Because of what’s happened with injuries to the Braves pitching staff in each of the last two postseasons, many expected the club to make a splash and sign one of the top free agent starting pitchers on the market. But we are now six weeks into the offseason, many of the top names are already off the board, and the rotation remains in the same spot that it ended last season. Perhaps Alex Anthpoulos still has a move up his sleeve, but the payroll is already much higher than it has ever been heading into Opening Day and trades are much easier said than done.
It’s very possible what you see is what you get, and the Braves go into next season with their current group. That’s not what fans want to hear, but FanGraphs doesn’t see it as something that should hinder them too much in 2024. As things stand right now, they currently project Atlanta to have the second-best rotation, fourth-best bullpen, and second-best pitching staff overall.
The only negative part is the team in front of them happens to be their division rival and the club that’s knocked them out of the playoffs the last two years. According to FanGraphs WAR projections, the Phillies not only have the best starting rotation currently but the best bullpen as well.
Of course, none of this is set in stone. There are still a ton of offseason moves to be made that could put other clubs in a better position heading into next season. But even if you go off this past season’s results, FanGraphs 2024 projections for the Braves pitching staff would have ranked fifth in 2023 at 19.4, right behind the Minnesota Twins. The Braves pitching situation isn’t nearly as dire as some make it out to be.
Could they use another frontline arm? Absolutely. Could things begin to look bleak if one of their top three starters gets injured? Of course. But that’s the case for every team in baseball. Nobody can just afford to lose a top starting pitcher and not suffer the consequences. There aren’t teams around the league stockpiling aces. Every club has 1-3 guys that can be relied upon on the biggest stages and are hoping for others to step up if/when the time comes.
The Braves didn’t get bounced in the NLDS because of their pitching. They got eliminated because their historic offense didn’t show up when it mattered. If that happens again in 2024, you can bet it will be another early exit, whether the Braves add another starting pitcher or not.
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