BRAVES’ BID FOR A 4TH STRAIGHT CROWN WILL BE TESTED BY GAUNTLET

In predicted order of finish

1 ATLANTA BRAVES

O/U WINS: 91.5

PLAYER WHO’LL NEED TO STEP UP: Drew Smyly. The Braves gave the veteran lefty $11 million based on what they saw in seven 2020 appearances, five of them starts; he pitched poorly in 2019 and not at all in 2017 or 2018. Atlanta owns a pretty strong track record on gambits like this (see: d’Arnaud, Travis).

NAME YOU’LL GET TO KNOW: Cristian Pache draws this spot for the second straight year because he still owns rookie status even after playing regularly in the NL Championship Series. While the removal of the designated hitter intensifies the competition for reps in this lineup, he should get his share.

BIGGEST QUESTION MARK: Is Austin Riley the long-term answer at third base? About to turn 24, he hasn’t displayed tremendous proficiency with either the bat or the glove. On a roster sure of full things, the 41st-overall pick of the 2015 draft stands out as a curiosity or even a concern. HOW IT’LL GO DOWN: Fool me three times, shame on ... everyone? These guys never start the year as the favorites to win this division, and now they’re going for their fourth straight crown. They have created the sort of culture that sustains success. There’s no reason to think that’ll suddenly vanish.

PROJECTED LINEUP

RF Ronald Acuna Jr. 2B Ozzie Albies 1B Freddie Freeman LF Marcell Ozuna C Travis d’Arnaud SS Dansby Swanson 3B Austin Riley CF Cristian Pache

ROTATION

LHP Max Fried RHP Charlie Morton RHP Ian Anderson LHP Drew Smyly RHP Bryse Wilson

KEY PLAYER: Freddie Freeman. It would seem impolite to not grant this designation to the reigning NL Most Valuable Player. Throw in the fact that the lifelong Braves star can be a free agent after this season — he’s largely expected to stay put — and this low-key stud will occupy more attention than usual.