KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Despite an epic collapse last season, the Braves enter spring training with many of the same faces.

A group of grown men looked more like anxious young baseball fans as they crowded around one corner of the American Legion Richmond Post 63 Thursday night in Augusta.

Brandon Beachy, Mike Minor, Randall Delgado and Julio Teheran combined to start 50 games as rookies last season. They will be competing for a spot in the rotation this season.

Fort Gordon played host to members of the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday as part of the team's annual caravan across the Southeast.

ATLANTA — After blowing an eight-game lead last season, the Atlanta Braves prepare to head to spring training with a clean slate.

NEW YORK - Craig Kimbrel overpowered hitters with his rocket right arm, then overwhelmed rivals in the National League Rookie of the Year voting.

CLEVELAND - Derek Lowe's durability - and price tag - were too much for the Indians to resist. The club acquired the veteran pitcher from the Atlanta Braves on Monday.

The Atlanta Braves are shaking things up after a September flop cost them a trip to the playoffs. The first change came Friday: hitting coach Larry Parrish was fired after one season.

ATLANTA — A franchise known for its postseason flops switched to fast-forward this time. The Atlanta Braves went ahead and blew it before the playoffs.

ATLANTA - Dan Uggla drop-kicked his bat after striking out on three pitches. Chipper Jones slammed his bat into the dirt after popping up.

ATLANTA - The televisions in the Atlanta clubhouse had all been switched off. The Braves didn't even bother hanging around to watch the team that's been chasing them in the wild-card race.

WASHINGTON - Altanta's NL wild-card lead was cut to one game over St. Louis, with the top four hitters in the Braves' lineup, including Chipper Jones and Dan Uggla.

WASHINGTON — The Atlanta Braves still lead an NL wild-card race they already should have clinched.

WASHINGTON — The Braves knocked around Stephen Strasburg a bit in a three-run first inning, and Atlanta helped its bid for a playoff berth by beating the Nationals 7-4.

Randall Delgado earned his first win, helping the Braves rebound from a crushing loss.

MIAMI - Chipper Jones and the Atlanta Braves are looking forward to playing in the Florida Marlins' new ballpark next year, especially after this difficult loss.