With a new-look rotation and uncertainty abounding in their outfield, the Braves head to Spring Training with a sense of confidence that was dramatically enhanced when they acquired Derek Lowe and Kenshin Kawakami in January.

Armed with a potentially strong pitching staff, the Braves are hoping that reigning National League batting champ Chipper Jones and All-Star catcher Brian McCann can once again solidify a lineup that could prove to be very strong if a proven outfielder is acquired and Jeff Francoeur regains the consistency that he's lacked during the early years of his career.

Triple play: Three questions that need answers

A look ahead Select a team: AL East Baltimore Orioles Boston Red Sox New York Yankees Tampa Bay Rays Toronto Blue Jays AL Central Chicago White Sox Cleveland Indians Detroit Tigers Kansas City Royals Minnesota Twins AL West Los Angeles Angels Oakland Athletics Seattle Mariners Texas Rangers NL East Atlanta Braves Florida Marlins New York Mets Philadelphia Phillies Washington Nationals NL Central Chicago Cubs Cincinnati Reds Houston Astros Milwaukee Brewers Pittsburgh Pirates St. Louis Cardinals NL West Arizona D-backs Colorado Rockies Los Angeles Dodgers San Diego Padres San Francisco Giants Quick hits Select a team: AL East Baltimore Orioles Boston Red Sox New York Yankees Tampa Bay Rays Toronto Blue Jays AL Central Chicago White Sox Cleveland Indians Detroit Tigers Kansas City Royals Minnesota Twins AL West Los Angeles Angels Oakland Athletics Seattle Mariners Texas Rangers NL East Atlanta Braves Florida Marlins New York Mets Philadelphia Phillies Washington Nationals NL Central Chicago Cubs Cincinnati Reds Houston Astros Milwaukee Brewers Pittsburgh Pirates St. Louis Cardinals NL West Arizona D-backs Colorado Rockies Los Angeles Dodgers San Diego Padres San Francisco Giants Spring Training links • Spring Training tickets • Travel packages • Spring Training schedule

1. Will the new-look rotation prove to be strong enough to compete for a division title?
With the acquisitions of Lowe, Kawakami and Javier Vazquez, the Braves have formed a rotation that provides more certainty than the one they possessed at this time last year. But still there's reason to wonder about Kawakami will fare in the United States and if Vazquez truly will thrive away from Ozzie Guillen and the American League. While Lowe might not be a legitimate ace, he proved during last year's pennant race that he's certainly capable of anchoring a championship-caliber rotation.

As for Jair Jurrjens, he seemed to possess an advanced maturity level that could allow him to avoid a sophomore slump and prove to be an integral member of this rotation, which possesses three pitchers (Lowe, Vazquez and Jurrjens) who are very capable of completing at least 200 innings.

2. Can Francoeur turn things around?
Utterly embarrassed by last year's struggles, Francoeur has done more than just simply say, "This year will be different." The 25-year-old right fielder has altered his stance and made the necessary preseason preparations that he neglected last year. Jones has said Francoeur "looks better than ever," but the true test will come when the athletically gifted outfielder attempts to prove himself in games against live pitching.

3. Who is going to play left field?
Already possessing the option of using Matt Diaz and Brandon Jones in a platoon in left field, the Braves don't necessarily need to acquire another outfielder. But the uncertainty this duo brings creates combined with the uncertainty that exists at the other two outfield spots provides even more reason for general manager Frank Wren to land a proven veteran to play left field.

There is reason to believe Wren might continue to pursue the trade market with the hope that he might eventually be able to land Nick Swisher from the Yankees.

2008 record
72-90, fourth place in NL East

Projected batting order
1. SS Yunel Escobar:
  .288 BA, .366 OBP, .401 SLG, 10 HR, 60 RBIs in 2008
2. 2B Kelly Johnson:
  .287 BA, .349 OBP, .446 SLG, 12 HR, 69 RBIs in 2008
3. 3B Chipper Jones:
  .364 BA, .470 OBP, .574 SLG, 22 HR, 75 RBIs in 2008
4. LF TBD
5. C Brian McCann:
  .301 BA, .373 OBP, .523 SLG, 23 HR, 87 RBIs in 2008
6. RF Jeff Francoeur:
  .239 BA, .294 OBP, .359 SLG, 11 HR, 71 RBIs in 2008
7. 1B Casey Kotchman:
  .272 BA, .328 OBP, .410 SLG, 14 HR, 74 RBIs in 2008
8. CF Josh Anderson :
  .294 BA, .338 OBP, .426 SLG, 3 HR, 12 RBIs in 2008

Projected rotation
1. Derek Lowe, 14-11, 3.24 ERA in 2008
2. Javier Vazquez, 12-16, 4.67 ERA in 2008
3. Jair Jurrjens, 13-10, 3.68 ERA in 2008
4. Kenshin Kawakami, 9-5, 2.30 ERA in Japan in 2008
5. Jo-Jo Reyes, 3-11, 5.81 ERA in 2008

