2012 MLB Playoffs: Fredi Gonzalez considering roster options for Wild Card game

The Wild Card playoff poses unique challenges to managers. Unlike other rounds of the postseason, the roster for the Wild Card round is set in stone for just one game.

Because of that, Fredi Gonzalez is leaning toward having more hitters than pitchers on his roster. He plans on having just three starting pitchers active, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

He plans to carry three starting pitchers — Kris Medlen, Tim Hudson, Mike Minor — for the Wild Card game. Hudson would be available to start if anything — i.e. injury or sickness — happened to Medlen, and Minor would be an emergency pitcher if the game became an extra-innings marathon like the 18-inning playoff game the Braves played at Houston in 2005.

The Braves will also likely being adding a third catcher, so they have more flexibility throughout the game.

Atlanta will host the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday at a yet to be announced time.