Countdown to Opening Day: #11 Atlanta Braves

By Andrew Marcus
Sportswriter for Lansdale Reporter

Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515

#11 Atlanta Braves: All eyes on the Upton brothers

PROJECTED LINEUP
RF Jason Heyward
SS Andrelton Simmons
1B Freddie Freeman
LF Justin Upton
C Evan Gattis
CF BJ Upton
2B Dan Uggla
3B Chris Johnson

PROJECTED ROTATION
Mike Minor
Julio Teheran
Ervin Santana
Brandon Beachy
Alex Wood

PROJECTED BULLPEN

Closer: Craig Kimbrel

Set-up: Jordan Walden

Top Prospect: Christian Bethancourt (C)

It fell in line perfectly with the unfortunate news, but I always planned on writing about the Braves in this position. And with the Ervin Santana signing I still see them at No. 11.
With Kris Medlen sprinting off the spring training field the other day it looks almost certain that the Braves need to select a new opening day starter. Luckily Mike Minor and Julio Teheran are both good replacements and the late signing of Santana gives the still a strong shot to contend in the National League. Well worth the draft pick.

Craig Kimbrel

The pitching is going to be fine. With a back-end like hard throwing Craig Kimbrel, David Carpenter, and Jordan Walden the Braves should be able to shorten games. It is hitters coming off a down year that will make the difference between a deep post-season run or not.
You first have to look directly at the Upton brothers. Justin and BJ were suppose to feed off each and lead Atlanta to the promise lead. Instead two men paid over 27 million this year failed to flourish in their new digs. BJ Upton it .184 for the season and Justin jacked a mere 15 homers after hitting 12 in April.
The Braves will also benefit from a rebound year out of Dan Uggla and new locked up youngsters Jason Heyward and Andrelton Simmons taking their skill set to the next level. The Braves could be the best team in baseball and have an MVP type in Freddie Freeman or injuries could catch up quickly and send them to the middle of the pack. But they head up North from Orlando to Atlanta with enough talent to contend.

CALL ME MR. SUNSHINE - Losing Kris Medlen was a blow, I expect him not to make much of a

Freddie Freeman

contribution this season, but as the Braves always find a way to do, they stay competitive. In fact Ervin Santana takes to the National League quite well and with two of the top pitchers in the league, Teheran from the right and Minor from the left side, the Braves get to Kimbrel's lights out stuff in the ninth inning on the regular. Freddie Freeman continues to put up all-star numbers, but it Justin Upton who finally puts it all together and wins MVP.

REAL TALK - Not every player is going to make the all-star team and Uggla and Upton cannot be as bad as last season. There you find a middle ground where the Braves are almost a surefire playoff team and will battle the Nationals for a division title until the very end.

Breakout: Julio Teheran (RHP)

Bust: Evan Gattis (C)

Fantasy Baseball Sleeper: Ervin Santana (RHP)

LAST YEAR'S RECORD: 96-66 (1st in NL East)


PROJECTED 2013 FINISH: 88-74 (2nd in NL East) 

**Check back tomorrow for the Baltimore Orioles*