Help will soon be on way for Braves' rotation

MILWAUKEE -- Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez had a comical response when he was asked if he slept well leading up to Monday's Opening Day matchup against the Brewers at Miller Park.

"I slept like a baby," Gonzalez said before pausing. "I slept for three hours and then woke up crying."

While Gonzalez was joking, he enters this season with legitimate concerns about his injury-depleted starting rotation. After Julio Teheran and Alex Wood start the first two games of this week's series against the Brewers, Aaron Harang will start Wednesday's series finale and David Hale will get the ball for Friday's series opener against the Nationals.

Gonzalez's concerns could slightly decrease when Ervin Santana is expected to join the rotation next week. Santana, who did not sign with the Braves until March 12, will likely make one start for Triple-A Gwinnett and then possibly make his Braves debut as early as April 9.

Mike Minor, who was behind schedule because of a Dec. 31 urinary tract procedure, and Gavin Floyd, who is attempting to return from Tommy John surgery, are going to be on the same timeline in anticipation of joining Atlanta's rotation as early as the fourth week of April.