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Where do the Atlanta Braves rank in terms of WAR?

By Matthew Browning

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - AUGUST 01: Freddie Freeman #5 of the Atlanta Braves rounds third base after hitting a three-run homer in the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds at SunTrust Park on August 01, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - AUGUST 01: Freddie Freeman #5 of the Atlanta Braves rounds third base after hitting a three-run homer in the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds at SunTrust Park on August 01, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – AUGUST 05: Mike Soroka #40 of the Atlanta Braves delivers a pitch against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning of the interleague game on August 5, 2019 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. a(Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – AUGUST 05: Mike Soroka #40 of the Atlanta Braves delivers a pitch against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning of the interleague game on August 5, 2019 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. a(Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

The Rotation

Many in Braves Country had hoped the team would have acquired a starting pitcher before the trade deadline, but the asking prices were just too steep to pay.  Of the contenders used in this exercise, only the Yankees and Indians have a worse WAR than the Braves’ 8.1; Minnesota is slightly better at 8.3.

And when it comes to the Indians, health is what has prevented them from having a better number, as Corey Kluber has averaged a WAR well over 6.0 over the past five seasons and this year it’s -0.4.

Outside of Mike Soroka (4.0) and Julio Teheran (2.4), no other Braves starter has a WAR above 1.0.

It should be noted that it’s extremely likely Dallas Keuchel would be well above his current WAR of 0.8 if he had pitched the entire season rather than a little less than two months, though last night’s outing will certainly be a setback to his efforts to improve on that.

The starting rotation is what very well might separate the Braves from the elite teams come October.

With their recent last minute acquisition of Zack Greinke, the Astros boast a crazy 17.2 WAR among their starters.

Justin Verlander (5.1), Greinke (4.8), Gerrit Cole (3.9) and Wade Miley (3.4) have a WAR greater than anybody on the Yankees staff.

If the Nationals make the playoffs they might be the scariest wild card team ever, as their rotation boasts a WAR of 15.7.

Four of the five members of Washington’s rotation has a WAR of 2.2 of higher, with Max Scherzer leading the way at 5.2… though he now has health questions.

Behind Hyun-Ju Ryu (5.0) and Clayton Kershaw (2.9), the Dodgers’ rotation have a WAR of 12.3, while the Cubs are at 10.2.

It really isn’t a surprise as to how poor the Braves starting rotation’s WAR is considering Keuchel has only pitched two months plus Mike Foltynewicz’s struggles.

Still though, those two give the rotation upside that might not have been there this time in June.

The bullpen is up next and this is where the Braves took the biggest leap.

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