3 reasons Braves are 2023 title contenders
This story was excerpted from Mark Bowman’s Braves Beat publication. To learn the complete publication, click on right here. And subscribe to get it frequently in your inbox.
It shall be attention-grabbing to see how 2022 is remembered by Braves followers a few years from now. The 12 months launched us to Michael Harris II and Spencer Strider, the unbelievable rookies who helped the crew overcome a ten 1/2-game division deficit on the finish of May and finally win a fifth consecutive National League East title.
Other than 1993, Braves followers have by no means skilled a division race just like the one which unfolded in 2022. Atlanta handed the Mets throughout the common season’s last weekend to win the NL East crown. Injuries and illnesses suffered by Strider and Max Fried influenced an NL Division Series loss to the Phillies.
Along with experiencing a direct postseason exit, the Braves additionally stated goodbye to each Freddie Freeman and Dansby Swanson this previous 12 months. Both will proceed to be missed over the following few years. But listed below are three causes the Braves are heading into 2023 as legit World Series threats.
1) A wholesome Acuña and Albies
The Braves gained 101 video games with Ozzie Albies lacking many of the season’s last 4 months and with Ronald Acuña Jr. nowhere close to one hundred pc. Now these two younger distinction makers shall be again collectively on the sector to function one in every of MLB’s most enjoyable duos.
Acuña gave the impression to be himself for a few month after coming back from proper knee surgical procedure, after which we noticed simply moments of his excellence over the past three-plus months of the season. Having a full offseason and being additional distanced from the ACL tear, the 25-year-old outfielder has the potential to right away regain his standing as an annual MVP candidate.
Albies broke his left foot in June after which fractured his proper pinkie someday after spending three months on the injured listing. It was primarily a misplaced season for the second baseman. His return will influence the Braves each offensively and defensively. And it simply appears like Acuña and Albies carry out one of the best in one another when they’re on the sector collectively.
Yeah, the faces are comparable, however the minds and our bodies of the younger arms are extra mature and skilled. Strider excelled over his 4 months as a starter this 12 months, and he ought to be bodily ready to be a frontline piece over everything of subsequent season. Some query whether or not Kyle Wright will match his 21-win season. Well, the win whole actually doesn’t matter. But if he’s not less than someplace between the three.19 ERA and three.89 anticipated ERA he produced in 2022, he’ll stay a strong No. 2 or No. 3 starter.
As lengthy as Fried and Strider are wholesome, the Braves can be ok with having Wright and Charlie Morton fill the rotation’s subsequent two spots. The massive query is who will fill the fifth spot if the Braves don’t add one other skilled starter earlier than the season begins. Ian Anderson and Mike Soroka will battle for the spot. We don’t understand how efficient Soroka shall be as he comes again after tearing his proper Achilles for a second time.
Questions additionally encompass Anderson. He missed time in 2021 due to a sore shoulder and he simply by no means received on monitor final 12 months. Still, given a few of his previous success, particularly throughout the postseason, there’s actually cause to consider he may not less than be a serviceable No. 5 starter.
Today’s catchers have much more energy than the shortstops of the Eighties and early Nineteen Nineties. So the comparability isn’t good. But groups are at present assessing catchers very like they assessed shortstops a number of a long time in the past. If you’re nice defensively, you don’t should be way more than a mean offensive contributor.
Well, with Sean Murphy and Travis d’Arnaud, the Braves have a pair of veteran catchers who can present important worth each offensively and defensively. Yeah, William Contreras’ energy shall be missed. But this duo can compensate for his loss and in addition present sufficient behind the plate to make sure the catching place shall be upgraded in 2023.
