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3 biggest concerns for Atlanta Braves heading into postseason

By Jake Mastroianni

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 29: Freddie Freeman #5 of the Atlanta Braves walks up tp the on-deck circle prior to his at bat against the New York Mets at Citi Field on September 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 29: Freddie Freeman #5 of the Atlanta Braves walks up tp the on-deck circle prior to his at bat against the New York Mets at Citi Field on September 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GEORGIA – SEPTEMBER 19: Ronald  Acuna Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves attempts to make a play on a line drive hit by Logan Morrison #8 of the Philadelphia Phillies in the eighth inning at SunTrust Park on September 19, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – SEPTEMBER 19: Ronald  Acuna Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves attempts to make a play on a line drive hit by Logan Morrison #8 of the Philadelphia Phillies in the eighth inning at SunTrust Park on September 19, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Outfield defense

I’ve been very vocable about the fact that the best lineup for the Atlanta Braves is with a healthy Ender Inciarte.

Ronald Acuña Jr. is the truth and could possibly win an MVP someday, but he is not a centerfielder.

Not only that, but he’s been dealing with a groin strain. I can’t imagine that helps in regards to patrolling center field with a couple of old guys surrounding him.

While I love Nick Markakis and he is a very solid defensive outfielder, he doesn’t exactly have a lot of range. He did show off his arm over the weekend by throwing out Todd Frazier at home … twice!

All of the Cardinals starters are righties, so you can expect Matt Joyce to start in right field. He has not really impressed me in left field defensively.

We all know how crucial every play is in the postseason, and one of my biggest concerns is that there will be a couple of plays in the outfield that hurt us.

And maybe it’s just because I know what our outfield could be if healthy.

If Inciarte is in center with Acuña in left and Markakis in right then you’re looking at one of the best defensive outfields in baseball.

But without Ender in there and a banged-up Acuña in center, it’s a big drop off.

And this also means that Billy Hamilton could play a huge role in the postseason. Expect him to enter the game in the seventh or eighth innings if the Braves have a lead.

With him out there, we again have a very solid outfield defense. But without him or Ender in center, I fear what our outfield defense will look like.

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