House That Hank Built
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Why the Atlanta Braves Will Win the World Series in 2019

By Jake Mastroianni

BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 31: The World Series trophy is hoisted in the air during the 2018 World Series victory parade for the Boston Red Sox on October 31, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 31: The World Series trophy is hoisted in the air during the 2018 World Series victory parade for the Boston Red Sox on October 31, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA – SEPTEMBER 10: Dansby  Swanson #7 of the Atlanta Braves hits an RBI sacrifice fly ball San Francisco Giants during the seventh inning at AT&T Park on September 10, 2018 in San Francisco, California. The Atlanta Braves defeated the San Francisco Giants 4-1. (Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – SEPTEMBER 10: Dansby  Swanson #7 of the Atlanta Braves hits an RBI sacrifice fly ball San Francisco Giants during the seventh inning at AT&T Park on September 10, 2018 in San Francisco, California. The Atlanta Braves defeated the San Francisco Giants 4-1. (Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images) /

Breakout Seasons from Swanson and Newcomb

I wrote about this a little yesterday after their performances in the Atlanta Braves final Spring Training game.

And it was very important for the Braves to see both of these guys come out of Spring Training on a good note because I think they both could be key to the team’s success in 2019.

Swanson has certainly looked great in Spring Training, but that won’t mean anything unless he carries that into the regular season.

He has not lived up to expectations at the plate the past two seasons hitting .232 and .238 respectively.

We don’t need him to be an MVP candidate, we have plenty of those, we just need him to be what we thought he would be.

If Dansby can hit close to .280 with 15 home runs, 70 runs scored, 70 RBI, and double-digit stolen bases it will really lengthen our lineup.

And those are not huge numbers by any means, but it’s what I believe Dansby is capable of. And if he can reach that potential this season, the Braves will have a World Series lineup.

Assuming Mike Foltynewicz comes back healthy and is the staff ace, Sean Newcomb‘s role in the rotation will be huge.

Even if Folty doesn’t come back, Newcomb becomes even more important.

We saw flashes of greatness last year, but he seemed to tail off at the end. And then a terrible start in Spring Training had many of us questioning if he even belonged in the rotation.

But this is the year we need Newcomb to step up and be that number two. If he can’t, then not only is that trade one I will always regret, but the Braves would be lost in the postseason.

I’m looking for Newcomb to post an ERA around three with 180 strikeouts in close to 200 innings pitched.

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