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10 Ways the Atlanta Braves can improve this season.

By James Kunkle

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 25: Ozzie Albies #1 and Ronald Acuna Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves celebrate the 7-3 win over the New York Mets on September 25,2018 at Citi Field in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 25: Ozzie Albies #1 and Ronald Acuna Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves celebrate the 7-3 win over the New York Mets on September 25,2018 at Citi Field in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA - JULY 14: Sean Newcomb #15 of the Atlanta Braves throws a second inning pitch against the Arizona Diamondbacks at SunTrust Park on July 14, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – JULY 14: Sean Newcomb #15 of the Atlanta Braves throws a second inning pitch against the Arizona Diamondbacks at SunTrust Park on July 14, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /

Have some of the young pitchers take that next step

Mike Foltynewicz took a giant leap last year and became the team’s de facto “Ace”. Hopefully, he can improve more and become even more dominant this season. However, a bigger boost would be the younger pitchers taking a leap to catch up to “Folty”.

I’m talking about Sean Newcomb finding who he was the first half of last year and maintaining it all season. Hopefully, AJ Minter can take that next step and become a dominant more consistent reliever. Maybe Mike Soroka comes back fully healthy and makes a name for himself this season.

If Luiz Gohara can rebound and get back to where he was in 2017, he could become a focal point this season. Max Fried can be a quality pitcher whether that’s in the bullpen or the rotation remains to be seen. Lastly, maybe the Braves have a diamond in the rough in Chad Sobotka. If he can improve on his outstanding finish to the season, he could be a dominant force in the late innings.

Obviously, the surprise of last year was Anibal Sanchez who led the team in ERA. The question is who is gonna fill his shoes and join Folty at the top of the rotation? Kevin Gausman is a nice piece but I don’t think anyone is thinking he can be a #1 or a #2. So, who’s it gonna be?

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