Good morning. This is Leadoff, the early buzz in Atlanta sports.
Yesterday, we told you where FanGraphs ranks the Braves among the 30 MLB teams at each of eight positions. Now, the baseball statistics/analytics website has added its ranking of MLB pitching rotations.
The Braves' starting rotation ranks 27th in the majors, according to FanGraphs, despite the off-season additions of veterans Bartolo Colon, R.A. Dickey and Jaime Garcia on one-year commitments totaling $32.5 million.
FanGraphs says “there’s some drop-off baked into the projection” for Colon at age 44 (on May 24) and says the Braves “would love to get at least 30 starts from Dickey, almost regardless of result … as long as it’s south of a 5.00 ERA.” As for Garcia: “He has never pitched 200-plus innings and he has just two seasons of at least 30 starts, but if they can get 20-25 starts of his career levels (3.57 ERA, 1.28 WHIP), that’d be a win.”
And about the two other members of the Braves’ season-opening rotation: No. 1 starter Julio Teheran “might have another level” at age 26, and Mike Foltynewicz “showed some real promise” last year.
The rotation rankings also underscore that the Braves are going to face a lot of stellar pitching in the NL East. The Mets and Nationals are ranked Nos. 2 and 3, respectively, among the 30 teams in starting pitching, behind only the Dodgers. The Phillies’ rotation also is ranked in the top half of the majors at No. 14.
You can find the full rankings of pitching rotations here and here.
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Let's continue with the rankings theme. ESPN's voting panel of more than 80 writers, editors and TV personalities is out with its post-free agency NFL power rankings.
The Falcons remain No. 2, behind only New England.
“The Falcons have been fairly quiet this offseason, but the signing of Dontari Poe should prove to be a big boost to the defense in 2017,” according to the ESPN.com article. “The Falcons allowed 4.5 yards per rush between the tackles last season, fifth-worst in the NFL, and saw an NFL-worst 46 percent of their sacks come from one player. Poe should help both fronts.”
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And the Hawks, not surprisingly, have fallen sharply in various NBA power rankings. A seven-game losing streak will have that effect.
ESPN.com has the Hawks No. 20 this week. Sports Illustrated has them No 17. And NBC Sports pegs them No. 18.
