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Atlanta Braves vs. the NL East in 2017: Washington Nationals.

By Alan Carpenter

Oct 13, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer (31) prepares to pitch during the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during game five of the 2016 NLDS playoff baseball game at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 13, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer (31) prepares to pitch during the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during game five of the 2016 NLDS playoff baseball game at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 21, 2015; San Felipe, BC, Mexico; The sun rises over the Sea of Cortez on the second day of the 48th SCORE Baja 1000. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2015; San Felipe, BC, Mexico; The sun rises over the Sea of Cortez on the second day of the 48th SCORE Baja 1000. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /

The Braves have gone in perhaps a surprising direction for 2017, but one that should win some games.  But what has the rest of their division done?

Admit it:  when the off-season began, you weren’t thinking about R.A. Dickey or Bartolo Colon for the majoe additions of the Atlanta Braves, right?

Well, after a full season rotating youngsters in and out, it became clear that pitching wasn’t stable enough to give the offense much of a chance, so for 2017 the team has demoted/traded/dumped… pretty much everyone (in fact, TalkingChop beat me to this same point this morning) and instead brought in vets with a reputation for innings

None of these new arrivals will remind you of Maddux, Glavine, or Smoltz, but the idea will be to save the bullpen and keep the damage under control… which might be all they need if the late Summer’s offensive burst mode can be repeated.

So what are the 2017 Atlanta Braves up against?  What have their rivals done to improve?

Let’s take a look this week – beginning with the Washington Nationals.

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