Things feel a little tense in Atlanta right now, with Opening Day just a few days away. The Atlanta Braves look great on paper and are definitely a real contender out of the NL East.
However, after the injury of a year last season, the nerves are still there. And as we roll into late March, the question marks are piling up like pollen on a windshield.
Braves Rotation Depth Is Already Being Tested
Let’s start with the rotation. Spencer Strider is returning soon, but Max Fried and Charlie Morton are obviously on different teams. That’s two massive gaps in the starting five.
The Braves need Chris Sale and Reynaldo Lopez to be rock-solid, but we know the deal with those two — talent, yes, but durability? That’s another story. Sure, Strider will be back, and Spencer Schwellenbach looks like a star in the making. Then, Atlanta isn’t worried about Sale, but they need Lopez to perform. His ERA looks good, but where did his fastball go?
The guy was a breakout star last year — 1.99 ERA, 148 Ks, pure dominance. But spring training has delivered a little too much reality. The ERA is still nice and tidy at 2.08, but let’s not get fooled by surface stats. Five strikeouts in 13 innings? That’s not missing bats. That’s letting contact happen — and not the good kind.
The velocity dip is especially concerning, down more than two ticks from last year’s average. If Lopez starts trending the wrong way, that rotation depth could become downright shaky.
Outfield Uncertainty Adds Another Layer
The Braves also have an outfield depth situation that feels incomplete. Verdugo was a solid pickup, but Kelenic and De La Cruz are trying to prove they’re not just placeholders. Both are capable of getting on streaks but are also prone to cold spells.
Jurickson Profar looks like a great signing but has already had an injury scare. The outfield depth chart could be tested early in the season. The potential is there, and Kelenic has had a decent spring. But you never know what will happen when the games start to count.
Catching Situation Quietly Heating Up
Sean Murphy has proven the tools are there. His defense is solid, and he has shown what his bat can do in the past. Injuries have been the recurring theme, though, followed by performance struggles. He’s working his way back from a cracked rib, and in the meantime, all eyes are on Drake Baldwin, the Braves’ top prospect. Murphy told reporters that, “he’s still the same guy.” Time will tell. The skills are there, but he has to execute.
Baldwin’s strong spring and solid rapport with the pitching staff have turned heads, and Murphy’s got to know the clock is ticking. Nobody’s writing him off — not with his talent — but time doesn’t stop for anyone in this game. If Baldwin thrives early, that long-term baton pass could happen faster than expected.
Braves Bullpen Gets a Familiar Boost
On the bullpen side, Jesse Chavez always seems to pop up when the Braves need a jolt. At 41 years old, he’s basically the bullpen’s version of a security blanket. Sign him, stash him, then call him when things go sideways.
Another familiar face joins him in Craig Kimbrel — and while both vets are expected to start the year in Triple-A, don’t be surprised when one (or both) are back in Atlanta before you can say bullpen depth.
So yeah, vibes are mixed — and that’s okay. This is a loaded roster with a lot of upside, but Atlanta’s walking a tightrope. There’s little margin for error between health questions, unproven depth, and some shaky spring signals. But hey, that’s baseball in March. The real ride starts soon.
