The Atlanta Braves are looking for some better vibes right now.

They won yesterday’s matchup with the Pittsburgh Pirates to avoid a sweep, fueled by another dominant start from Chris Sale in a month of May that’s been full of them, but the win was overshadowed by the season-ending ACL injury suffered by star Ronald Acuña Jr. 

Atlanta kicks off the first post-Acuña series of the season with the divisional-rival Washington Nationals in town for the first matchup between the two teams of the 2024 season. The Braves are sending veteran Charlie Morton (3-1, 3.35) to the mound against breakout lefty Mitchell Parker (3-2, 3.32). 

Here’s how Atlanta will line up for the contest:

2B Ozzie Albies
3B Austin Riley
DH Marcell Ozuna
1B Matt Olson
C Sean Murphy
RF Adam Duvall
CF Michael Harris II
SS Orlando Arcia
LF Jarred Kelenic

We don’t normally point out minor lineup changes for the Braves, as they’re known for keeping virtually the same lineup almost every day, but there’s enough here where it’s worth mentioning. Both third baseman Austin Riley (intercostal) and Sean Murphy (oblique) return to the lineup, Riley after missing thirteen games and Murphy after missing forty-nine. Second baseman Ozzie Albies moves up to the leadoff spot in the absence of Acuña – it’s likely that Michael Harris II could be the everyday leadoff man, but Ozzie draws the job with a lefty on the mound for Washington.

Morton’s been his usually steady self this season, albeit with some isolated rougher outings than we’re used to seeing from the veteran. He’s not very familiar with this Nationals squad, though – his only start against them last season came at the very end of the year, one in which he left the game after just one inning with the sprained finger that ended up knocking him out of the rotation for Atlanta’s NLDS loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.   

Here’s the Nationals lineup:

SS CJ Abrams
RF Lane Thomas
2B Luis García Jr.
LF Eddie Rosario
C Keibert Ruiz
DH Jesse Winker
3B Nick Senzel
1B Joey Gallo
CF Jacob Young

The Braves have never faced the lefty Parker, but they’re not as uncomfortable as many teams are when facing a lefty starter. The Braves are 11-5 against lefty starters this season, including 10-2 in their last twelve games. Atlanta’s batting .264 with twenty-four homers in sixteen games started by opposing lefties. 

This afternoon’s series opener is scheduled for a 4:10 PM ET first pitch. It’s being broadcast on Bally Sports Southeast and MASN2, with those out-of-market having the game on MLB.tv. 

If you’d rather just listen, the Nationals radio broadcast is available on 106.7 The Fan and DC 87.7 while the Atlanta Braves Radio Network has the standard broadcast on 680 AM/93.7 FM The Fan and affiliates across Braves Country. Both teams have Spanish language broadcasts today, with Atlanta’s on La Mejor 1600/1460/1130 AM and Washington’s on La Pantera 100.7 FM/1220 AM. 

The 2024 off-season has a chance to be a transformational one for the Atlanta Falcons. With the departure of Arthur Smith, the Raheem Morris era of the Falcons makes its beginning and it has gotten off to an explosive start.

With the overhaul of the roster, building this team in the image of the three-headed monster of Morris, defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake and offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, Atlanta has come out of the first wave of the off-season as the betting favorites to win the NFC South, according to DraftKings Sportsbooks.

Before the off-season started, the Falcons had five questions looming that they needed to answer for it to be called a success. We look into whether or not these five looming questions have been answered.

1) Did you upgrade at Quarterback?

Answer: Yes, maybe too much…?

At the end of 2023, 30 quarterbacks had 320+ quarterback plays, according to rbsdm.com. Desmond Ridder ended the year 24th in the league in adjusted EPA/play. The quarterbacks worse than him?

• Washington’s Sam Howell
• Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett
• Minnesota’s Josh Dobbs
• New England’s Mac Jones
• Carolina’s Bryce Young and
• New York’s Zach Wilson

The only player out of that list still on their 2023 team is Young, and that’s because the Panthers invested a first-overall pick on him. The Falcons had to upgrade at quarterback…even if they did it questionably.

Atlanta did everything in their power to secure Minnesota quarterback Kirk Cousins, including giving him a four-year, $180 million contract with $100 million guaranteed, but the Falcons weren’t done there.

With Cousins coming off a season-ending Achilles injury and backup Taylor Heinicke not giving much confidence in his abilities in his play last year, Atlanta took quarterback Michael Penix, Jr. with the eighth overall selection in this year’s draft.

Was it overkill? Could be. But if this goes as the Falcons believe, Atlanta is set at the quarterback for at least the next half-decade to a decade.

2) Did you address the pass-rush?

Answer: Unconventionally, but yes.

Over the past decade-plus, the Falcons’ pass rush has been virtually non-existent. How much? Since 2014, only 41 teams have had less than 30 sacks throughout an NFL season. The Atlanta Falcons are the owners of six of those teams. The next team on the list is Oakland/Las Vegas, with three seasons.

The Falcons pass-rush needed help, even if they did get over the 40-sack mark for the first time since 2004 last season. So, did they? The answer is yes, but unconventionally, the word of the year for the Falcons’ approach to team-building.

With the Falcons selecting Penix at eight, they forwent the opportunity to add a potential premium pass-rusher in the draft, and they didn’t add a pass-rusher at all in free agency. And after losing roughly 13 of those sacks in the losses of Calais Campbell and Bud Dupree, there had to be some sort of answer.