Projected bullpen
Closer: Mike Gonzalez, 14/16 saves, 4.28 ERA in 2008
RH setup man: Rafael Soriano, 2.57 ERA in 2008
LH setup man: Boone Logan, 5.95 ERA in 2008

The new guys
Lowe: While going 6-1 with a 1.27 ERA in his final 10 starts last year, Lowe improved his stock on the free-agent market and gave the Braves reason to give him a four-year, $60 million contract. The fact the veteran right-hander will turn 36 in June has led some to consider this to be a potentially bad contract. But the Braves believe he can immediately serve as their ace and prove serviceable for many years with an arm that was protected by a childhood in a cold-weather state (Michigan) and his primary role as a reliever until 2002.

Vazquez: The veteran righty didn't mesh well with Guillen or the homer-friendly confines of U.S. Cellular Field. Provided the opportunity to return to the NL and pitch for the always-optimistic Bobby Cox, this fly-ball pitcher should find more success while calling Turner Field his home.

Kawakami: As the first Japanese player to play for the Braves in the Majors, Kawakami arrives with plenty of uncertainties. But the lack of familiarity could allow him to find early success against hitters who are seeing him for the first time. The 33-year-old right-hander should at least provide some stability at the back end of the rotation.

Logan: A hard-throwing left-hander who was acquired from the White Sox with Vazquez in December, Logan was nearly unhittable during the first half of the 2008 season. But the second half proved disastrous, and the 24-year-old southpaw now finds himself looking for the consistency that often eludes young relievers.

Eric O'Flaherty: The Braves have had their eyes on O'Flaherty for a while, and when he was placed on waivers in November, they took advantage of the opportunity to grab the left-handed reliever. Back problems have plagued the young southpaw, who limited left-handed hitters to a .183 batting average in 2007.

David Ross: The veteran catcher, who comes to Atlanta to serve as a backup to McCann, combined for 38 homers in 2006 and '07 with the Reds. While he struggled last year, Ross provides the Braves the solid backup they lacked while utilizing Corky Miller and Clint Sammons last year.

Prospects to watch
Tommy Hanson: Recognized as one of the game's top pitching prospects, Hanson will likely be in Atlanta's rotation at some point this season. Armed with four quality pitches that he spots with great consistency, the hard-throwing 22-year-old right-hander may need just another month or two of seasoning at the Minor League level. But some believe he could prove productive if he begins this season in the Majors.

Jordan Schafer: Before being handed a 50-game suspension last year, Schafer seemed to be a lock to begin this season as Atlanta's starting center fielder. While his career path has been detoured, the talented 22-year-old outfielder has seemingly learned from his mistakes by committing himself to an offseason conditioning program that has visibly increased his upper-body strength.

On the rebound
Peter Moylan: Attempting to return from Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery, Moylan believes he might be ready by Opening Day. But it seems more likely that he'll return in May, with the hope of regaining the form that allowed him to enter last season as one of Atlanta's top right-handed setup men. If the Australian hurler can quickly regain his touch, he could prove to be a primary key to this season's success.

Francoeur: During his first full Major League season in 2006, Francoeur hit 29 homers and enjoyed the first of back-to-back 100-RBI seasons. Last year's struggles were a product of the fact that he arrived at Spring Training overweight and not ready. Approximately 20 pounds lighter than he was last year and armed with the confidence that he lost, the 25-year-old outfielder now finds himself determined to prove his doubters wrong.

Tim Hudson: As he continues to attempt to return from Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery, Hudson has hopes of rejoining the Atlanta rotation in August. If the team is in the race at that time, there's certainly a chance the Braves will provide the opportunity and create the possibility that he could prove to be valuable in both a pennant chase and the postseason.

Rafael Soriano: The hard-throwing righty battled elbow soreness in Spring Training last year and was essentially lost during the second week of the season. In the final year of his contract, Soriano is expected to regain his healthy form and once again prove to be a valuable right-handed setup man.

Long gone
John Smoltz: The Braves had visions of putting Smoltz back in their rotation this year. But the veteran right-hander, who had been in Atlanta since making his Major League debut in 1988, opted instead to chase the greater financial guarantee the Red Sox were providing.

Will Ohman: Once the Braves acquired Logan in December, they ended their pursuit of Ohman, who made a team-high 83 appearances in Atlanta last year. Logan and O'Flaherty will be asked to fill this void.

Mike Hampton: The southpaw's injury-tarnished six-season stint in Atlanta officially ended in December when he opted to sign with the Astros. The success he enjoyed during the final two months of last season produced optimism about his future, and the Braves made an attempt to re-sign him. But the veteran left-hander chose the opportunity to play closer to his family home in Phoenix.