There's An Easy Solution To Atlanta's Lineup Configuration For 2024

There's not much of a reason to change the lineup if you're the Atlanta Braves

The Atlanta Braves are heading to spring training with not much in the way of unknowns. 

Sure, there's questions about your backup outfielders or the configuration of the bench, but the heavy lifting on roster construction was completed months ago by president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos. 

And so most of the decisions left belong to manager Brian Snitker - setting the end of the rotation, the distribution of duties in the bullpen, and where to bat everyone in the lineup - are just about where to use specific players on a day-ro-day basis. 

And what makes the most sense for the lineup is just not changing it at all. 

Atlanta's lineup was settled in early June, when Matt Olson moved from the #2 hole down to cleanup and Ozzie Albies started taking at-bats behind Ronald Acuña Jr. 

The move was fruitful for both players, with Olson gaining 100 points in batting average (.228 to .338) and losing fourteen percent of strikeout rate (35.5% down to 21.5%) in the #4 spot. Albies, however, was one one base hit away from a .300 average behind Acuña, with a .299 average, 63 runs and 65 RBIs in only 78 games. 

No, the most likely scenario for Atlanta's Opening Day lineup is just "running it back", with minimal changes:

RF Ronald Acuña Jr
2B Ozzie Albies
3B Austin Riley
1B Matt Olson
DH Marcell Ozuna
C Sean Murphy
LF Jarred Kelenic
SS Orlando Arcia
CF Michael Harris II

This basic lineup, with Kelenic serving as the everyday left fielder in place of the platoon of Eddie Rosario (free agent) and Kevin Pillar (Chicago White Sox) tied the MLB record with 307 homers on the season, as while as finished with the highest team slugging percentage, .501, in baseball history. 

Sure there's some tweaks that could be made to optimize effectiveness - Michael Harris is too good of a hitter to stay at #9 and lose up to 100 at-bats over the course of a full season, and Albies could bat in fifth or sixth instead of second to accommodate that. 

But at the end of the day, you've got players batting where they're happiest and most productive - Harris at nine, Acuña leading off, and Olson in cleanup - and with the way Brian Sntiker's managed the club and its various personalities during his tenure, those player preferences are going to matter. 

And so when Atlanta lines up against Philadelphia on Opening Day, expect the lineup to look pretty familiar. Because if it isn't broken, don't fix it. 

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