5 Reasons to Be Optimistic for Atlanta Braves' 2015 Season

We are now less than a week away from Opening Day, when the Atlanta Braves will take on the Miami Marlins. 

The start of the season is a great time, as every fan can feel good about his or her favorite team. 

While the Braves traded several fan favorites in the offseason, there is still talent on the roster to get excited about. Despite the offseason overhaul, the Braves will begin the season 0-0—just like the favorites to win the division, the Washington Nationals. 

Baseball is just around the corner, and that should pump every baseball fan up.

If you aren't already, here's a look at five reasons to be excited about the Atlanta Braves in 2015.

1. Starting Rotation

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The Braves have a young starting rotation that should keep them in just about every game this season.

It starts at the top with returning ace Julio Teheran. The 24-year-old is coming off back-to-back 14-win seasons in which he also posted an ERA below 3.50 (2.89 in 2014).

He'll be followed by Alex Wood and Shelby Miller, with Miller being extremely impressive this spring. After a rocky first start, the right-hander has allowed just three earned runs over 18 innings while striking out 13 batters and issuing just five walks.

They will be followed by two of Wandy Rodriguez, Eric Stults and Mike Foltynewicz. While Rodriguez and Stults have been effective this spring, Foltynewicz brings loads of strikeout potential with his cannon arm.

The Braves have three solid choices here and will only get better when Mike Minor returns from injury.

The Braves finished fifth in the MLB in starters' ERA in 2014, and I'd expect them to be in that range again in 2015.

2. Craig Kimbrel

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While the final bullpen slots are still to be determined, the Braves should once again have one of the top units in the National League.

That all starts with one of the best closers in the game in Craig Kimbrel.

You could make an argument that he had a down year in 2014 after he posted a 1.61 ERA and 47 saves. That's just how dominant he's been since becoming Atlanta's full-time closer in 2011; he's saved over 40 games and kept his ERA under 2.20 in those four seasons. Meanwhile, his lowest strikeout-per-nine inning ratio was an absurd 13.2.

Kimbrel has simply been dominant since becoming a Brave, which gives the team hope of having another strong bullpen in 2015.

3. Put It in Play

Carlos Osorio/Associated Press

The Braves traded away a lot of talent this offseason in Jason Heyward, Justin Upton and Evan Gattis. However, they also traded away a ton of strikeouts.

Atlanta will replace them with guys like Nick Markakis, A.J. Pierzynski, Jace Peterson and Eric Young Jr., among others. While there is less home run potential among that group, they will put the ball in play and put pressure on the opposing defense.

Only three teams struck out more than the Braves in 2014, and only one team (Nationals) among the top 10 leaders in strikeouts made the playoffs. That stat emphasizes the importance of putting the ball in play, and I think Braves fans would agree the major rally-killer on offense in 2014 was the strikeout.

The 2014 Braves offense was pitiful, so this makeshift lineup could actually prove to be an upgrade.

4. Youth Movement

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The young prospects always intrigue me as a fan, as there's always potential that one will become the next big superstar.

Fans will get to see a lot of young players in action this year as they will hopefully develop into solid contributors for this season and the foreseeable future.

Christian Bethancourt and Jace Peterson will get most of the early looks, as they are both projected starters. Bethancourt has been one of the top catching prospects in the game over the past few seasons, and he's had a promising spring as the full-time starter (.303 average, .779 OPS).

Mike Foltynewicz has the chance to make the Opening Day roster coming out of camp, but the powerful arm will be with the Braves at some point in 2015. His ceiling could make him a front-end starter due to his strikeout potential.

It may not be until this summer, or possibly September, but the top prospect in the organization, Jose Peraza, should make his debut with the team in 2015.

Young guys can bring a new spark to the clubhouse and fanbase, and the Braves have some good ones to pay attention to in 2015.

5. Freddie Freeman

Carlos Osorio/Associated Press

Freddie Freeman is just a really good baseball player, and he's one of the top first baseman in the game today. The 25-year-old can hit for power and average to all parts of the field and can really catch it at first base.

Freeman suffered somewhat of a down season in 2014, but much of that can be attributed to guys not getting on in front of him. His RBI total dipped down to 78 after driving in 109 runs the previous season. He should actually get more RBI opportunities this season with more guys reaching base before he steps to the plate.

Getting protection behind him from Jonny Gomes and Chris Johnson will be a big key for Freeman if he's to have an All-Star season.

It'll be interesting to see how Freeman's numbers look with this team around him as compared to the 2014 team. In either case, you can expect another outstanding season at the plate from Freeman in 2015.