Drake Baldwin

Murphy played in just three games this spring before going down with a broken rib, so the Braves will want him to get some at-bats before activating him. Drake Baldwin figures to be sent down to play regularly once Murphy is activated.

Sale exited with a one-run lead that lasted for one inning before Hector Neris gave up a homer and two more hits as part of a four-run seventh. Sale struck out seven and allowed a total of five hard-hit balls. That the Padres managed to steal three bases off him and Drake Baldwin directly led to one run. It already seems like teams want to take advantage of Baldwin's arm.

The Padres were 5-for-5 stealing bases off Drake Baldwin, with Fernando Tatis Jr. also swiping two bags. It's just the seventh two-steal game of Machado's career; the last was also against the Braves in Apr. 2022. Machado's 11 steals last season made for his fourth-highest total ever. He stole a career-best 20 bases in 2015.

As expected, Murphy will open the regular season with a brief stint on the injured list, which is retroactive to March 24. The 30-year-old backstop resumed baseball activities last weekend and is trending towards a mid-April return to Atlanta's catching mix. It'll be top prospect Drake Baldwin handling the role in his absence.

The Braves announced Friday that they have selected the contracts of top catching prospect Drake Baldwin and veteran relievers Hector Neris and Enyel De Los Santos. All three have made the Opening Day club and are now on the 40-man roster. Atlanta doesn’t need to make any corresponding moves, as the recent returns of their…