1. Atlanta Wins NL Pennant
You could make the argument that the Braves should’ve won the NL Pennant last season. After losing in Game 7 of the NLCS to the eventual World Series Champion Dodgers a year ago, the Braves will certainly be one of the popular preseason picks to win the NL.
The Braves have not played in a World Series since 1999, and haven’t won one since 1995. While they’ve certainly had talented teams capable of winning it all since then, this year’s team certainly feels different.
While the Braves did lose a few key pieces off of last season’s team, it feels like this team could be even more talented this year.
The starting rotation will be led by Max Fried and displays a nice mix of talented younger players and veterans. Don’t forget about Mike Soroka too, who will return after suffering an injury last season.
The bullpen did lose a couple of pieces, but returns experienced and talented arms from top to bottom. When you have 3-4 guys you can reliably put in a tight situation late in a game, that’s a good thing, and the Braves have that.
As mentioned previously, this lineup will be special. The Atlanta Braves lineup features three legit MVP candidates, numerous talented younger players, and countless power hitters making this lineup one of the deepest in baseball.
It will come down to either the Braves, Dodgers, Padres, or Mets most likely as to who represents the NL in the World Series in 2021.
Based on the current roster look combined with so much returning from last season’s team, you could certainly make the argument that the Atlanta Braves are the top team in the NL and should be considered one of, if not the favorite to win the NL Pennant.