$Predicting Atlanta Braves\' 2016 Opening Day Lineup$

Predicting Atlanta Braves' 2016 Opening Day Lineup

By Bryan Zarpentine

Heading into 2016, the Atlanta Braves know their chances of competing in the NL East are slim, as the team is very much in a rebuilding stage. But the Braves do appear to have some offensive potential on their roster, even if it includes a slew of unproven players. If Atlanta has any chance to surprise some people this year, they’ll need to score a lot of runs. Here is a look at what the Braves’ lineup may look like in 2016, at least on opening day.

$Predicting Atlanta Braves\' 2016 Opening Day Lineup$

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Ender Inciarte, Center Field — Inciarte was the spark plug at the top of Arizona's high-scoring lineup last year, and the Braves are hoping he can do the same for them this year. His on-base percentage isn't necessarily ideal for the leadoff spot, but Inciarte is the best option the Braves have for that spot right now.

Hector Olivera, Left Field — Olivera has just 79 big league at bats under his belt, but he can hit, and the Braves will throw him right into the fire in the No. 2 spot. How he'll handle playing left field is another matter, but Atlanta is hoping that he can prove he's ready to play every day in the majors from an offensive standpoint so they don't have to play veterans Michael Bourn or Kelly Johnson in left field.

Freddie Freeman, First Base — Freeman is the one player in the lineup the Braves aren't worried about. He's one of the best hitters in baseball and a perfect fit for the No. 3 spot. Atlanta just needs to get more help around him.

Adonis Garcia, Third Base — Garcia, like Olivera, is a young player with little big league experience but someone who can be a difference maker for the Braves. He's shown plenty of power during his brief big league career, so the Braves are going to put him in the cleanup spot and hope everything clicks.

Nick Markakis, Right Field — The Braves can put Markakis just about anywhere in the lineup and get production from him. They will start him off in the middle of the order in hopes that he can become a run producer, but he'll move around to a variety of spots over the course of the season.

Erick Aybar, Shortstop — Aybar is a candidate to hit leadoff if Inciarte doesn't work out, but he's not an ideal choice, so he'll bat down in the order to start the season. Aybar is merely a placeholder for the Braves at this point in their re-building process, but Atlanta hopes he can provide a spark for them offensively and perhaps make himself a viable trade chip later in the season.

A.J. Pierzynski, Catcher — Pierzynski is back for one last season in the big leagues after he hit .300 for the Braves last season. There's reason to be skeptical about the veteran's ability to replicate his production from last season, but if he proves he can, Pierzynski could warrant a higher place in the lineup if the Braves want to shake things up later in the season.

Jace Peterson, Second Base — Peterson was an everyday player last season, but he didn't produce much offensively. If the Braves can keep him hitting in the No. 8 spot all season, they'll live with it, but he's not necessarily someone who can be relied upon to be a run producer.

Julio Teheran, Pitcher — The Braves don't have a particularly impressive rotation, but Teheran is the closest thing they have to an ace. He had a mediocre season in 2015, at least compared to what he did in previous years. At 25, Teheran is more than capable of bouncing back and looking the part of a frontline starter, and the Braves are going to need him to do just that in 2016.

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