The 2020 Major League Baseball season will finally get underway this week after the coronavirus outbreak put a halt on all sports leagues back in March.
Opening Day for the Atlanta Braves will be on the road against the New York Mets on Friday at 4:10 p.m..
However, there are still unanswered questions heading into the shortened 60-game season including the starting rotation.
Manager Brian Snitker confirmed that Cole Hamels, who the Braves acquired in the offseason, would begin the season on the injured list. And with Felix Hernandez opting out playing this year, who will slide into the fifth starting rotation spot?
"Well (Sean Newcomb) will come out of the gate four, I believe, and, you know, he's earned that chance," Byrd said.
"We'll see what happens in that fifth spot. Would've liked to have seen King Felix. He opted out so now it is up to some of these young guys or this is one of those where you go with 'Johnny Wholestaff' where you start your closer for the first couple (innings), you go with an opener in that fifth spot, and then you piece it together with mid-relievers in the bullpen...The Braves have such a good bullpen that I think they could handle something like that."