Their answer was to add more to the defensive line rotation with not one, not two, but three draft picks spent on the interior of the defensive line. The player with the most upside? The long, athletic Ruke Orhorhoro. The player with the most potential to have an immediate impact? The versatile, powerful Brandon Dorlus. Then, there’s the massive mountain of a man in Zion Logue, who could find a role as a nose tackle.

The Falcons also added one of the potential steals of the draft in Bralen Trice to add to the edge rush rotation, but this off-season showed that they are taking a large bet on those on this roster taking massive steps into their development. 2022 second-round edge rusher Arnold Ebiketie is the top returning sack-getter with 6.0 from last season. If Ebiketie can reach/get close to that double-digit sack total, the Falcons could get to and beyond that 40-sack mark.

Is 40 sacks a low bar? Absolutely, but we have to start somewhere.

3) Who is playing cornerback on the other side of A.J. Terrell?

Answer: Work in progress…

Speaking of bets that this year’s team is making on last year, the Falcons seemingly refused to address the CB2 position. A.J. Terrell is in a contract year and has been teetering between elite and good status since his breakout 2021 season. He’s talented and worthy of that extension, but he and safety Jessie Bates III can’t do everything.

Atlanta made a few signings, adding Antonio Hamilton, Sr., Kevin King and Anthony Johnson to the roster throughout free agency. However, the second cornerback position is up for grabs for most of the cornerback room.

Mike Hughes and Clark Phillips III both have claims to the position as Phillips played admirably in his opportunities last season, while Hughes showed flashes of solid play the last time he was a full-time starter on the outside in 2021, as a Kansas City Chief.

Filling out that other spot is still a work in progress, but they have at least tried to address the situation. How well did they? That remains to be seen.

4) Did Drake London get some help in the wide receiver room?

Answer: Absolutely

Drake London led all Falcons receivers with 905 yards receiving last season. The next wide receiver? Mack Hollins with 251. London hasn’t needed help like this since 1666, and it came in droves this off-season.

Atlanta brought in former Chicago Bears receiver Darnell Mooney in the first wave of free agency, then found a way to pull off the rare player-for-player trade as they acquired receiver/offensive weapon Rondale Moore for quarterback Desmond Ridder, both of which needed a fresh start.

Even with these additions, the Falcons weren’t finished. They drafted Illinois’ outside ball-winner Casey Washington in the sixth round as another potential draft steal.

It was clear that the word of the off-season for the receiver room was speed, and they added plenty of it. With this overhaul, London got plenty of help, and this offense got a much-needed face-lift that could help them compete for a playoff spot in 2024.

5) Did they do enough to overtake the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the NFC South?

Answer: On paper? Yes

Quarterback Baker Mayfield was overlooked as a signing to the Bucs last season as they were seen as a rebuilding roster in the wake of Tom Brady’s departure. Instead, Tampa Bay won nine games, including five of their final six, to take the NFC South for a third consecutive year.

After outfitting this roster with offensive weapons galore, the Falcons got rid of Smith to get the modern-day mold of a contender: A Shanahan/McVay-type offense and a quarters-heavy, bend-but-don’t-break defense. Was that enough to overtake them for the division? On paper, yes.

Games aren’t played on paper. The Bucs retained a large part of their core, including Mayfield, star wide receiver Mike Evans and star safety Antoine Winfield, Jr., making them as formidable as they were last season. If the Falcons’ plan goes as planned, it won’t matter. Atlanta will have too much talent for Tampa Bay to overcome.

SOUTH FULTON, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Those who loved 23-year-old Briana Winston gathered at Trammell Crow Park on Sunday to reflect on her life.

“She was very independent. She had a vision of what she wanted her life to be and she just kept pushing,” said Diana Moore, her godmother.

Clayton County police said the 23-year old mom of one was killed in March during an argument with her boyfriend Michale Edwards. Family said he had them fooled.

“He was quiet, he seemed to be caring, he was very adoring of his daughter, and Briana as well. So, it was extremely shocking,” said Moore.

Boyfriend of missing Clayton County mother charged with murder, accused of setting body on fire

Investigators said Edwards allegedly choked her to death, then – along with an accomplice – placed her body in a suitcase, drove to Tennessee and set the suitcase on fire. On top of all that, police believe his wife, brother and mother were all in on it.

“I was enraged. I didn’t understand. A lot of unanswered questions – why?” said Kendrick Langford, Briana’s uncle.

“I talked to Briana on March 16. She asked to come over to the house, and she decided to go to her best friend’s house instead. And the last thing I said to her was, ‘Be safe. Thank you for letting me know,’” said Moore.

For a moment, Briana’s family wanted to put the disturbing details aside, and remember how she lived, not how she died.

Police provide updates after boyfriend charged in Clayton County mother’s death

“What happened to her, it should have never happened,” said Grace Jamison, a friend.

They said one way to remember Briana is to hold your loved ones a little closer.

“Celebrate life, enjoy life. Go out and give somebody a hug that you know. Call somebody you haven’t talked to in a long time, tell them you love them,” said Langford.

Memorial service details are still in the planning stages.

MORE COVERAGE:

Suspect’s family helps cover up woman’s murder, Clayton County police say

Copyright 2024 WANF. All rights reserved.