2021 MLB Team Preview: Atlanta Braves

The Atlanta Braves were so close to advancing to the World Series last year but they again fell short of expectations. They were able to bring back some key pieces in their rotation and with the core intact, they will be fighting for another chance at a title. Are they still a piece or two away or are they ready to take that next step?

What Happened Last Year

The Braves had a very successful season last year, going 35-25 and finishing in first place in the National League East division. They walked past the Cincinnati Red in the NL Wild Card Series 2-0 before easily knocking the Miami Marlins out of contention during the NL Division Series 3-0. Then they weren’t able to make it past the eventual champions the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL Championship Series, losing 4-3 after a hard-fought series. But the team was still able to break a National League record for most runs in a single game with 29 against the marlins, a fantastic offensive showcase for one of the most consistent and steady teams in 2020.

Offseason Changes

Atlanta had a quiet offseason but did enough to stay competitive once again next year. The largest move of the offseason was the resigning of their outfielder Marcell Ozuna on a four-year, $65 million deal. This team is definitely better with Ozuna on it, they could not afford to let him walk as a free agent. Then they decided to pick up the veteran RHP Charlie Morton. Despite his age, Morton has proved that he is a top tier playoff rotation pitcher in this league and can still provide a spark for the Braves if given the chance. Atlanta hopes to slide him into their number two or three spot in the pitching rotation at the start of the year. Lastly, the team signed Drew Smyly to simply add depth to a rotation that badly needed it after suffering a few injuries at the position last year.  

2021 Outlook

This Braves team is looking to fill all of their holes in the offseason no matter how small and it appears that they have done just that. Bringing back Ozuna while also adding some depth to their pitching rotation will certainly keep them in contention to win the division once again while also competing for a World Series. Not to mention the fact that Atlanta still has the liked of Freddie Freeman, Ronald Acuna Jr. and Ozzie Albies to make them a difficult team to beat on any given night. The race for first place in the division is bound to be extremely close, with both the Braves and the New York Mets improving their rosters and hoping to have better seasons. Each of those teams could easily be separated by a few wins by the time the season ends, making it difficult to predict where Atlanta will land.

Pick: 2^nd In National League East