the first four games of NLCS play.
Wright? i dunno about that one.
I guess if a game gets away he can eat some innings to save the pen. I like Wright, but not for this.
Wright may play a big part in game #4.
Camargo is a automatic out and has been for along time. With Arcia and Adrianza there is no need for Camargo. The one chance Gore had in the NLDS against the Brewers it made the pitcher extremely nervous. I know the Astros have a good defensive catcher in Maldonado but Gore should give even him fits. Outside of Rosario/Albies there’s not much speed so I like that move. I’d rather see Strider than Wright but I’m starting to wonder if he’s not 100%. As bad as Webb has been I don’t think it’s possible Wright can do worse. Hopefully Luke Jackson hasn’t lost all his confidence because most of those pitches were actually pretty good the Dodgers roughed him up on. I think the Braves can do this and I’ve thought it ever since they won the division. Chop on!
Where did this narrative come that Rosario is fast? He’s ranked like 300 in sprint speed in MLB lol Swanson runs circles around him
For some reason the broadcasters in the NLCS mentioned Rosario ‘with good speed at first’ and I was like … what?
Swanson is the second fastest on the team right now, though his sprint speed is usually higher than Albies. I just think he doesn’t get going as quickly.
Crazy stat of the year is that Duvall has a higher average sprint speed than both Albies and Swanson. Didn’t see that one coming.
I muted the national broadcast and listened to 680 lol that’s crazy about Duvall, I knew he was kinda fast but never would’ve guessed that his sprint speed was faster than Ozzie and Dans tho. Guess once the train gets rolling ya can’t stop it
I think one of the Fox stats guys pulled the sprint speeds for the wrong Rosario and the announcers just ran with it. One of the Fox announcers mentioned Rosario’s speed and then said ‘oops that was Ahmed Rosario’.
I’m extremely glad to see Camargo off the roster. In the LCS it got to the point I’d have preferred to see Freid collecting Camargo’s PH appearances when he could.
My hope is Camargo’s next destination is another franchise.
He is as good as gone. The only reason they are keeping Arcia around is in case Swanson gets hurt. Both will be gone in 2022.
He’ll probably be used as an “opener”, at least I hope so
I still believe Webb will be elite one day, but I agree with the move to leave him off. I wish they removed Martin too. Nothing you can say will convince me he is better than R-Rod. Also, I’m disappointed Strider will not get a chance.
Otherwise, Let’s. Do. This!
Elite?
Yes. Two things going for him
1. He actually has very good stuff, just hasn’t learned the mental game yet. He will be a late bloomer, just may not be with the Braves.
2. He is deGrom’s twin. The genetics are there…
I agree Webb can be elite. He vastly outperformed his peripherals his first year which indicates luck, but he still had a 1.69 Era which is nothing to sneeze at. He also had a nice stretch this season where he was pretty untouchable when he came back up from AAA
Yeah, they should hold onto him. he was brilliant before the injury bug hit him.
Charlie Morton is a legend, his last three teams have gone to the WS now.
But didn’t his last two teams lose the series? Not exactly Robert Horry there.
This is not basketball. That is why!
Wright is going to make a splash in this series. Good or bad, he will have an impact.
@swanny. I think you are correct. Last year Wright had a brilliant start 6 innings pitched against Miami in the NLDS. Then a nightmare start in the NLCS where the Dodgers pounced all over him and Wright didn’t make it out of the first inning and was charged with 7 runs allowed. I am hoping for the best with Wright he has the talent. With Soroka down and Ynoa having shoulder problems I think Wright is still part of the Braves future.
Here’s hoping he pitches like what he did in the NLDS last year and Gwinnet at the end of the year. He’s got the potential, he’s just gotta trust his stuff and attack
Depending how the series goes, I could see Wright getting almost an opener assignment in game 4. They ask for 2-3 innings, and he gets a short leash. I agree though, how he does and where they use him may oddly be a key.
Braves won’t be afraid of the Astros
Having to face the Phillies, Mets, and Nationals lineups, Marlins pitching all year, plus Degrom, Scherzer, Wheeler, Nola, plus mainly the AL East teams, they won’t have a problem
Braves in 6. Darnaud MVP
Braves are giving me some serious 2019 Nationals vibes.
the parallels are mostly there. i dont think they do it, but it’s not surprising.
That’s a very good observation. They DO feel like the 2019 Nats. Serious momentum. And they have faced better teams than the Astros have in the playoffs.
I was a huge Rays fan all year. Really wanted them to win their first WS. But I knew their offense and all the BP injuries would cost them. It’s strange saying their offense would cost them with all the runs they scored, but their low BA and high K rate was eventually going to doom them. They mashed a lot of bad pitching staffs, especially the Red Sox and the Orioles. That’s how they accumulated all those runs.
