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NATIONAL REVIVAL BRAVES FACE STERN CHALLENGE IN COMPETITIVE N.L. EAST BY MATT GRILLI The story of the last two Braves teams Suddenly, the young talent, some of the most have been well-documented. The 2018 dynamic in the game, became supplemented club, coming off three consecutive 90-loss with a who’s who of veteran All-Stars. There seasons, had too much unproven talent in the is no one the Braves will sneak up on in 2020. eyes of many national pundits. Ninety wins But in a division featuring the reigning World and a National League East title later, those Series Champions and three other clubs same pundits thought Atlanta’s success was who aggressively enhanced their rosters unsustainable, with a roster that was bound this winter, these Braves will encounter their to show its youth. Ninety-seven more wins. toughest challenge yet. Another division title – and one that was not The oft-said phrase “if it ain’t broke, in doubt over the season’s final three months. don’t fix it” could certainly apply to the ATLANTA BRAVES GAMEDAY 3 ATLANTA BRAVES GAMEDAY 4 Washington Nationals, who won a dramatic season-low 11 games under .500 on July 12, Wild Card Game last year and carried that New York ripped off wins in 46 of their final magic throughout October to capture the 71 games, narrowly missing the playoffs. franchise’s first World Series. Stephen The Mets, like the Nationals, are led by a Strasburg, the former No. 1 overall pick who dominant rotation. They added length to that delivered two electrifying performances in starting staff by signing former Cy Young the Fall Classic to win World Series MVP, winner Rick Porcello and All-Star Michael re-signed for one of the most lucrative Wacha.
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