Our MLB 2015 Predictions Simulation From MLB 15: The Show

Atlanta Braves

The NL East is home to a great deal of excellent pitchers, and even the division-worst Braves do well to keep that going. Mike Minor, Alex Wood, Shelby Miller and Julio Teheran all pitched to ERA’s below 3.50, with Minor reaching a very low 2.37 over the 2015 MLB season. The team was a strikeout factory, as well, with each of those aforementioned pitchers striking out batters at least 150 times over the year. Their collective WHIP stood at roughly 1.19, as well, while team home runs against were overall low. The Braves showed one of the best pitching staffs, outside of a lowly Craig Kimbrel who had an ERA above 4 and a WHIP above 1.5. How bizarre!

Just like the Mets, the Braves could look to cool bats to explain their standing. Freddie Freeman was the biggest exception, though, as he walked 91 times to boost his team-leading .794 OPS, while bashing a 2nd-best 15 HR’s for his club. When Nick Markakis is your offensive bastion, you know your team is in trouble. His 19 swats, 71 RBI, .720 OPS and 65 walks over 59 strikeouts are nice, but hardly “offensive leader of a team” worthy. Runs came few and far between, overall. Just like explanations to move the team away from downtown Atlanta, I am lost and disappointed.

Next: NL Central St. Louis Cardinals