And, ultimately, Cruz did not hit well for them.
Who cares if they played tougher teams in the playoffs. It’s a coin flip series just like every mlb playoff series is.
I see Luke Jackson is on the roster again. Don’t understand the strategy of throwing at least one game away, but it’s worked so far.
Luke Jackson was lights out all season and vs the Brewers and during games 1 and 2 vs Dodgers. He had 2 bad innings in games 3 and 6. You don’t leave him out.
Just hope the Braves hitters continue their clutch hitting. Funny how speed ( Gore) isn’t part of the game until when the games really count, the World Series. Glad Fred McGriff mentioned it. The pitcher and catcher have to change the routine and both be on their toes. The pitcher has to Hurry a pitch. The catcher is Not able to sit tight and frame the pitch. The defense has to tighten up and possibly hurry what they do with the ball. Kansas City put this in play the year they beat the Mets in the World Series. Since then, it has all but been forgotten.
bold prediction – Gore gets an AB and it’s a big one this series.
Inside the Parker off yordans glove
I actually like these moves on roster. I’m iffy about Kyle Wright, but part of me thinks he will redeem himself.
return of Gore
How does Gore’s salary work? Does he only get paid in postseason bonuses? Just curious.
Paid per stolen base. Since taco bell will give us a free taco for a stolen base. It should be a taco for each stolen base. That’s a lot of tacos but they can easily comply.
No one is giving the Bravos a chance. Battle Atlanta just Battle every pitch, every at bat. Play solid defense, Pitchers play up to their abilities and we have a shot.
Trust me. The Astros are giving the braves a chance. Our team overrates nobody. Dont let the national media fool you. This team is humble and hungry. If the Braves win its because they played great
A majority of people picked braves in 6 on the poll. At least that’s what was in the lead after I vote and by a wide margin
What the over/under for bullpen games for this series?
Probably 1 bullpen game for each team is my guess
Not sure what to think when well rested starters result in a bullpen game for both teams. What’s the over/under on position players pitching in this series?
EVERY game is virtually a bullpen game, now. When even guys like Scherzer get pulled before 5 innings and four or more BP pitchers are used, it qualifies as a BP game to me.
Good thing you have no say in what constitutes a BP game then.
I think the Astros win but can see a braves title through charlie morton. Hes the one guy that doesnt care about nothing but success when hes on the mound and he has owned us the last several seasons since we foolishly let him leave
ATL will win as long as they start Morton in any elimination game.
Pretty sure Morton wanted to play on the east coast.
Going for the Braves. Mostly for Joc,Soler and Contreras.
Can we please stop being so dumb with this gore concepts. I mean heck, if speed is concern, then put Pache in there. At least you have a better bat and much better defense than gore! SMH….
Also those complaining about wright, it makes sense. We need a 2nd bulk guy for bullpen games now that yona is out. Who else do we go with? Idk. Wright is just fine here. Let’s just hope we don’t have to use him
Idk. Wright is a perfect redemption guy. As someone said before, he might be the difference in the series in both ways.
I don’t think Wright will have an impact. Allows them to slide Smyly into a normal role. One of the games will be a rout and Wright can eat innings. I think that is what he is on the roster for.
Braves have Soler leading off with Rosario hitting fifth. I’m okay with that.
Of course, Albies still hitting third…but who knows. Maybe he will get it going against Astros pitching.
Go Braves, beat those Cheatin’ Asstros!
Wright is gonna prove he is ready by pitching a huge Game 4 & solidify his spot in the rotation moving forward. His stuff is excellent when he has the confidence to attack hitters and not nibble.
Highly disappointed that Rodriguez is left off again.. Jackson has been terrible .. and Lee is useless vs the Astros RH lineup..
Brantley, Alvarez and Tucker are 3 of the Astros best hitters arguably their best 3 hitters.
I really think the key to this entire series is how well Matzek does when he is brought in in high leverage situations against the 2-3-4-5 hitters of the Astros with men on base. If he can mow through the Astros like he did the Dodgers, the Braves just MIGHT generate enough offense to steal this series. Rosario can’t possible stay this hot.
Ready to go boys, ready to go. As I see it they need to win 1 bookend game in Houston and 2 at home will get it done!
Go Braves!!!!!
Riley, Swanson, and Duvall sure love swinging at balls. I’m convinced if you keep throwing sliders not in the zone, they will whiff all the time.
Ughh don’t let it be a hammy.
Unbelievable!
Possibly a calf strain.
Baseball G-ds love the Astros!
If the Baseball G-ds are on the Braves side, Morton has nothing more than swelling. Braves win game 1. He comes back and pitches game 4. Braves sweep! Maybe that is the calling?
Fractured fibula, unbelievable. That’s baseball.
Go the Braves, get 1 more win in Houston.