Marcell Ozuna, Ronald Acuna Jr., Atlanta Braves. (Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports)
Walker Buehler will have to pick his poison against this Atlanta Braves’ lineup
The Atlanta Braves will be throwing hitter after hitter with their loaded lineup on Monday night.
For the first time since 2001, Atlanta will be playing in the NLCS. Even though they are the No. 2 seed in the NL this postseason, the Braves will have to go up against the top-seeded Los Angeles Dodgers, who have a World Series championship or bust mentality in 2020. However, the Dodgers ace Buehler will have a tough time pitching around this Game 1 lineup from Atlanta.
Which Braves hitter will give Walker Buehler the most trouble in Game 1?
Atlanta Braves’ 2020 NLCS Game 1 lineup
This is the ideal starting lineup for Braves skipper Brian Snitker. Centerfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. is the most intimidating leadoff hitter in the game today because he’s a 40-40 threat in a 162-game season. First baseman Freddie Freeman will be named NL MVP in due time, as he hits in the No. 2 hole. National League home run and RBI leader Marcell Ozuna bats third as the designated hitter.
The best offensive player in the Braves’ three-game sweep of the Miami Marlins in the NLDS bats cleanup in catcher Travis d’Arnaud. A healthy switch-hitter bats fifth in second baseman Ozzie Albies. In the midst of his breakout season, Dansby Swanson brings clutch hitting and power from the shortstop position while batting sixth. Adam Duvall provides raw power hitting at No. 7.
One of the best pure hitters in baseball for the last decade and a half comes in batting eighth and playing Gold Glove defense in right field in Nick Markakis. Bringing a ton of right-handed power and excellent glove work at third base is Austin Riley hitting in the No. 9 hole. And to make things even more challenging for Buehler, he goes up against the Braves’ left-handed ace Max Fried.
Though we have seen great pitching temporarily slow down this Braves’ offense in the postseason, Atlanta has won all five of its games in October. They swept the Cincinnati Reds at home in the best-of-three NL Wild Card series and then swept the Marlins out of the NLDS in a neutral-site affair at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas. Buehler has his work cut out for him.
Will Atlanta be able to do damage offensively in the NLCS, or will Choketober rear its ugly head?