Atlanta Braves fans were optimistic heading into the start of the season. They saw a Jurickson Profar sized bandaid on the hole left by Ronald Acuña Jr.‘s recovery and a veteran ace on the pitchers mound.

Dodgers: Tyler Glasnow (0-0) BOTTOM LINE: The Los Angeles Dodgers host the Atlanta Braves on Monday to start a three-game series. Los Angeles went 98-64 overall and 52-29 in home games last season. The Dodgers pitching staff had a collective 3.

The Dodgers are the best team in baseball. Hot take! We know. But they’re not the only team in baseball, either. Over a six-month season, the gap between the best team and the second-best team is usually something like one extra win every six to eight weeks or so.

Here is the sentence you have been anticipating since the end of last season: Jesse Chavez is once again a member of Atlanta’s bullpen. The inevitable occurred on Monday morning when the Braves purchased Chavez’s contract from Triple-A Gwinnett and designated for assignment Héctor Neris.

The Atlanta Braves called up 41-year-old reliever Jesse Chavez from Triple-A Gwinnett on Monday. The right-hander will begin his 18th season in the majors, a journey that includes stints with nine different teams.

Currently in the midst of his fourth stint in the Atlanta organization, Chavez didn't break camp with the big club but didn't have to wait long for an opening in the bullpen to emerge after right-hander Hector Neris was designated for assignment.