No. 3: Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves have been quietly improving their team this offseason. They missed out on big names they had hoped to get but still managed to acquire talent mostly through trades. Pitching has been their number one focus, and their moves this offseason show they are prioritizing pitchers who can help them finally win in the playoffs, per J.J. Cooper of Baseball America.
The Braves traded Vaughn Grissom for left-hander Chris Sale. They also traded for Ray Kerr and Aaron Bummer and signed Reynaldo Lopez through free agency. These new pitchers will join and support the Braves' biggest assets on the mound, Spencer Strider and Max Fried. If Strider and Fried continue pitching at a high level, incorporating Sale, Bummer, and Lopez in the rotation creates a well-rounded and productive pitching unit.
The Braves currently have 24 pitchers on their 40-man roster and only 11 hitters, and while the starting lineup is stacked, they don't have good backup options for the field. Nevertheless, we can't gloss over how stacked their starting lineup is with players like Ronald Acuña Jr., the reigning NL MVP, Ozzie Albies, Austin Riley, and Matt Olson at the top of the lineup. With the additions to the rotation, the Braves are in a better position this year, barring injuries.
The Atlanta Braves believe their new pitching talent will be the difference maker in the playoffs this year. I don't think the crowd at The Bank cares who's on the mound, but will the third time be the charm for the Braves?