While the Dodgers’ star-studded lineup is well-acknowledged and considered as the best team in MLB this year, who are the next to them? Is it the Yankees? The Phillies? No, it’s the Braves! That’s what the MLB insider, Ken Rosenthal, thinks. Indeed, the Braves are underrated and do not get enough attention as the Dodgers, but that doesn’t make them any less. While most bets are on the Dodgers, it would not be surprising if the Braves get into a stealth mode. So, what makes them the top challenger to the Dodgers? What would be the Dodgers’ deterrence against the Braves? 

This year, the Braves are getting Ronald Acuna Jr. back after his second ACL injury. Also, Austin Riley’s right-hand fracture is now recovered. Moreover, Chris Sale said that his back spasms, which prevented him from making the team last year, have completely healed. The Braves signed Jurickson Profar, who was named an All-Star the previous season, to play left field. Thus, with these All-Stars in their lineup, the Braves are extremely talented. According to FanGraphs, they will finish 93-69 with a 90% chance of going to the postseason. The second-best figure after the Dodgers.

This has even made Rosenthal bet on the Braves to get better of the Dodgers. “This is a formidable team that I don’t believe we’ve talked about enough,” Rosenthal said in the Foul Territory podcast. In the majority of cases, the Dodgers and Yankees attract the most limelight, where the talented lineup of the Braves gets overlooked. Well, that’s good for them to stay away from the limelight and creep to win another ring this year. Only the formidable starting rotation of the Dodgers can act as a deterrence in fending off the Braves.

Can Dodgers’ starting rotation work against the Braves?

The much-hyped 6-man pitching rotation of the Dodgers is something the other 29 teams lack. Among them are Clayton Kershaw, Dustin May, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Shohei Ohtani. While Ohtani is still not pitching, he will be back on the mound by May. Thus, another weapon in the Dodgers’ stable. Moreover, Ohtani and Yamamoto, the Dodgers’ premier two pitchers are projected to have 150+ strikeouts this season. In addition, Glasnow received the 2024 All-Star award, and Snell won the 2023 Cy Young Award. With this lineup, nothing comes close to them.

Another area where the Dodgers are ahead of the Braves and others is their lineup option. Well, as per the updated two-way player rule of the MLB, Ohtani will not be counted among the team’s 13 pitchers because he is a two-way player. He can still pitch even not getting into the 13-man rotation. Thus, the Dodgers can have eight players in the bullpen without sacrificing their starting rotation by starting Ohtani in the sixth rotation. While they are technically playing with 13 pitchers like others, Ohtani is coming as an extra 14th pitcher. 

The Braves are going to pose a good challenge to the Dodgers this year. While the Dodgers are still ahead of them on paper, a competitive game is all that the fans can expect from them.

Do you think the Braves can become the biggest threat to the Dodgers? Share your views with us below.