Atlanta Braves: Five Reasons They Can Be Surprise Contenders

Apr 16, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves center fielder Ender Inciarte (11) celebrates after he hit a solo home run as San Diego Padres catcher Hector Sanchez (44) is shown on the play in the seventh inning of their game at SunTrust Park. The Braves won 9-2. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /

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Apr 16, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Bartolo Colon (40) delivers a pitch to a San Diego Padres batter in the second inning of their game at SunTrust Park. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /

Help the Elderly

R.A. Dickey and Bartolo Colon may not be considered elderly they are two forty year old pitchers who are expected to help anchor the Braves pitching staff for the time being. Both pitchers have looked good in the early going but are going to need run support at this point in their careers.

Colon and Dickey are much the same pitcher in some ways two aging pitchers who rely on weak contact and fooling hitters with movement. They are both going to give the Braves a lot of innings if they stay healthy but they are also the type of pitchers who are going to need three or more runs of support per night.

If the Braves are going to compete they are going to have to give Colon and Dickey support and begin to play better defense behind them. Colon is more than capable of keeping his team in games late and will likely need less support than Dickey but both players are going to need 3-5 runs of support per start if the Braves want to win the majority of both player’s starts.

Dickey and Colon are both expected to finish the season as a part of the Braves rotation if the Braves remain in contention.

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