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Atlanta Braves Morning Chop: Odds suggest Braves will struggle to win in 2019

By Alan Carpenter

TOKYO, JAPAN - NOVEMBER 10: (L to R) Outfielder Juan Soto #22 of the Washington Nationals, Outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves, Catcher Robinson Chirinos #61 of the Texas Rangers, Infiedler Eugenio Suarez #7 of the Cincinnati Reds and Infielder Amed Rosario #1 of the New York Mets are seen during a warm-up prior to the game two of the Japan and MLB All Stars at Tokyo Dome on November 10, 2018 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images)
TOKYO, JAPAN - NOVEMBER 10: (L to R) Outfielder Juan Soto #22 of the Washington Nationals, Outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves, Catcher Robinson Chirinos #61 of the Texas Rangers, Infiedler Eugenio Suarez #7 of the Cincinnati Reds and Infielder Amed Rosario #1 of the New York Mets are seen during a warm-up prior to the game two of the Japan and MLB All Stars at Tokyo Dome on November 10, 2018 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – OCTOBER 07: The Atlanta Braves celebrate defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-5 in Game Three of the National League Division Series at SunTrust Park on October 7, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – OCTOBER 07: The Atlanta Braves celebrate defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-5 in Game Three of the National League Division Series at SunTrust Park on October 7, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /

Back Home Again

Our Atlanta Braves, by this measure, have a difficult chore, then.  In 2018, they ambushed the field by winning season series’ against every one of their foes. That happens when you’re taken lightly and/or expected to eventually fall back to the pack.

That mistake won’t be made this year.  Teams will be ready for them.

Objectively, the Braves have definitely upgraded both third base and their bench in 1 bold and swift move:  bringing in Josh Donaldson.  Having three MVP bats in the lineup is something no other club in all of baseball can boast.  Not Boston.  Not the Yankees.  Nobody.

The defense was already great, but the concern is going to be about the pitching.  As of today, the Braves are counting on the ‘kids’ to take that metaphorical step forward.

Foltynewicz has to repeat his 2018 performance while reaching 200 innings.  Sean Newcomb needs to find consistency. Kevin Gausman can help by doing exactly what he did to finish the year.

Julio Teheran… frankly a bit surprised he’s still on the team, but it’s hard to ignore the innings he provides.

As for the rest:  a combined 4 ERA coming from the combination of Toussaint, Wright, Soroka, Gohara, and anybody else you might wish to plug in would be excellent.  More would be icing on that cake… particularly since the bullpen still has to be viewed as fragile… improved, but fragile.

The Braves will hit, and there is sufficient depth available… at least one layer worth.  The pitching looks to be viable, though arguably less so than at least that of Washington’s and New York’s.

This team will win… though there will be many more struggles in 2019 due to the improvement of many opponents.  Atlanta may have to find some additional wins from the AL Central and the NL West this year.

My own over/under guess right now?  86.5 wins.  But that should be enough to be within a game or 2 (either way) of another division title.

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