ATLANTA BRAVES GAMEDAY ATLANTA BRAVES GAMEDAY3 4

The story of the last two Braves teams

have been well-documented. The 2018

club, coming off three consecutive 90-loss

seasons, had too much unproven talent in the

eyes of many national pundits. Ninety wins

and a National League East title later, those

same pundits thought Atlanta’s success was

unsustainable, with a roster that was bound

to show its youth. Ninety-seven more wins.

Another division title – and one that was not

in doubt over the season’s final three months.

Suddenly, the young talent, some of the most

dynamic in the game, became supplemented

with a who’s who of veteran All-Stars. There

is no one the Braves will sneak up on in 2020.

But in a division featuring the reigning World

Series Champions and three other clubs

who aggressively enhanced their rosters

this winter, these Braves will encounter their

toughest challenge yet.

The oft-said phrase “if it ain’t broke,

don’t fix it” could certainly apply to the

NATIONAL REVIVALBRAVES FACE STERN CHALLENGE IN COMPETITIVE N.L. EAST

BY MATT GRILLI

ATLANTA BRAVES GAMEDAY 65 ATLANTA BRAVES GAMEDAY

Washington Nationals, who won a dramatic

Wild Card Game last year and carried that

magic throughout October to capture the

franchise’s first World Series. Stephen

Strasburg, the former No. 1 overall pick who

delivered two electrifying performances in

the Fall Classic to win World Series MVP,

re-signed for one of the most lucrative

contracts by a pitcher in baseball history.

Also reupping with the Nationals were five

other key pieces from their championship

team, including playoff hero Howie Kendrick

and franchise icon Ryan Zimmerman. Even

though Washington

lost their middle-of-

the-order slugger

Anthony Rendon in

free agency, they

supplanted him with

a pair of All-Stars

– infielder Starlin

Castro and right-

handed reliever

Will Harris. Still, the

roster opens the

season with a look

largely similar to the

one that won 86 of

its final 129 games

last season.

If the Nationals

were baseball’s

hottest team to

close 2019, the Mets

were not far behind.

After falling to a

season-low 11 games under .500 on July 12,

New York ripped off wins in 46 of their final

71 games, narrowly missing the playoffs.

The Mets, like the Nationals, are led by a

dominant rotation. They added length to that

starting staff by signing former Cy Young

winner Rick Porcello and All-Star Michael

Wacha. While both pitchers may be past their

prime, they are established veterans capable

of giving New York innings in the rotation

or out of the bullpen. The depth additions

paid early dividends for new skipper Luis

Rojas, when it was revealed in late March

that flame-throwing

right-hander Noah

Syndergaard was

lost for the season

after undergoing

“Tommy John”

surgery.

While the Mets

bullpen struggled

last season, posting

one of the worst

ERAs in the National

League, the signing

of four-time All-Star

Dellin Betances

from the crosstown

Yankees fortifies a

‘pen that includes

strong bounce-back

candidates Edwin

Díaz and Jeurys

Familia. Augmenting

the pitching is

ATLANTA BRAVES GAMEDAY ATLANTA BRAVES GAMEDAY7 8

a group of position players headlined by

emerging superstars Pete Alonso and Amed

Rosario. The Mets are poised to challenge

for their third division crown since the turn of

the century.

Even though neither the Phillies or Marlins

finished above .500 last season, both stand

to improve. Philadelphia, one year after

signing Bryce Harper to the largest free agent

contract in baseball history, added Smyrna,

Ga. native Zack Wheeler to the rotation

and shortstop Didi Gregorius. Philadelphia

will also see right-hander Jake Arrieta and

outfielder Andrew McCutchen return from

season-ending surgeries. The Phillies most

valuable offseason addition, however, might

have come in the dugout, hiring World Series-

winning skipper Joe Girardi, who tries to lead

Philadelphia back to the postseason for the

first time since 2011.

Yes, even the 57-win Marlins from a year

ago look capable on paper. CEO Derek Jeter

strengthened an offense that finished with

a majors-worst .375 slugging percentage

last season. Adding veterans Jesús Aguilar,

Corey Dickerson and Jonathan Villar, as well

as former Braves Francisco Cervelli and

Matt Joyce, to a youthful core should give

Miami’s offense more life and make the club

more competitive.

As the Braves embark on a quest for a third

consecutive division title, the additions by the

four other teams should make the N.L. East

the most competitive division in baseball,

providing for a riveting season.

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As the Braves embark on a

quest for a third consecutive

division title, the additions by

the four other teams should

make the N.L. East the most

competitive division in baseball,

providing for a riveting season.

ATLANTA BRAVES GAMEDAY 109 ATLANTA BRAVES GAMEDAY

SPOT THE DIFFERENCESPOT THE DIFFERENCESPOT THE DIFFERENCEFIND THE 5 DIFFERENCES IN THE PHOTO

K D F Y R X C Q U H H E V H G X N N E Y O P U A T N A L T A J S U O D G Y G P T C Z F G Q X H G C M Z I G D J K E O K V G Z A Y K A B F N T V B R D N Y I W G J L I O G A G A T G O J N O K O T E D R Z R S H T X H U X O L X J B C G Q E E D A U E P R D O B A A W U B A B J P E B R A V O S C L G A M U S R P P H B K E B K H L L C N V A A N A G G E N J M Z L A T W F G D Y V B V O Z Y S W W M Z U B F Z G K X Q I I U G U C H T V R U V D P Y Q A H A N G G

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ATLANTA BRAVES GAMEDAY 12

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ATLANTA BRAVES GAMEDAY 14

MAKE YOUR OWN JERSEYMAKE YOUR OWN JERSEYMAKE YOUR OWN JERSEY

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ATLANTA BRAVES GAMEDAY 16

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NOTES

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BASEBALLSUDOKU

how to play:Each row, column, and 3x3 box must contain a position from pitcher to right �eld.

hint:Each position on a baseball �eld corresponds to a number from 1 to 9

ANSWER KEY:

BASEBALLSUDOKU

how to play:Each row, column, and 3x3 box must contain a position from pitcher to right �eld.

hint:Each position on a baseball �eld corresponds to a number from 1 to 9