Predicting the Atlanta Braves Opening Day lineup
Atlanta Braves Opening Day lineup: Bounce-back candidates in No. 4-6
Pick Analysis. DH. Atlanta Braves. Marcell Ozuna. 4. player. Scouting Report. 17
Many Braves fans spent a good portion of the offseason hoping that there was a way to get Marcell Ozuna off the roster after a combination of poor off-field choices and immense underperformance made his 2022 a tough pill to swallow.
Perhaps feeling the pressure from the organization and the fans, though, Ozuna showed positive signs this spring. The veteran had an .854 OPS with only one home run but eight RBI and six doubles over only 54 at-bats, a sign that he might have righted the ship. I expect Brian Snitker to give him an opportunity early to prove he belongs as the clean-up hitter and primary DH.
player. Michael Harris II. 5. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. CF. Atlanta Braves. 17
It’s time for the Michael Harris II encore after the young outfielder edged out teammate Spencer Strider for NL Rookie of the Year in the 2022 campaign. Harris continued to look like a burgeoning superstar in Atlanta throughout the spring, flashing the leather in centerfield but also posting a .900 OPS with two homers, two triples and two doubles, nine RBI, and two stolen bases despite only having 48 at-bats. That combination of speed and pop in the 5-hole should continue to be a lethal recipe for the Braves in the lineup.
Atlanta Braves. player. 17. 6. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 2B. Ozzie Albies
This is going to be a big year for Ozzie Albies as he looks to bounce-back from an injury-plagued 2022 season that limited the electric second baseman to only 64 games played. What’s worse is that Albies never got into a rhythm either as he slashed just .247/.294/.409 when healthy.
But the positive signs for Albies in the 2023 campaign were there throughout the spring as well, posting an OPS of .989 with four home runs to his credit, second on the team only to Olson. If the switch-hitting infielder showed that largely hitting at No. 6 in the lineup in the spring, there’s no reason to mess with what was working.