House That Hank Built
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Atlanta Braves added two new pitchers, now need two bats

By Fred Owens

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 17: Charlie Morton #50 of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts to walking Martin Maldonado #15 of the Houston Astros during the sixth inning in Game Seven of the American League Championship Series at PETCO Park on October 17, 2020 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 17: Charlie Morton #50 of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts to walking Martin Maldonado #15 of the Houston Astros during the sixth inning in Game Seven of the American League Championship Series at PETCO Park on October 17, 2020 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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Atlanta Braves Mike Soroka
Injured Atlanta Braves’ pitcher Mike Soroka returns to a new look rotation in 2021. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /

The Atlanta Braves need to strengthen their lineup to support their upgraded pitching staff over a 162 game season.

Atlanta Braves fans know the story of the 2020 lineup that refused to lose even with key components slumping and having only one dependable starter for the first half of the season.

The team survived and won, in part, because the rest of the division wasn’t competitive. When the Marlins returned to action after their mass quarantine event, manager Don Mattingly had never met 18 of the 30 players on his roster but ended up as the second-best team in the NL East.

Regional play and the short schedule also helped Atlanta Braves; the club’s 60 games included 26 against AL teams, but the Braves weren’t forced into long, cross country road trips or to play at elevation.

Without taking anything away from the effort they demonstrated to win, the 2020 game plan won’t work for a 162 game marathon.

Atlanta Braves 2021 rotation set

The recent additions of Drew Smyly and Charlie Morton provide experienced innings to a Braves rotation led by Max Fried, followed by the unshakable Ian Anderson, Kyle Wright (hopefully pitching the way he did to end September), and eventually Mike Soroka.

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Huascar Ynoa and Bryse Wilson wait in the wings, while bounce-back candidates Touki Toussaint,  Patrick Weigel, and Tucker Davidson lurk just behind, hoping for a chance to show they are finally ready.

The bullpen looks pretty left-handed, with Chris Martin, Josh Tomlin and either Wilson or Jacob Webb are the only righties guaranteed a spot, while lefties Will Smith, Tyler Matzek, A.J. Minter, Sean Newcomb fill out the seven spots.  I say seven because the team has six starters, and the roster is limited to 13 pitchers.

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