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Atlanta Braves 2021 NL East Rivals: are the Nationals “back”?

By Alan Carpenter

Will the Atlanta Braves have to be concerned about a resurgent Nationals club in 2021? (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
Will the Atlanta Braves have to be concerned about a resurgent Nationals club in 2021? (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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Atlanta Braves
2 big factors for the Washington Nationals: left fielder Juan Soto (22) and Atlanta Braves kryptonite shortstop Trea Turner (7). Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

Around the Diamond

Catching will be Yan Gomes and Alex Avila.  First base will be manned by new arrival Josh Bell, who could provide big power — likely slotted in as their cleanup hitter.

The Nats are aiming to go with Carter Kieboom at third while hoping this audition works better this year.  Luis Garcia is the probable choice for second.

They almost certainly signed Kyle Schwarber with the expectation that a Designated Hitter rule could be exploited, so now they likely have to plant him in left field and see what happens (Atlanta Braves fans can relate to this).

The Nationals’ mainstays will be Victor Robles in CF, all-world performer Juan Soto in RF, and Trea Turner — the constant pest — at shortstop.

So the Nationals appear to have a lineup that mirrors Atlanta’s to a great degree… great talent at the top, but ramps down at the end.  Certainly, they will have their moments.

Nationals Outlook

PROJECTIONS

In general, we’ve had concerns about the Atlanta Braves and their lack of depth overall.  If anything, though, the Nationals might have a worse problem here in that their depth is extremely thin at multiple skill positions.

That proved a problem early in 2019 when Turner went down with a broken finger… one subsequently operated on 7 months later.

The same concern goes with their pitching, as we’ve seen multiple issues with Strasburg and Scherzer in the past couple of years.

This is a club capable of pulling off a 90-win season (and there are people with the belief that they could win the division).  If things go all pear-shaped on them, then 80 wins — or worse — is also possible.

Fangraphs is the most pessimistic at 81.5 wins, and while that’s plausible, I think they and the Phillies could end up with just about the same records.

This is based on the depth issues combined with the belief that their rotation might only average being about 2-deep depending on the performances of both Lester and Corbin.  Regardless, I just don’t believe they can keep enough players out of the infirmary for the majority of the season.

dark. Next. Just Podding Along

Let’s call it an 83-84 win team for 2021, which puts the Nationals finishing just behind the Phillies for 4th place.

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