NL East preview: Preseason look at Atlanta Braves

 TAKING A LOOK at the Atlanta Braves:

Manager: Fredi Gonzalez

Last 5 years: 2014: 79-83, second place; 2013: 96-66, first place; 2012: 94-68, second place; 2011: 89-73, second place; 2010: 91-71, second place

Additions: RF Nick Markakis, OF Jonny Gomes, RHP Shelby Miller, 2B Alberto Callaspo

Subtractions: RF Jason Heyward, C Evan Gattis, LF Justin Upton, LHP Jonny Venters, RHP Ervin Santana

What to expect: Coming off only their third losing season since 1991, the Braves will look radically different when they take the field on Opening Day 2015. Gone are three of the Braves' top four leaders in OPS, as Justin Upton was dealt to San Diego, Evan Gattis was shipped to the Astros, and former All-Star Jason Heyward was traded to St. Louis.

Two-time All-Star Freddie Freeman, with his triple-slash line (batting average/on-base percentage/slugging percentage) of .288/.386/.461 is the lone returning offensive threat for Atlanta, as Chris Johnson, B.J. Upton and fielding wizard Andrelton Simmons all posted disastrous, sub-.300 on-base percentages in 2014.

Atlanta signed both Nick Markakis and Jonny Gomes this offseason to replace Justin Upton and Heyward in the outfield. Markakis rebounded a bit in a contract year for the playoff-bound Orioles last season. He was at .276, .342, .386 after putting up .271/.329/.356 numbers in 2013.

Gomes, 34, is a part-timer in a best-case scenario for the Braves. His OPS+, which adjusts for ballpark differences, was 87 last season, ranking in the bottom 10 for corner outfielders who had at least as many plate appearances as him (321).

The pitching staff has been reloaded with youngsters after the team traded some of its veterans hitters this winter. Julio Teheran (2.89 ERA, 7.6 strikeouts per nine innings in 2014) returns as Atlanta's top starter, fresh off his first All-Star appearance in just his second full season in the bigs. At 24, Teheran is just beginning to fulfill the promise that led Baseball America to name him one of the minor's top-five prospects in both 2011 and 2012.

Shelby Miller comes to Atlanta by way of the Heyward trade with St. Louis and is in a similar position to where Teheran stood only a year ago. Miller, also a 24-year-old righthander, was twice named one of Baseball America's top-eight prospects in baseball, first in 2012 and then again in 2013. He pitched well enough in his first two full major league seasons, posting a 3.41 ERA in 62 starts over that span and he made five postseason appearances in his Cardinals career.

Four-time NL saves leader Craig Kimbrel, he of the minuscule 1.43 career ERA, is locked up through 2018 and remains the best reliever in the majors. With a one-two punch of Teheran and Miller, along with Kimbrel out of the 'pen, Atlanta should have one of the better groups of pitchers in 2015, with the potential for even better results in the years to come, depending on how much Teheran and Miller reach their ceilings.

Prediction: Despite the excitement of the Teheran/Miller duo, the Braves' offense will still struggle mightily in 2015, with their lackluster offense holding them down. Atlanta will finish in fourth place in the NL East for the first time since 2008 and will post two-consecutive losing seasons for the first time since 1989-90.

Projected lineup:

1. RF Nick Markakis

2. CF B.J. Upton

3. 1B Freddie Freeman

4. 3B Chris Johnson

5. LF Jonny Gomes

6. SS Andrelton Simmons

7. 2B Alberto Callaspo

8. C Christian Bethancourt

Projected rotation:

RHP Julio Teheran

RHP Shelby Miller

LHP Alex Wood

LHP Mike Minor

RHP Mike Foltynewicz

Top relievers:

RHP Jason Grilli

RHP Jim Johnson

CL Craig Kimbrel

Farm forecast (from Baseball America): "Outfielder Jason Heyward never signed an extension, prompting the Braves to trade him to the Cardinals in a November trade that netted power righthanders in big-leaguer Shelby Miller and prospect Tyrell Jenkins . . . While the Braves have some arms, the system appears thinner than it has in years, particularly with lefthanded pitchers as well as impact position players at the corners, an exception being 2014 first-round pick Braxton Davidson."