Major League Baseball

Teheran gets opening day start for Braves

Published Mar. 22, 2014 1:29 p.m. ET

foxsports

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) Julio Teheran, who was 14-8 with a 3.20 ERA last year as a rookie, will get the opening day start for the Atlanta Braves.

Manager Fredi Gonzalez told Teheran on Saturday he'll start on March 31 in Milwaukee. The Braves didn't have much choice after a string of injuries this spring.

Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy are sidelined because of elbow ligament transplant surgery. Ervin Santana, who signed late as a free agent, and Mike Minor (shoulder) won't be ready to join the rotation until mid-April.

The Braves will go with three other starters the first two weeks of the season - Alex Wood, Freddy Garcia and rookie David Hale.

Teheran has a 1.42 ERA in five spring starts. He has 17 strikeouts and three walks while holding opponents to a .194 average.