03-24-2024 MLB Preview - Flipbook - Page 31
MLB ’24 NL EAST PREVIEW ATLANTA BRAVES
Sunday, March 24, 2024 31
2023: 104-58, first place, lost to Philadelphia in Division Series | Manager: Brian Snitker (ninth season) | Opening Day: March 28 at Philadelphia
ONE TO WATCH
OVERVIEW
OF Ronald Acuña Jr. (.336, 41 HRs,
106 RBIs, 149 runs, MLB-leading 73 SBs,
1.012 OPS, NL MVP)
TOP HITTERS
1B Matt Olson (.283, MLB-high 54
and 139, 127 runs, .993 OPS), 3B
Austin Riley (.281, 37, 97, 117 runs),
2B Ozzie Albies (.280, 33, 109), DH
Marcell Ozuna (.274, 40, 100).
PROJECTED ROTATION
RH Spencer Strider (20-5, 3.86
ERA, MLB-high 281 Ks), LH Max
Fried (8-1, 2.55), LH Chris Sale (65, 4.30 with Boston), RH Charlie
Morton (14-12, 3.64), RH Reynaldo
López (3-7, 3.27 in 68 relief appearance with White Sox, Angels and
Guardians).
KEY RELIEVERS
RH Raisel Iglesias (5-4, 2.75 ERA,
33/37 saves), LH A.J. Minter (3-6,
3.76, 10 saves), RH Joe Jiménez
(0-3, 3.04), LH Aaron Bummer (5-5,
6.79 in 61 appearances with White
Sox).
OUTLOOK
After winning the 2021 World Series, the Braves have been eliminated by the Phillies in the Division
Series two consecutive years. They
enter this season looking to extend
their string of six straight NL East
titles and determined to add another World Series championship.
Acuña leads a potent lineup that
topped the majors in hitting, hits,
homers, runs and RBIs. He became
baseball’s first player to hit at least
40 homers and steal at least 70
bases as he became the unanimous
NL MVP. Then he shook off a spring
training scare when soreness in
his surgically repaired right knee
was found to be irritation around
the meniscus. He is expected to be
ready for the start of the season.
— Associated Press
GERALD HERBERT/AP
HE’S HERE
LHP Chris Sale (left), RHP Reynaldo López, LHP Aaron Bummer, OF Jarred Kelenic, INF David Fletcher, INF Luis Guillorme.
HE’S OUTTA HERE
OF Eddie Rosario, SS Vaughn Grissom, OF Kevin Pillar, OF Sam Hilliard, LHP Brad Hand, RHP Kirby Yates, RHP Collin McHugh,
LHP Jared Shuster, RHP Michael Soroka, RHP Kyle Wright, RHP Nick Anderson.
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