Atlanta Braves

While the Atlanta Braves got off to a sizzling 5-0 start, they have since cooled and now sit under .500 at 14-17. It's been disappointing for the Braves to have fallen under .500 so quickly after that great start.

However, this is about what we expected in 2015.

While the record may not show it, there are signs of the Braves' improvement as a team. If not for some recent bullpen struggles, that record would be significantly better.

The Atlanta Braves spent a great deal of the offseason overhauling the roster to change their style of play, find some leadership and build toward the future.

The new roster got the Braves off to a hot start in 2015 but has since cooled to around the .500 mark.

Playing .500 baseball is likely the ceiling for this 2015 team, but with some luck and elevated play, it could push for a wild-card spot.

This will depend on many factors, with one of those being the play and leadership of their offseason acquisitions.

The Atlanta Braves have jumped out to a surprising 8-4 start in what is being considered a rebuilding season.

The Braves altered the makeup of their roster in the offseason to focus on restocking the farm system to build toward the future.

Time will tell whether or not the trades work out for the Braves.

However, there is no denying that John Hart seriously upgraded the minor league talent in the Braves farm system.

The Atlanta Braves are one of baseball's biggest surprises as they've jumped out to a 6-1 start.

While it's still very early, it is hard not to be impressed by the team's performance to date.

The Braves have beaten up the Marlins and Mets, two teams that were hot picks to challenge the Washington Nationals in the division and earn wild card berths.

The Atlanta Braves weren't very good at scoring runs in 2014. They averaged only 3.54 runs per game, which was the second-fewest in MLB and the organization's worst offensive showing since 1988.

The early parts of spring training have given us a glimpse as to what the roster may look like come Opening Day.

It's an important spring for a number of guys, given the large amount of turnover the Atlanta Braves had this offseason.

Spring training offers the chance for guys to win starting positions. This looks to be the case at second base, left field, two starting rotation spots and a number of bullpen spots.

We'll be able to get a glimpse of what the 2015 Atlanta Braves will look like when their spring training games begin on Wednesday. 

There are still lots of questions to be answered this spring training. Who wins the second base job? Who platoons with Jonny Gomes in left field? How does the bullpen shake out? Who is the fifth starter in the rotation?

Pitchers and catchers have reported for the Atlanta Braves, with the first full-team workout scheduled for Thursday.

The Braves have a lot of new faces in camp after trading away some serious talent in the offseason.

The 2015 Opening Day roster for the Atlanta Braves will look much different than the 2014 Opening Day roster.

That roster included Jason Heyward, Justin Upton, Evan Gattis and Ervin Santana, among others. 

Those players were a key part of the Braves' 2014 season but will not be around for the 2015 season.

That is a product of the free-agency era as well as a team that underachieved and finished a disappointing 79-83 for the year.

The Atlanta Braves will feature many new faces to begin the 2015 season.

No longer will Jason Heyward and Justin Upton be trotting out to man the outfield in Atlanta. Evan Gattis will not be behind the plate come Opening Day.

While general manager John Hart's main goal this offseason has been to get younger and build toward the future, he did acquire some players who will be with Atlanta on Opening Day.