Forecasting the Atlanta Braves’ top five strikeout leaders in 2024

With a clear leader at the top, the Atlanta Braves may lead the team in strikeouts this season.

After looking at who the Atlanta Braves’ home run leaders could be this season, let’s turn our attention to the defensive side of the field and predict the five players who will lead the team in strikeouts in 2024.

Predicting the Atlanta Braves’ top five strikeout leaders in 2024

 RHP Reynaldo Lopez

While a few others could be considered, López is a name that has the potential to make an impact in his debut season with the Atlanta Braves. The right-hander had 83 strikeouts in 66 innings last year as a reliever, and that number could easily grow in 2024, especially if he sees time as a starter.

 RHP Charlie Morton

Morton was one of Atlanta’s top strikeout pitchers last year, recording 183 in 163.1 innings to finish second on the team. Morton has two seasons of 200 or more strikeouts since moving to Atlanta, and he should be able to reach 180-200 again this season.

 LHP Max Fried

Fried made only 14 regular-season starts last year and tied for eighth in Atlanta with 80 strikeouts in 77.2 innings. Fried has never surpassed the 180-strikeout mark in his MLB career, but I believe he will have a breakout year for Atlanta in 2024, surpassing that total and ranking third in Atlanta’s strikeouts this season.

 LHP Chris Sale

One of the Braves’ most significant offseason transactions was acquiring Sale, who has seven career seasons with at least 200 strikeouts and is coming off a 2023 season in which he had 125 over 102.2 innings with the Red Sox. Assuming the veteran left-hander makes more than 20 starts, as he did last year, Sale could easily reach 200 strikeouts in 2024. His K/9 is constantly high; it’s simply an issue of getting the innings for Sale.

 RHP Spencer Strider

Strider is the apparent choice to lead the Braves in strikeouts, coming off a fantastic 2023 season in which he led the MLB with 281 strikeouts across 186.2 innings while also leading baseball with 20 total wins and a 13.5 K/9. Strider has a pair of 200-plus strikeout seasons in his first two MLB seasons and is expected to lead the Braves in punch outs this year, if not the entire league.