April 12, 2021
680 THE FAN, ATLANTA – One of the takeaways from the 2020 Atlanta Braves season was that the Braves, for one season, joined the modern analytics baseball lineup. With the rule changes of 2020 including the universal DH, the Braves altered their lineup to get their best hitters the most at bats during the 60-game season. With the DH now out of the National League for 2021, the optimum Braves lineup will change from the one they used last season. But many of the aspects of the analytics lineup can still be used for the Braves in 2021.

Old School Baseball Lineup 1. Fastest man bats first (Dansby Swanson)

New School Baseball Lineup 1. On base percentage (OBP) and ability to take the extra base is valued. (Ronald Acuna)

Old School Baseball Lineup 2. Consistent contact hitter, bunter bats here. (Ozzie Albies)

New School Baseball Lineup 2. Best overall hitter bats here. (Freddie Freeman)

Old School Baseball Lineup 3. Best overall hitter bats here. (Freddie Freeman)

New School Baseball Lineup 3. Quality hitter with power bats here. Weighted runs created plus (wRC+) important here. (Marcell Ozuna)

Old School Baseball Lineup 4. Best power hitter bats here. (Ronald Acuna)

New School Baseball Lineup 4. Slugging Percentage leader, best SLG% available hits here. (Travis d’Arnaud)

Old School Baseball Lineup 5. RBI run producer bats here. (Marcell Ozuna)

New School Baseball Lineup 5. Slugging percentage and wRC+ huge here, another dynamic athlete who is one of the best hitters on the team bats here. (Ozzie Albies)

Old School Baseball Lineup 6. Best remaining hitter who can produce runs. (Travis d’Arnaud)

New School Baseball Lineup 6. Good hitter with high on base percentage (OBP) who can run. (Dansby Swanson)

The modern baseball lineup was on display last season for the Braves. We’ll see what the 2021 version looks like as the organization has become very comfortable with mixing both new and old school approaches.