Starting Pitchers
- Dallas Keuchel
- Mike Foltynewicz
- Mike Soroka
- Max Fried
I’ve had Julio Teheran on my roster in all three previous versions of this and even alluded to him as a lock. However, Tuesday night in Kansas City did change my mind. He hasn’t looked like the same guy this month who toed the rubber from May through August. Perhaps it is fatigue from the lengthy season, or maybe he has lost confidence. Either way, it is challenging to pinpoint a role that he fits on the playoff roster. It is difficult to justify him making a start in October after what we have seen of late, and the Braves have better options in long relief. Teheran deserves as much credit as anybody for Atlanta’s success this season, but I do not see him as one of the best 25-men to fill this roster any longer.
I also changed my order for the pitchers in the NLDS. I have Keuchel going Game 1, the red-hot Mike Foltynewicz pitching in the second home game, and then Mike Soroka pitching the third game on the road. Soroka is 7-1 with a 1.35 in 15 starts away from home this season – that is tough to ignore. The fourth spot is up in the air. Snitker could go with Fried but will probably play the wait-and-see approach. If Keuchel or Foltynewicz do not make it deep into their respective games; they could also be used as the Game 4 starter. Fried might also come out of the pen, especially early in the series.
Bullpen
- Mark Melancon
- Shane Greene
- Chris Martin
- Sean Newcomb
- Luke Jackson
- Jerry Blevins
- Darren O’Day
I didn’t change anything with this group. The only thing worth questioning here is how many arms the Braves will keep in their bullpen. I could see them adding either Teheran or Josh Tomlin to this group as a potential long-relief man. Although, I think Sean Newcomb and Max Fried could handle that situation fine if it were to arise.
Infield
- Freddie Freeman
- Ozzie Albies
- Josh Donaldson
- Dansby Swanson
- Adeiny Hechavarria
This is the same five as last time as well. Swanson finally broke out of his slump with a career-high four hits against the Royals. Hopefully, that continues this weekend against the Mets. He will be the starter in the NLDS. And for those of you hoping Johan Camargo might be ready for the opening round, do not count on it. According to Brian Snitker, he’s nowhere near ready to come back from his fractured shin.
Catchers
- Brian McCann
- Tyler Flowers
- Francisco Cervelli
I think you could see all three of these guys starting games in the postseason. I give B-Mac and Flowers the edge because their experience with the pitching staff, but it is hard to ignore Cervelli’s performance since Atlanta picked him up. He’s slashing .333/.419/.815 with the Braves. Although the sample size is minuscule (11 games, 31 plate appearances).
Outfield
- Ronald Acuña Jr.
- Nick Markakis
- Matt Joyce
- Adam Duvall
- Austin Riley
- Ender Inciarte
Same five as last time, but I added a familiar name. Inciarte is supposed to return to the lineup this weekend against the Mets, and as long as he proves he’s healthy, I think the Braves will sneak him on the roster, especially since Acuña is out for the remainder of the regular season with a groin strain, and nobody else can man center field. I think the first four on this list are locks, but if the Braves opt to ride with 12 pitchers instead of 11, Inciarte or Riley will be left off.