Braves: 3 reasons fans should panic, 3 reasons they shouldn’t

The Atlanta Braves have had a slow start in their World Series championship defense.

As the 2022 MLB season is approaching its third month of action, people are wondering what is up with the defending World Series champion Atlanta Braves.

Though it has not been all bad for this team, Atlanta finds itself 18-21 through it first 39 games of the year. That has the Braves tied for second in the National League East with the Philadelphia Phillies, as well as 7.5 games back of the division-leading New York Mets. Repeating as World Series champions was always going to be difficult, but should Braves Country be panicking now?

Here are three reasons to work yourself into a frenzy, as well as three reasons to simply chill out.

Atlanta Braves 2022 season panic meter: Should fans freak out or chill out?

Freak out: There is way too much variance with this group defensively

There are a few things that will keep a team out of postseason contention. While a leaky bullpen is the absolute worst predicament a team can suffer, being a liability defensively might be a close second. Atlanta does have several guys scattered around the diamond who can really flash the leather. The problem is they have been consistently inconsistent in that regard this MLB season.

While Dansby Swanson has been sensational at shortstop, Austin Riley has had some glove issues since becoming a dad. Though Travis d’Arnaud can throw out base runners now, Matt Olson has had some issues of late at first base. Most importantly, this team will only be good defensively as the outfield allows it to be. It is why Ronald Acuña Jr. must be healthy and in right field every day.

Atlanta is not good enough of a team to give its competitors extra outs in games here and there.

Chill out: The starting rotation looks to be way better than last year’s group

As the Night Shift bullpen evolves, the Atlanta starting rotation is poised to be way better than it was a year ago. Though Charlie Morton has had some issues at times coming back from his broken leg, Atlanta has more often than not been able to lean on the trio of Max Fried, Ian Anderson and Kyle Wright. Fried is a known ace commodity, Anderson is rolling and Wright is vastly improved.

If the starting rotation can put forth more quality starts than not, it will give the hit-or-miss offense fewer deficits to overcome. This will also take pressure off the defense to find its footing, as well as a tired bullpen from a postseason ago from being overworked too early. Not to say this group needs to go Smoltz-Maddux-Glavine on everyone, but the Braves have a ton to work with.

Not only is the rotation pitching well, Atlanta has depth in the minors for an occasional spot start.