Braves have eyes on the prize after just missing out in 2020

Published Mar. 17, 2021 2:41 p.m. ET

Associated Press

ATLANTA (AP) — After coming up one win short of the World Series, the Atlanta Braves have only one goal in mind for 2021.

Winning it all.

The Braves finally won a postseason series — two of them, in fact — for the first time since 2001, and they had Los Angeles on the ropes with a 3-1 lead in the NL Championship Series.

Alas,

For the Braves, the agonizing finish to the pandemic-shortened season merely fueled their determination to win Atlanta's first Series title since 1995.

The front office did its part to get over the hump,

“Are we in a competitive championship window?” general manager Alex Anthopoulos said. “Sure, there's no doubt about it.”

Some things to watch from the Braves in 2021:

POWER PUNCH

Atlanta has one of the most dynamic 1-2 hitting punches in the big leagues with Freeman and Ozuma.

ACES WILD

The Braves have three potential aces — none older than 27 years old. Max Fried followed up a 17-win season in 2019 by going 7-0 with a 2.25 ERA. He finished fifth in the NL Cy Young balloting.

NEW LOOK

The starting rotation was extremely thin last season, so the Braves made an aggressive push to add more depth. Postseason stalwart

ROOKIES TO WATCH

impressed last season after a late-season call-up, starting six games in the NLCS. Even though he's got scant experience above Double-A, the Braves are confident that the 22-year-old is ready for the big leagues. He certainly showed off his enticing talents against the Dodgers with a second-deck homer and an above-the-wall catch. Pache is battling for the starting job against former All-Star Ender Inciarte, who has been

FANS IN THE STANDS

The Braves are planning to allow 33% capacity — about 13,500 fans per game — at Truist Park to start the season. Team officials will review the seating plan after each homestand and make adjustments as needed to ensure fan safety. No fans were allowed in MLB stadium during the 2020 regular season because of the pandemic, though hundreds of Braves’ backers gathered on a lawn outside their ballpark to watch the Braves' playoff run on a giant video board. Matzek looks forward to having them closer to the action in 2021. “We have great fans,” the reliever said. “I can’t wait for them to be in the stadium with us this year.”

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