Opening Day is tomorrow and we’ve been previewing our fellow NL East rivals both here and on the podcast. You can read our previews on the Marlins, the Mets, and the Phillies by clicking on their names. We continue today with the defending NL East Champion Atlanta Braves.

Last Year’s Record: 88-73 (1st in NL East, won World Series)

Last year in my Braves preview I commented how “it’s amazing that the Braves can win the division year after year and get within one game of the World Series and still fly under-the-radar.” That statement can now be adjusted to: “it’s amazing that Braves can win the World Series and still fly-under-the-radar. Everybody is busy talking about the Dodgers, Phillies, and Mets while the Braves just do their thing. It pains me to say but I fully believe that they’re still the favorites to win the division.

The Braves will be enjoying celebrating their 2021 World Series title, but they’ll also be expecting this team to make another run, especially once they get Ronald Acuna Jr. back from injury. They’ve made a lot of moves to bolster their team, but can they make another run after losing the heart of soul of their team?

Impact Departures

Freddie Freeman was both my most loved and hated Braves player, because I hated that he was so damn likeable. But now he’s gone after the Braves opted not to pay him and as much as I like getting him out of the NL East, it’s just hard to imagine him wearing anything but an Atlanta Braves jersey. They also lost World Series MVP Jorge Soler to Miami, but other than that, no major departures that will hurt the team too much.

1B Freddie Freeman (FA)

OF Jorge Soler (FA)

RP Jesse Chavez (FA)

OF Joc Pederson (FA)

RP Chris Martin (FA)

SP Drew Smyly (FA)

UT Ehire Adrianza (FA)

C Stephen Vogt (FA)

Impact Additions

The Braves were able to replace Freddie Freeman with Matt Olson, while extending Olsen for 8 more years. They rebuilt their bullpen after acquiring Kenley Jansen, Collin McHugh, and Darren O’Day. Alex Dickerson is expected to slide into their lineup as the DH.

1B Matt Olson (Trade w/ OAK)

OF Alex Dickerson (FA)

RP Kenley Jansen (FA)

RP Collin McHugh (FA)

RP Tyler Thornburg (FA)

RP Darren O’Day (FA)

RP Kirby Yates (FA)

Projected Lineup

The lineup returns postseason hero Eddie Rosario who hit 7 home runs in just 33 games for the Braves at the end of the 2021 season. Matt Olson, who hit 39 homers last season, joins an infield that all hit over 25 homers last season. Of Albies, Riley, and Swanson, only Swanson hit under 30 home runs with 27. Travis d’Arnaud missed a lot of time last season, but hopes to return to 2019-2020 form with a healthy season. Manny Pina and William Contreras are also likely to make the roster, which could allow d’Arnaud to see some time at DH as well. Marcell Ozuna returns after his domestic violence suspension, while Adam Duvall will play centerfield until Acuna returns in early May. He may see some time at DH as well as he works to strengthen that ACL.

1. RF Eddie Rosario (L)
2. 2B Ozzie Albies (S)
3. 1B Matt Olson (L)
4. 3B Austin Riley (R)
5. LF Marcell Ozuna (R)
6. DH Alex Dickerson (L)
7. CF Adam Duvall (R)
8. SS Dansby Swanson (R)
9.  C Travis d’Arnaud (R)

Projected Rotation

The Braves didn’t add any pitching in the offseason, but with the emergence of Ian Anderson, Kyle Wright, and Huascar Ynoa, they didn’t really need to. They also have Tucker Davidson for depth, and they hope to get Mike Soroka back finally around midseason. Unfortunately for Soroka, his first achilles surgery didn’t heal right and he re-tore it in May of 2021. Max Fried is poised for a big year after going 8-2 with a 1.74 ERA in 14 starts to finish the year for the Braves, while Ian Anderson and Huascar Ynoa look to build off their impressive 2021’s. Kyle Wright has struggled early in his career, but if he can get it figured out it’ll give the Braves a solid five man rotation. If he continues to struggle, then prospect Tucker Davidson is waiting in the wings to take over.

1. Max Fried (L)
2. Charlie Morton (R)
3. Ian Anderson (R)
4. Huascar Ynoa (R)
5. Kyle Wright (R)

Bullpen

The Braves made some big moves to bolster their bullpen ahead of the 2022 season, including signing a trio of former All Star relievers in Kenley Jansen, Darren O’Day, and Kirby Yates in free agency. The Braves signed Kirby Yates despite him having to return from Tommy John surgery and he is not expected back until possibly August. They also added former Rays and Astros pitcher Collin McHugh and former Brewer and Red Tyler Thornburg (who hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2020). Lefties Tyler Matzek, AJ Minter, Sean Newcomb, and Will Smith retain their places within the Braves’ bullpen, though the latter will likely not be the closer any longer with Kenley Jansen in town. A bullpen that was once a question mark for the club over the past years look to potentially become a strength as we begin the 2022 MLB season.

Kenley Jansen (R)

Will Smith (L)

Collin McHugh (R)

AJ Minter (L)

Tyler Matzek (L)

Darren O’Day (R)

Tyler Thornburg (R)

Sean Newcomb (L)

Impact Prospects

According to Baseball America, the Braves have the 22nd ranked farm system in the majors. It should be noted that this rankings came out before the Matt Olson trade, so it factors in Cristian Pache (84) and Shea Langeliers (54) as Top 100 prospects for the Braves when they are now with the Oakland Athletics. Outfielder Michael Harris II is still a few years away, but Drew Waters, Tucker Davidson, and Kyle Muller all expect to play roles for the Braves in 2022.

OF Michael Harris II (46)

OF Drew Waters

LHP Tucker Davidson

LHP Kyle Muller

The Half Street High Heat writers give their answers on certain Braves topics below, including most intriguing storyline and which Braves player they’d most like to add to the Nationals.

Best Braves Pitcher

Amanda: Max Fried

Allison: Max Fried

Monty: Max Fried

Best Braves Player

Amanda: Ronald Acuna Jr.

Allison: Ronald Acuna Jr.

Monty: Matt Olson

Favorite Braves Pitcher/Player

Amanda: Ronald Acuna Jr.

Allison: “Freddie Freeman jk, uh Acuna.”

Monty: Matt Olson

Most Hated Braves Player

Amanda: Marcell Ozuna

Allison: Marcell Ozuna

Monty: Marcell Ozuna is a disgrace.

One Braves Player to Add to the Nats

Amanda: Ronald Acuna Jr.

Allison: Kenley Jansen

Monty: Ronald Acuna Jr.

Most Intriguing Braves Storyline

Amanda: “Will Acuna and Soroka be themselves again after their injuries?”

Allison: “Clubhouse dynamics: the new guy making more than vets who have gone to arbitration, and with much of the World Series team gone, how does that all play out and affect on-field performance?”

Monty: “Will the Braves young rotation be able to make steps forward after opting not to bring in any free agent starters?”