As expected, the Braves placed five pitchers on the 15-day disabled list Sunday, including Brandon Beachy and Kris Medlen, who are both out for the season after Tommy John surgery.
Joining Beachy and Medlen are Mike Minor (left shoulder tendinitis) and two other pitchers recovering from elbow reconstructive surgery, Gavin Floyd and reliever Jonny Venters.
Minor, Floyd and Venters will continue their rehabilitation programs, with Minor expected to join the rotation in mid-April, with Floyd sometime in May and Venters in May or June.
The return of Minor should provide a boost to a staff that, without Beachy and Medlen, will open the season with a four-man group of Opening Day starter Julio Teheran, Freddy Garcia, Alex Wood and David Hale. Recently signed Ervin Santana is not expected to be available until April 9 at the earliest.
