At the start of the MLB betting season, every team starts at 0-0 and feels that they have a shot to be the World Series Champions by the time it all comes to an end. The reality is that not everyone really believes they have a shot, and a few teams may well even be out of it by the time May draws to a close. If you cast a realistic eye over the NL East, you can see that the fortunes of a pair of teams, the Atlanta Braves and the Miami Marlins, may be about to be reversed.
Closer Look at the Preseason MLB Betting Preview on Atlanta vs Miami & Game Info
Date: Tuesday, April 07, 2015 Time: 7:10PM Venue: Marlins Park Opening Line: Miami -123#Marlins players share their thoughts on the meaning and importance of Opening Day. http://t.co/xQEDN8Msg6 pic.twitter.com/U4S7MqyBnL
— FOX Sports Florida (@SunSportsFOXFL) April 6, 2015
It has been an off-season of change for the Atlanta Braves, who have cleaned house and brought in a whole slew of new players. What makes this re-tooling all the more eye opening is who the Braves shipped out, with almost all of their power hitters (Heyward, Gattis, Upton, etc.) sent off in favor of a bunch of bit players. Sure, there are situations where a hodgepodge of these types of guys come together to create a memorable season, but even the most optimistic Braves fans feel as though they are going to be in for a long, trying season. While the NL East may not be as strong this season as it has been in recent years, the general consensus is that Atlanta will be in a battle to avoid finishing bottom.
The Miami Marlins have been the laughing stock of the league for a few years now, with that gaudy new stadium just one small part of the comedy. That may be set to change this year, though, as the Marlins, who have been stockpiling young pitching talent for a while now, shipped off a few young prospects in an effort to improve their outfield. Martin Prado and Dee Gordon should certainly help their cause, and they will have a pretty solid starting rotation that many people believe will have them chasing the Washington National in the search for an NL East division title. A good way for the Marlins to show their intent for the season would be to get off to a winning start versus a team that they have routinely struggled against in recent years.
