Countdown to Opening Day: #6 Atlanta Braves

By Andrew Marcus
Sportswriter for Lansdale Reporter

Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515

#6 Atlanta Braves: Up, Up, and a Hey

PROJECTED LINEUP
SS Andrelton Simmons
RFJason Heyward
LF Justin Upton
1B Freddie Freeman
CF BJ Upton
2B Dan Uggla
3B Juan Francisco
C Evan Gattis
P Tim Hudson

**Brian McCann out until early May

PROJECTED ROTATION
Tim Hudson
Kris Medlen
Paul Maholm
Mike Minor
Julio Teheran

BULLPEN

Closer: Craig Kimbrel

Set-up: Jordan Walden

Top Prospect: Julio Teheran (RHP)

I still shake my head in disbelief that the Atlanta Braves found a way to bring in, not only B.J. Upton this off season, but the younger and uber-talented Justin Upton in as well. The Diamondbacks had enough of his skyscraping ceiling for whatever petty reason and let him travel East rather easily.
The return of Martin Prado to the D'Backs is worth something because he can be the glue to a offense, but Justin Upton can be the  cement. If more motivation was what they thought the phenom Upton needed, well he has it competing with his brother everyday and another child-freak in Jason Heyward.
Upton, Upton and Heyward make up a trifecta in the outfield, and if they can gel, this team could go far with those three five-tool monsters in the middle of the order.
You are bringing in some heavy duty hitters into a team that won 96 games a season ago. Never thought I would say this but Washington may have the sexier names. But the Braves are just as talented. It would not surprise me one bit if they had more wins than the Nationals, and the rest of the National League for that matter.
I never like to pick a team to win it all the first season they are all together, this core group that includes Freddie Freeman and Andrelton Simmons, but they have a World Series championship in their future.

THEY CALL ME MR. SUNSHINE - There have not been this many smiles it Atlanta since 1995 when the won with ease every day the Braves had a hall-of-famer take the mound, which was 60 percent of the time. From day one these Braves smash and smash with a smile. Brothers of other mothers get in on the act and Justin Upton earns NL MVP in his first season in Atlanta while the Diamondbacks finish fourth behind the lowly Colorado Rockies.

REAL TALK - I think it will take some time for the Braves to put it all together. Some tinkering needs to be done with this pitching staff as well. The bullpen is borderlined overused over the last few seasons and the rotation is no lock to be lights out. The Braves have the feel of a streaky team - but look out when the streak is a hot one.

Breakout: Andrelton Simmons (SS)

Bust: Kris Medlen (RHP)
Fantasy Baseball Sleeper: Mike Minor (LHP)

LAST YEAR'S RECORD: 94-68 (2nd in NL East)

PROJECTED 2013 FINISH: 91-71 (2nd in NL East)

**Check back tomorrow for the Tampa Bay Rays**