Bleacher Report’s Braves Opening Day Lineup Projection Is Disgusting

The Atlanta Braves have a lot of work to do this offseason.

The rotation is littered with holes with Max Fried and Charlie Morton testing free agency, while Spencer Strider is not expected to be ready for Opening Day after undergoing internal brace surgery for a torn UCL in April. At least one starting pitcher must be added this winter, possibly even multiple.

The bullpen also needs some work. It was announced not long ago that Joe Jimenez will miss most of the 2025 season, if not all of it, after undergoing knee surgery. That’s a massive blow to the unit, especially when considering A.J. Minter, Jesse Chavez, and Luke Jackson are all now free agents as well.

However, the Braves biggest issue in 2024 had nothing to do with its pitching staff, which was arguably the best in baseball. The offense was dreadful. A lot of that had to do with injuries, but this is still a lineup that can stand to upgrade in several areas, most notably in the outfield and at shortstop.

Yet, Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report doesn’t see the Braves doing much about it this offseason. In his recent Opening Day lineup projections, he has things looking much like they did at the end of last season in Atlanta.

Projected Starting Lineup

CF Michael Harris III
2B Ozzie Albies
3B Austin Riley
DH Marcell Ozuna
1B Matt Olson
RF Ramón Laureano
C Sean Murphy
LF Jarred Kelenic
SS Orlando Arcia
SP Chris Sale

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Notes

-With Jorge Soler sent to the Los Angeles Angels in the first notable trade of the offseason, the Braves seem poised to roll with Ramón Laureano and Jarred Kelenic at the corner outfield spots once again until Ronald Acuña Jr. is ready to return to action.

-Incumbent shortstop Orlando Arcia is owed just $2 million in 2025 and a $1 million buyout on a $2 million club option in 2026, so if the Braves decide to pursue an upgrade, his contract status will not stand in the way.

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You won’t get any objections from me when it comes to Orlando Arcia. As much as the Braves would love to upgrade shortstop, paying Willy Adames $150+ million doesn’t seem like smart business. Most likely, Alex Anthopoulos will roll with Arcia and his $2 million contract for a third consecutive season in hopes he experiences some positive regression.

However, if the Braves don’t spend big dollars on a shortstop, there’s absolutely no way they can sit on their hands and ignore the outfield. Jarred Kelenic was essentially benched at the end of last season. There’s hope that his best baseball is ahead of him, but penciling him as a starter for Opening Day next year is asinine.

The same can be said for Ramon Laureano. As much good as he did for the Braves in the second half of last season, there’s a reason he was designated for assignment by the Guardians. He is not an everyday starting outfielder long-term, and I don’t even find it likely that the Braves tender him a contract. Both positions must be upgraded this offseason, and it shouldn’t be that difficult to accomplish.

Frankly, this is a pretty lazy Opening Day roster prediction for the Braves. I’ll eat five cans of Dollar Store escargot live on my YouTube channel if the Braves Opening Day lineup features both Jarred Kelenic and Ramon Laureano.

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Photographer: Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire