Editor’s note: The video above is from a spring training special prior to the first game.
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – The Atlanta Braves will continue their AL East gauntlet Friday against the Boston Red Sox, marking the second of four consecutive games against AL East teams.
Braves ace Chris Sale will take the mound against his former team. Pitching for the Red Sox will be righty Brayan Bello.
The Braves lost to the Yankees Thursday and will play the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday and the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday.
The Braves and Red Sox are both 4-2 to begin spring training.
INJURY REPORT: Braves will begin season without starters Schwellenbach and Waldrep
Competition in Braves camp remains tight. The primary battles center on the final bench spot, the last opening in the rotation and the remaining bullpen roles.
Bryce Elder made his spring debut against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday, allowing one run on two hits in two innings of work. He is the favorite to claim the final rotation spot ahead of opening day.
Carlos Carrasco got rocked in his second spring training outing Thursday, allowing five earned runs in just 1.2 innings. His pitch velocity topped out at just 91 mph and was feasted on by Yankee hitters. The 38-year-old gave up four hard-hit balls, including a two-run home run in the first inning.
Carrasco could not get Yankee hitters to miss, with an abysmal 18 percent called strike plus whiff rate. It’s hard to see him making the final roster over pitchers such as Elder, Dylan Dodd or Joey Wentz, even if the Braves open the season with a six-man rotation.
RELATED: Projecting the Braves’ 2026 Opening Day roster
Three of the four bench spots appear to be claimed by infielder Jorge Mateo, catcher Jonah Heim and utilityman Eli White. Kyle Farmer, Ben Gamel and Dominic Smith are among the candidates vying for the final spot.
None of Farmer, Gamel or Smith have had significant time, but Gamel impressed Thursday against the Yankees, smacking a 381-foot home run.
While the Braves are still experimenting with the spring training roster, the Red Sox are starting to run lineups that look like what could be their Opening Day setup.
The big questions surround the outfield logjam and Nate Eaton and Andruw Monasterio.
Monasterio, acquired in the trade that sent LHP Kyle Harrison, LHP Shane Drohan, and 2B David Hamilton to Milwaukee, has been a star this spring and could find his way onto the opening day roster.
Similiarly, Eaton is making the Red Sox’s outfield predicament even tougher. He too has been swinging the bat well this spring. Roman Anthony, Ceddane Rafela, Jarren Duran, Masataka Yoshida and Wilyer Abreu are all in the driver’s seat for the outfield spots, but Eaton could very well play himself into a backup role.
Yoshida has been the odd man out so far for the Red Sox, with Anthony, Rafaela, Duran and Abreu expected to take up the outfield spots and the designated hitter role, in some form. A strong spring could give Yoshida a boost.
Here’s a look at the schedule and pitching matchups for the upcoming slate of games.
Friday, 1:05 p.m. vs. Boston Red Sox – TBD vs. TBD
HOW TO WATCH BRAVES ON GRAY
The Braves and Gray Media announced an expanded spring training broadcast offering, bringing 15 spring training games to fans across Braves Country through Braves on Gray local television stations, reaching 26 markets throughout the Southeast.
For broadcast times, channel information and additional details, fans are encouraged to click here and check local Gray Media station listings in their markets.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE
Copyright 2026 WANF. All rights reserved.