TOUKI TOUSSAINT

Max Fried looked right at home, opening with five perfect innings while pitching the Atlanta Braves to a 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker said Monday he's considering all options, including a six-man rotation or an opener, as he looks for answers in his starting rotation. The Braves, who open the season on April 7 at home against Cincinnati, are scheduled to play 14 consecutive days before their first off day. Snitker said he may add a sixth starter during that stretch.

Ian Anderson pitched two-hit ball over six-plus innings and Austin Riley, Ozzie Albies and Freddie Freeman homered as the Braves beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 9-2.

Justin Turner and AJ Pollock singled home the tying and go-ahead runs through the same infield hole in the eighth inning, and the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied past the Atlanta Braves 4-3 to complete a three-game sweep.

Jorge Soler homered, Touki Toussaint pitched effectively into the sixth inning, and the surging Atlanta Braves beat Baltimore 3-1, extending the Orioles’ losing streak to 18 games.

Atlanta Braves' Nick Markakis, left, celebrates with Adeiny Hechavarria (24) after hitting a game-winning home run in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020, in Atlanta. Markakis was added to the active roster on Wednesday after changing his mind about sitting out the year. Following the homer, Braves players circled home plate with plenty of distance, waving their hands in the air as Markakis finished his trot. Manager Charlie Montoyo said before the game Waguespack was recalled when right-hander Trent Thornton was placed on the 10-day injured list. Following a chat with home plate umpire Alan Porter, Waguespack left the field without making a pitch and Montoyo instead brought in Rafael Dolis.

(AP Photo/John Bazemore)ATLANTA When Mike Soroka's teammates heard him scream, they feared the worst. If Mike Soroka can't walk off the field, you know it's pretty serious, said Freddie Freeman, the Atlanta Braves' slugging first baseman. Max Fried, a 17-game winner last season, is the only starter the Braves can really count on at this point. A native of Canada, Soroka went 13-4 with a dazzling 2.68 ERA in 2019, earning a spot in the All-Star Game. Now, just 11 games into a 60-game sprint, the Braves have a huge hole at the top of their rotation.

Following a scary journey in his battle with COVID-19, Freeman knows he is grateful to even have a chance. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)ATLANTA Freddie Freeman doesn't know if he has time to be ready for the Atlanta Braves' opener. Following a scary journey in his battle with COVID-19, Freeman is grateful to even have a chance. Asked what he's looking to see from Freeman, Snitker said, I dont think I have to look for anything. Freeman was one of four teammates to test positive at the start of summer camp.

PHOENIX Major League Baseball's COVID-19 testing sweep appears to be having some success even as large swaths of the United States continue to struggle with containing the fast-spreading virus. In addition to five players, one staff member tested positive. The solution here is really to make sure that we expand testing, Adalja told The Associated Press. Testing results will be watched closely as players and coaches disperse around the country, travel on buses and planes, and stay in hotels. Freeman and and pitcher Touki Toussaint who also previously tested positive for the virus worked out at Truist Park on Friday.

Posey a six-time All-Star and 2012 NL MVP said his family finalized the adoption of identical twin girls this week. Holt has a young family and his wife is pregnant, but he decided to leave them at home while he went to Milwaukee for the next three months. First baseman and team leader Freddie Freeman, premier reliever Will Smith, right-hander Touki Toussaint and infielder Pete Kozma tested positive for coronavirus. Epstein said two coaches tested positive prior to the intake process. A front office member tested positive during the intake.

ATLANTA Atlanta Braves outfielder Nick Markakis opted out of the 2020 season on Monday due to increased concerns about the coronavirus pandemic. Markakis is the second Atlanta veteran in two days to announce plans to sit out the 60-game season. Just hearing him, the way he sounded on the phone, it was tough, Markakis said. Braves first base coach Eric Young Sr. also will sit out the season. Markakis, Ender Inciarte and Adam Duvall were joined by rookies Cristian Pache and Drew Waters in the outfield competition.

ATLANTA Former Cy Young winner Flix Hernndez has opted out of the 2020 season, at least temporarily ending his bid to revive his career with the Atlanta Braves. Braves manager Brian Snitker said Sunday that Hernndez, 34, opted out due to the coronavirus pandemic. Snitker said Hernndez may have realized it is way, way different now as players must deal with the concerns of trying to start the season during the pandemic. The right-hander called King Felix posted a 6.40 ERA, was 1-8 in 15 starts and lost his spot in the rotation. Hernndez made a strong early impression in spring training and may have been on track for winning a spot in the rotation before the coronavirus pandemic delayed the season.

(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)Freddie Freeman tests positive for COVID-19. Due to concerns about medical privacy laws, MLB isnt making a practice of disclosing which players test positive. For example, Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said the team doesnt intend to reveal to the general public if anyone has tested positive. In the Braves case, the four players who tested positive permitted Snitker to reveal their names. Freeman joins Colorado Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon as four-time All-Stars who have tested positive.