I think this upcoming team has a chance to win 107+.
We are favored to win the NL East and have the best record in the NL per BetMGM.
We are favored to win the most games in the Major Leagues per Fangraphs.
But that's not enough for this fan.
10 thoughts about the lineup:
1. Ronald Acuna will be have a monstrous bounce back year and avoid injury.
2. Austin Riley has another incredible 6 WAR season.
3. Matt Olson has his best year as a Brave. Another 6 WAR contributor with 40 bombs.
4. Sean Murphy hits .250+ with 20 bombs and puts up a 4 WAR season in a dazzling debut behind the plate in Atlanta.
5. Ozzie Albies plays 155+ games.
6. Michael Harris proves last season was no fluke as he posts another 5 WAR campaign.
7. Marcell Ozuna re-focuses and puts together his best season since he was in St. Louis.
8. Orlando Arcia has a career year at shorstop.
9. Travis d'Arnaud and Eddie Rosario are positive contributors.
10. The lineup scores more runs than any Atlanta Braves team since 2003.
10 thoughts about the pitching:
1. Soroka bounces back and secures a spot in the rotation and produces like a number 3.
2. Fried is Fried.
3. Strider leads MLB in strikeouts and wins 20 games.
4. Kyle Wright wins 20 games. Again.
5. Morton shows no signs of his age and throws another 170 innings.
6. Jimenez is dominant in what proves to be the game's best bullpen.
7. McHugh continues his good work.
8. Yates pitches 50 innings.
9. Minter stays very good.
10. Raisel Iglesias notches 50 saves.
The bottom line: You are looking at a team that can have the best lineup, the best starting rotation, and the best bullpen in the entire Major Leagues.
A team this good may be unprecedented in Atlanta sports history. In the history of the Southland.
Enjoy the ride.
Hitting
1. Check. Acuna has been as advertised. A brilliant player.
2. Miss. Riley has posted a very good 4.6 WAR, however.
3. Check. Olson has 6.1 WAR and has not only hit 40 bombs- he's hit 50 bombs.
4. Check. Murphy has exceeded my expectations and sits at 4.3 WAR.
5. Miss. Albies will end up only playing 145- games.
6. Miss. Harris will end up at 4 WAR instead of 5.
7. Check. Ozuna has been fantastic.
8. Check. Arcia was an All-Star and has been great, despite being one of our worst two hitters.
9. Half-check. d'Arnaud appears on the decline but Rosario has been a positive contributor with 1.3 WAR.
10. Check. The lineup is incredible.
Pitching
1. Miss. Yikes.
2. Check. Fried is Fried.
3. TBD. We are 2 games away from Strider getting win number 20.
4. Miss. Yikes.
5. TBD. Morton sits at 162 innings pitched.
6. Miss. Jimenez has been solid and the Braves bullpen is good, but I don't think it's the game's best.
7. Miss. McHugh's been pedestrian at best.
8. Check. 57 innings.
9. Check. Minter's been good.
10. Miss. Raisel has 29 saves and has been good, but we weren't in enough close games for 50.
Hitting: 6.5/10
Pitching: 3/8 with 2 pending.
Overall: 9.5/18 with 2 pending.
52.7% hits with 2 pending.
Considering the best minds in the world in Las Vegas rarely hit 55% winning percentages, I feel like I did a good job.
On a macro level, everything about this team was pretty much correct.
We need a strong finish to get to 105/106 wins.