The difference in team talent and makeup can’t be any more stated in the National League East. On one hand, the division has the New York Mets and the Washington Nationals, both teams possessing a solid collection of great players. On the other hand, there’s the Miami Marlins, the Atlanta Braves, and the Philadelphia Phillies, who are all still searching for identity. Let’s now get into the lowdown of each NL East teams for the upcoming 2016 season.
For more baseball, you can also read our breakdown of the following NL divisions: NL West | NL Central
Key additions: 2B Neil Walker, OF Yoenis Cespedes, SS Asdrubal Cabrera, RP Antonio Bastardo, OF Alejandro de Aza
Key departures: OF Michael Cuddyer, 2B Daniel Murphy, IF Juan Uribe, SP Jon Niese, IF Kelly Johnson
Outlook: Mets fans can now relax after a week of feeling anxious about the health of Matt Harvey, who was diagnosed with nothing but a very treatable blood clot in his bladder. With Harvey ready to take the mound for Opening Day, the Mets will begin parading what is arguably the best rotation in the majors. Behind Harvey are Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Steven Matz, and Bartolo Colon.
Last season, Mets starters have a collective ERA of 3.44, fourth best in the MLB. Add a solid batting lineup that features Yoenis Cespedes, a healthy David Wright, with newcomer Neil Walker and the Mets are looking capable of playing the entire 2016 season like they did in the second half of 2015’s campaign, when they generated the most runs in the NL following the All-Star break. The Mets have odds of -125 to repeat as NL East champs.
Washington Nationals
2015 record: 83-79
Key additions: 2B Daniel Murphy, CF Ben Revere, RP Trevor Gott, RP Yusmeiro Petit, RP Shawn Kelley, RP Oliver Perez
Key departures: SS Ian Desmond, CF Denard Span, RP Drew Storen, P Doug Fister, IF Yunel Escobar, SP Jordan Zimmermann
Outlook: Based on FanGraphs’ projection, the NL East is going to be closely contested by the Mets and the Nationals. FanGraphs has New York finishing the 2016 regular season with an 86-76 record, while Washington having a slightly better 88-74. That’s saying that Washington will improve by five wins under a new manager in Dusty Baker.
Winning the NL East means asking Bryce Harper to have another great season just like last year when he led MLB batters with a 9.5 WAR. Also, it means the Nationals have to stay healthy. Last season, Jayson Werth, Ryan Zimmerman, Anthony Rendon, Denard Span, Stephen Strasburg and Doug Fister missed lots of games due to injury.
Fister is gone, but the rest of those players are always vulnerable to getting hurt again. In any case, Washington should be able to contend well with a starting rotation that is fronted by Max Scherzer along with Gio Gonzalez and Stephen Strasburg.
The addition of Daniel Murphy gives the Nats extra power, while the arrival of Ben Revere should cover for the loss of Denard Span. The Nationals are priced +125 to win the NL East.
Outlook: How far can the Marlins go with a full season of Giancarlo Stanton and Jose Fernandez? That hasn’t happened before as both players have been downed by various injuries in the past but with the two healthy and ready to go, the Marlins are looking to join the Mets and the Nats in the race to the top of the NL East. Miami is currently given odds of +800 to surprise the majors and win the NL East.
Miami is more than just Stanton and Fernandez this coming season, though. Its roster also boasts of Dee Gordon, Marcell Ozuna, and Christian Yelich. These talented youngsters are going to be under the guidance of new manager Don Mattingly, who failed to propel the Dodgers into the World Series but led that team to three-consecutive NL West titles.
The acquisition of Wei-Yin Chen is also expected to bolster Miami’s pitching staff that had a 4.02 ERA in 2015.
Atlanta Braves
2015 record: 67-95
Key additions: RP Ian Krol, RP Jim Johnson, SS Erick Aybar, SS Dansby Swanson, OF Ender Inciarte, IF Kelly Johnson, IF Emilio Bonifacio
Key departures: CF Cameron Maybin, SS Andrelton Simmons, SP Shelby Miller, C Christian Bethancourt
Outlook: The rebuild continues for the Braves. And as with most other teams that underwent such phase, a competitive season while being overhauled is unlikely for Atlanta. Atlanta is coming off the worst season it had since the 65-win 1990 season and faces long odds of +3,000 to win the NL East. That’s not going to happen.
The Braves traded away Andrelton Simmons and Shelby Miller over the offseason, which is part of the renovation in Atlanta. Simmons is a defensive god but a pathetic hitter, while Miller is a skilled vet but didn’t have the run support to make him look good last season.
Without Miller, the door is open for Julio Teheran to be the No. 1 starter. The lineup, meanwhile, will feature Ender Inciarte, who was part of the deal that sent Miller to Arizona. He’ll join Erick Aybar, Freddie Freeman and Nick Markakis in the lineup.
Philadelphia Phillies
2015 record: 63-99
Key additions: SP Charlie Morton, SP Jeremy Hellickson, SP Mark Appel, OF Peter Bourjos
Key departures: SP Jerome Williams, SP Aaron Harang, SP Sean O’Sullivan, RP Ken Giles, OF Dominic Brown, OF Jeff Francoeur
Outlook: If you’re feeling low about Atlanta, then get ready to be filled with even more grief for the Phillies. Philadelphia simply has no player on its roster that breathes in any form or amount of optimism to the team. