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Atlanta Braves Lineup in 2013 vs. 2017: Who Ya Got?

By Alex Burke

Jun 9, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) talks with San Diego Padres Justin Upton (10) after a single by Upton in the third inning of their game at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 9, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) talks with San Diego Padres Justin Upton (10) after a single by Upton in the third inning of their game at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /
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Aug 31, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves left fielder Matt Kemp (27) hits a sacrifice fly scoring third baseman Adonis Garcia (not pictured) as San Diego Padres catcher Derek Norris (3) is shown on the play in the eighth inning of their game at Turner Field. The Braves won 8-1. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 31, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves left fielder Matt Kemp (27) hits a sacrifice fly scoring third baseman Adonis Garcia (not pictured) as San Diego Padres catcher Derek Norris (3) is shown on the play in the eighth inning of their game at Turner Field. The Braves won 8-1. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /

What Do the Numbers Say Now?

Last year, the real Braves’ season started when Matt Kemp made his Braves debut on August 2nd (game #106). What the offense did before then doesn’t matter.

The offense immediately became legit: averaging 5.161 runs per game for the rest of the season. Pre-Kemp, the Braves averaged 3.448 runs/game and astonishingly didn’t even have a 10-game stretch in which they averaged five or more runs.

Oh, by the way, that 5.161 figure for August-on was 2nd in all of baseball behind the Rockies (and should they even be included?).

It got especially better when Dansby made his debut on August 17th. From that point on, the team averaged 5.357 runs per game.

For a team that went into the All-Star break with the least amount of runs scored, that’s pretty darn impressive.

The point is, the Braves offense that was near-tops in all of baseball at the end of last year is essentially the same going into this season…and we added DatDudeBP (and soon–Albies)!

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What Did the Numbers Say Then?

The 2013 team stats would tell you that the Braves won 96 games because of their pitching.

Allowing only 3.38 runs per game (1st in MLB), it would require only an average offense to win the NL East that year. And that’s what we had.

The team was 13th in scoring in 2013 with 688 runs (13 above the league average) which was 4.25 runs per game, only 0.08 above the league average.

They lived and died by the home run ball.

The 2013 team was…

  • 21st in hits (1,354)
  • 25th in doubles (247)
  • 21st in triples (21)
  • 24th in stolen bases (64)
  • T-27th in strikeouts (1384– aka 3rd-most K’s)

while being…

  • 5th in home runs (181)
  • 11th in slugging percentage (.402)

It’s honestly quite lucky that the Braves’ numbers weren’t even worse.

If it weren’t for Freddie Freeman having a breakout year (hitting .319) and Chris Johnson having his only good year (.321), those numbers would’ve been even crummier.

The main problem was the Upton Bros and Dan Uggla. Despite representing 26.5% of the plate appearances, they accounted for only 22% of the hits and just about 35% of the team’s strikeouts.

Yikes.

Not to mention the defense guys. Andrelton Simmons and Jason Heyward were All-World defenders, but didn’t add much offensively (combined 4.4 oWAR). Plus, neither could play leadoff successfully, which would’ve been nice since M-Up Jr. had a .184 BA.

So in total – half the “lineup” was pulling all of the weight: they were living and dying by the long ball…

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