As good as the Atlanta Braves are, they couldn’t absorb all the injuries they suffered last year.
They lost slugging outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. to a torn left ACL last May 26, six weeks after star pitcher Spencer Strider had his right ulnar collateral ligament surgically repaired.
While their streak of six consecutive NL East titles ended, manager Brian Snitker said he was equally as proud of last year’s team to finish 89-73, tie for second place in the division and make the playoffs.
They were eliminated by the San Diego Padres.
Strider and Acuña aren’t expected to be ready for opening day. The hard-throwing Strider could be back from his right elbow injury in April; indeed, in his first Grapefruit League appearance on Tuesday, he struck out six of the eight batters he faced — including five consecutively — over 2 2/3 perfect innings against the Boston Red Sox.
Atlanta’s top offseason addition, Jurickson Profar, sustained a bone bruise in his left wrist during spring training, leaving his status for the start of the season uncertain.
When everyone is finally healthy, the Braves will field a powerful lineup and a solid rotation and bullpen.
Their top hitters will feature Acuña Jr. (.250, 4 HRs, 15 RBIs, 16 SBs in 49 games), first baseman Matt Olson (.247, 29, 98, .790 OPS), designated hitter Marcell Ozuna (.302, 39, 104, .925 OPS), third baseman Austin Riley (.256, 19, 56, .783 OPS in 110 games) and second baseman Ozzie Albies (.251, 10, 53 in 99 games).
Their projected rotation looks like this: LH Chris Sale (18-3, 2.38 ERA, 225 Ks, Cy Young Award), RH Reynaldo López (8-5, 1.99), RH Spencer Schwellenbach (8-7, 3.35), RH Grant Holmes (2-1, 3.56 in 21 games, 7 starts), RH Ian Anderson (1-1, 1.13 in 3 games), RH Spencer Strider (0-0, 7.00 in 2 games; 20-5, 3.86, MLB-high 281 Ks in 2023).
Atlanta Braves’ Matt Olson (28) hits an RBI-double against the Los Angeles Dodgers inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)AP
RH Raisel Iglesias (6-2, 1.95 ERA, 34/38 saves) is the closer, with the bullpen supplemented by RH Daysbel Hernández (3-0, 2.50), RH Pierce Johnson (6-6, 3.67, 2 saves), LH Dylan Lee (4-2, 2.11) and LH Aaron Bummer (4-3, 3.58).
Atlanta will open its regular season on the road, with four games in San Diego from March 27-30 and then three in Los Angeles on March 31 through April 2.
The home opener will be Friday, April 4, vs. the Miami Marlins. Gametime will be 7:15 p.m. EST.
Tickets for that opening game at Truist Park are going fast.
Here are the sites where you can purchase tickets and the lowest price you can grab as of 12:30 p.m. EDT on March 24.
StubHub: as low as $39Viagogo: as low as $40Seat Geek: as low as $45Vivid Seats: as low as $44
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