Julio Teheran worked out of a couple of jams, didn’t issue any unintentional walks, gave up two runs in six innings and struck out nine batters, including two apiece in three different innings, Wednesday in his final spring-training start.
In short, the Braves pitcher looked ready for his opening-day start.
“I felt good out there. I felt strong,” Teheran said after allowing seven hits and one intentional walk in a 9-2 win against the Marlins at Champion Stadium, the Braves’ next-to-last Grapefruit League game before they break camp and head north.
Teheran’s next start will come opening day Monday in Milwaukee. He had a 1.80 ERA in six spring starts, allowing 20 hits, five runs and four walks with 26 strikeouts in 25 innings.
“Julio’s ready, he’s good,” said manager Fredi Gonzalez, whose Braves will finish the Florida exhibition schedule against the Tigers on Thursday in Lakeland, then face a team of their top prospects Saturday in Rome.
On an unseasonably cool (57 degrees), blustery day in central Florida, Teheran allowed a leadoff single and a bloop double to the first two batters, then went strikeout, sacrifice fly and strikeout to the next three.
Pastornicky ready: He missed the first three weeks of the Grapefruit League schedule, but Tyler Pastornicky had enough time to show Braves officials he's recovered from September knee surgery.
He had three RBIs in his second consecutive two-hit game Wednesday, and barring anything unexpected, the shortstop-turned-utility player will get the last bench job when the 25-man roster is announced in the next day or two. He’s 5-for-12 (.417) in five games, and also got about a dozen at-bats in minor league games.
The Braves optioned first baseman Ernesto Mejia to Triple-A Gwinnett, leaving 29 on the camp roster, including 15 position players. They will have 13 position players on the opening-day roster; infielder Phil Gosselin and catcher Steve Lerud are expected to get dropped.
The final starter in the opening-day four-man rotation will be David Hale or Gus Schlosser, with the other likely going to the bullpen to join a group expected to include Craig Kimbrel, left-handers Luis Avilan and Ian Thomas, and right-handers Jordan Walden, Anthony Varvaro and David Carpenter.
Sidearmer Cory Gearrin was penciled in for a bullpen spot before hurting his elbow Tuesday. He was to be examined to determine the severity of the injury, and the Braves had no update on his condition.
Barring a late trade, the last bullpen spot could go to one of two rookie lefties, Ryan Buchter or Atahualpo Severino. Buchter is on the 40-man roster; Severino is not.
Pena recovered: After having major shoulder surgery in late June that prevented him from playing winter ball, Pena was concerned that it might take some time for him to get his timing back as a hitter.
So much for those concerns. He’s hit .364 (16-for-44) with a team-high 10 extra-base hits, including nine doubles, which led the National League before Wednesday.
“I feel good,” he said. “I’m getting good (at-bats). I feel great. And it’s getting better the more I play.”
The versatile veteran’s surgically repaired right shoulder — the second time he’s had it operated on — hasn’t been a problem at the plate or in the field. As for his timing, it never was the issue that he thought it might be after going so long without facing live pitching.
He doubled in his first plate appearance of the spring and has three doubles and a triple in his past eight at-bats.
It was just what the Braves had hoped for from Pena, whom they are counting on to be their primary utility player after he hit .278 with nine extra-base hits (three homers) in 50 games and 97 at-bats last season before tearing his labrum.
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