Atlanta Braves Daily Fantasy Team Preview 2017

2016 Recap & 2017 Outlook

Atlanta will try and get out of the NL East basement this season, as they open up the beginning of an era in their new ballpark, SunTrust Park. Atlanta was 28th in runs per game last season, scoring a shade over four per game. Atlanta made some offseason moves, but not moves you would envision a team trying to rebuild. Bartolo Colon and R.A. Dickey, are both north of 40 years old, while Jaime Garcia could be a nice addition if he stays healthy. The bat they brought in this season is Brandon Phillips. Once again, someone on the tail end of their career. I do expect an improvement from last season on the offensive side, while the pitching is still likely to remain in the bottom ten.

Offseason Moves

Additions: Brandon Phillips, Bartolo Colon, R.A. Dickey, Jaime Garcia

Subtractions:

Park Factors

With a new field in Atlanta, it is supposed to play more neutral. This bodes well for power hitters, while pitchers might not enjoy it as much as they did in previous years. SunTrust Field is a little bit smaller down the right field line, and out in right-center. Freddie Freeman should enjoy this. However, the fences are raised out in right, so getting loft will be key to homers. We will have to see how the new ballpark plays out.

Projected Lineup

2016 Statistics Used

Projected Rotation

Pitching Outlook & Notes

DFS Rotation Grade: D

DFS Studs:

Atlanta went out and added Bartolo Colon and R.A. Dickey this offseason. Why? I don't know. Dickey is coming off his worse season in Toronto, and is 42 years old, which is 27 in knuckleball years. The one thing Dickey is going for him this year, is getting out of the AL East, and out of the Rogers Centre, where he has a career 4.29 ERA. Dickey will toss a few random good games this season, but for the most part will be someone overlooked in the fantasy world. Colon on the other hand is staying within the same division. Colon will turn 44 this season, and continues to boast somewhat serviceable numbers. The strikeout department is long gone on Colon, as he was never really a strikeout pitcher anyway. Colon will throw a few more solid outings than Dickey, and while he did throw 19 quality starts, which was the same as Masahiro Tanaka and Chris Archer, his upside isn't there.

Jaime Garcia was healthy last season, and pitched his worst season in quite some time. Moving to Atlanta gives him a few more opportunities to get into more pitcher parks, as well as see bottom offenses in the division. Garcia has a solid groundball rate, but had a 1.45 HR/9 against right-handed bats last season, who also had a 33% hardball rate off him. Mike Foltynewicz is someone I have more interest in, given he possesses a bit more strikeout upside, with his fastball. Foltynewicz was able to cut his walk rate down, and raised his groundball rate a bit. He still is going to have rough outings, and if he can improve against left-handed bats, he will garnish some tournament interest on some nights.

The Braves ace is by no question, Julio Teheran, but his status among other aces is pretty far off. Teheran had a 3.93 SIERA and a 4.13 xFIP last season, which makes sense given he had a .260 BABIP. It is hard to see him post a near three ERA, but he has done it before despite poor ERA estimators. There is no doubt that Teheran is solid against right-handed bats, allowing a career .255 wOBA, with a 25% strikeout rate. He struggles a bit more against lefties, and also a bit more outside of Atlanta. Teheran is a guy to fire away with against bottom tier opponents, and right-handed heavy lineups.

Lineup Outlook & Notes

DFS Stacking Grade: C-

DFS Studs: Freddie Freeman

Freddie Freeman was never known for a being a power hitting first baseman, yet went off for a career best 34 home runs, and also hit .302. The lineup around him actually isn't that bad, with a power bat behind him, but also a couple of good on-base guys in front. 25 HR and 90 runs and RBI a piece are reasonable projections this season. Freeman never really gets the love he deserves in the daily world, but this could be the year he finally does. Matt Kemp is the other slugger in this lineup, who hit 12 home runs in 56 games with Atlanta. He had 35 on the season, which is his most since 2011. Kemp is certainly a guy to look at for power, especially against left-handers. He boasted a .306 ISO against them last season.

The rest of this lineup is filled with low power guys, who result in decent OBPs. Nick Markakis had a .346 OBP last season, and hit 13 home runs. He actually drove in 89 RBI, both numbers I do believe he will struggle to get to this year. Ender Inciarte had a .351 IBP, and has a little bit more SB upside than Markakis does. As far individual plays, they don't offer much in the daily world, and are more stacking partners with the two sluggers.

We have another young shortstop on the horizon, and this time it is Dansby Swanson. We are probably a year away from any sort real breakthrough on the offensive end, so he is still below guys like Francisco Lindor, and others. Swanson might have some value if he is hitting up top before Freeman.