With just a week to go until Opening Day — enter party emoji here — FanGraphs’ positional rankings have offered a respite while waiting for spring training to just get over already.
There have already been some highs for the Braves, ranking first at first base behind Freddie Freeman, first at second, fueled by Ozzie Albies and second in left field with Marcell Ozuna, while they’re floundering third base — where Atlanta comes 25th, likely their worst at any position. It all got The Starting Nine thinking. These are a glimpse into the projection-based forecasts the three-time defending National League East champions, but you can find a cause for concern and a reason for optimism at each position the Braves try to make it a 16th division title since the 1994 realignment.