ATLANTA — The Braves' decision to leave off three veterans from its NLDS roster — second baseman Dan Uggla, starting pitcher Paul Maholm and lefty reliever Scott Downs — after losing so many over the course of the 2013 season caused a stir at Turner Field during team workouts on Wednesday, but it's clear the club believes it is making pragmatic decisions.
As for Uggla, the highest-paid player on the roster, the three-year hitting slump finally reached a tipping point for manager Fredi Gonzalez and general manager Frank Wren. He's hitting .179 with a franchise record 171 strikeouts this season, which does not include his .122/.295/.184 slash line over the last month of the season.
Without a serviceable glove and/or usable speed, the Braves went with Elliot Johnson and Paul Janish.
As for Maholm, Gonzalez said he did not want to carry three left-handed relievers, which means veteran Freddy Garcia will start Game 4, barring unforeseen circumstances. With Garcia in place, the Braves rotation will go Medlen-Minor-Teheran-Garcia against the Dodgers. The club carried Alex Wood and David Hale on the NLDS roster for emergency start/long relief purposes, while Anthony Varvaro was left off. For a full look at the roster, click here.
The Chopcast team — Zach Dillard, Cory McCartney and Jay Clemons — discuss the roster and the matchup with the Dodgers. Here are the highlights:
-- Are there any surprises with the NLDS roster? How does this set up for Uggla's future?
-- How do the pitching matchups set up for the Braves? Would you have thrown Julio Teheran (rookie) and Garcia (picked up for cash considerations less than two months ago) on the road in a playoff series?
-- Which game is most important for the Braves to win?
-- How good is this Dodgers lineup without some of its best bats?
