Our Season Preview series led off with an examination of the New York Mets. We followed with a look at the Miami Marlins’ pitching staff and then Philadelphia’s. Philadelphia’s position players came next and then we moved on to Atlanta’s. We then finished up the position player side of things with a look at Miami’s. Finally, we’ll address Atlanta’s pitching staff.

Pitching has been a calling card of the Braves’ success over the past 20 years. When the team’s remarkable run began in the early 1990s it was because of a staff led by the likes of Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, and Steve Avery. Once Greg Maddux was added via free agency things really took off.

The Braves of late have been building towards a repeat performance, in a sense, as they’ve been developing a number of quality arms over the past few seasons. Now, those efforts may start to pay off as the team’s starting rotation is comprised almost entirely of home grown talent. Building around a young nucleus of talented pitchers worked for the Braves in the 1990s and it just might be the path they follow once again.

Atlanta will start the season with a starting rotation of Tommy Hanson, Jair Jurrjens, Mike Minor, Brandon Beachy, and Randall Delgado. Jurrjens, who’s 26, is the oldest of the group and the only one who wasn’t originally drafted or signed by the Braves organization (he came from Detroit in a 2007 trade). Each of the five pitchers has shown just as much potential as they have inconsistencies and they all enter the 2012 facing certain questions.

March 21, 2012; Melbourne, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Tommy Hanson (48) during the spring training game against the Washington Nationals at Space Coast Stadium. Atlanta won 3-2 in 10 innings. Mandatory Credit: Brad Barr-US PRESSWIRE

Hanson’s health is a concern, particularly after some shoulder trouble has sapped some of his velocity. He was able to make only 22 starts and pitch only 130.0 innings last season, totals he needs to exceed if he’s going to become the Ace of this pitching staff. The right-hander was 11-7 last year with a 3.60 ERA.

Jurrjens was rumored to be on the trade block for much of the winter, with some citing a poor work ethic as a source of concern. He also missed some time in 2011, making only 23 starts and pitching 152.0 innings, and will need to remain healthy (he missed time in 2010 as well). He did go 13-6 with a 2.96 ERA in those outings, proving what kind of pitching he’s capable of being.

Minor, Beachy, and Delgado are all highly inexperienced. Minor and Beachy have appeared in games across each of the past two seasons and have roughly 25 starts (Minor, 23; Beachy, 28) apiece in their careers. Delgado made 7 starts last year and has only thrown 35.0 innings in the Majors to date.

But while they appear to need depth, the Braves actually have a fair amount of it. First and foremost, the veteran right-hander of the staff is not on the Opening Day roster solely because he’s still recovering from an offseason back surgery. Once Tim Hudson is healthy, which is expected to be early May, he’ll return to the rotation. The Braves also have right-hander Julio Teheran who will start the season pitching out of the rotation in Triple-A. Arodys Vizcaino, another right-handed prospect, will miss the 2012 season due to Tommy John surgery.

To further add to the list, the Braves also have Kris Medlen slated to work out of the bullpen, possibly in a setup role. There seems to be a growing sentiment among Braves bloggers that Medlen might be best suited for the starting rotation. There doesn’t seem to be much interest in making such a move by the organization, though considering their depth there doesn’t seem to be a need.

Of course, one of Atlanta’s strengths in 2011 was the back end of their bullpen. Closer Craig Kimbrel won the NL Rookie of the Year Award. Left-handers Jonny Venters and Eric O’Flaherty had strong seasons as well. The trio shortened games and could all be just as good in 2012.

Medlen, Christian Martinez, Chad Durbin, and Livan Hernandez will round out the bullpen. Durbin spent the Spring in Nationals camp and nearly won a spot in the bullpen. He opted out of his minor league contract and signed with Atlanta earlier this week. Hernandez, who Nationals fans know well, had signed a minor league deal with Houston during the offseason. He too, was cut earlier in the week and immediately signed with the Braves.

Six players were placed on the disabled list. Outfielders Michael Morse and Rick Ankiel both hit the 15-day DL, though Morse was expected. Right-handers Chien-Ming Wang and Drew Storen joined them. Right-hander Cole Kimball and first baseman Chris Marrero were placed on the 60-day DL, as expected. Both could return by July if all goes as planned with their rehab.

First baseman Chad Tracy and outfielders Xavier Nady and Brett Carroll had their contracts purchased. All three were signed to minor league deals. Tracy may be the first one out once either Morse or Ankiel returns.

Right-handers Craig Stammen and Ryan Mattheus both made the bullpen. Stammen will serve as the second long reliever alongside Tom Gorzelanny. Mattheus took advantage of the opportunity created by Storen’s injury. He was in competition with Chad Durbin for the last spot in the bullpen. Durbin opted out of his minor league contract with the team earlier this morning and subsequently signed with the Braves by early afternoon.

April 3, 2012; Washington, D.C., USA; Washington Nationals pitcher Ross Detwiler (48) throws in the sixth inning during an exhibition game against the Boston Red Sox at Nationals Park. The Red Sox defeated Nationals 8 - 7. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-US PRESSWIRE

The team also optioned left-hander John Lannan to Triple-A, a surprising move in itself. Lannan had been expected to be the team’s 5th starter since Wang first hurt himself earlier this Spring. Davey Johnson even said as much just over a week ago. Lannan did have an option remaining, however considering his tenure with the team at the Major League level it was widely expected that such a move was not going to happen. He’s also slated to make $5 Million this season, making him one of the highest paid players ever to be optioned to the minor leagues at the end of Spring Training, according to The Washington Post’s Adam Kilgore.

Lannan posted a 10-13 record last season, with a 3.70 ERA in 184.2 innings over 33 starts.

In his place will be left-hander Ross Detwiler. Detwiler had been expected for most of the winter to end up in the bullpen. He’s out of options and couldn’t be sent to the minor leagues without the team risking another organization claiming him on waivers. But considering the team’s offseason acquisitions, there didn’t appear to be a place for him in the starting rotation.

Last season Detwiler was 4-5 with a 3.00 ERA over 66.0 innings. He made 15 appearances, including 10 starts.

The organization has always thought highly of Detwiler, but he’s never proven himself over a long stretch of time to date in his career. He’ll likely be given every opportunity to succeed until Wang returns from injury, at which point the team will make a decision likely based on performance.

Tyler Clippard, Sean Burnett, Brad Lidge, and Henry Rodriguez all were easy picks. That’s four bullpen arms, giving us 9 members of the pitching staff.

March 08, 2012; Melbourne, FL, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Ross Detwiler (48) throws during the spring training game against the Houston Astros at Space Coast Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Barr-US PRESSWIRE

Add in Tom Gorzelanny and Ross Detwiler, the two long relievers, and we’re already at 11.

Under normal circumstances that final pitcher would be Drew Storen, the team’s closer, but he’s likely starting the season on the DL which means there’s another opening, albeit for just 2-3 weeks.

There seems to be some competition for that final spot between Ryan Mattheus, Craig Stammen, and non-roster invitee Chad Durbin. Durbin, who signed a minor league deal and adds another veteran presence in addition to Lidge, seems to have the edge at the moment, though there is a growing sentiment among the DoD staff for Stammen to win that spot. Mattheus will likely join Ryan Perry in the Syracuse bullpen to start the season, providing depth when needed.

* In case you missed it, Gio Gonzalez is being lined up to start the home opener. It looks like the rotation will go Stephen Strasburg, Gonzalez, Jordan Zimmermann, Edwin Jackson, John Lannan. I’d of flipped Zimmermann and Strasburg, but that’s just me. I think Zimmermann’s earned an Opening Day start at this point in his career.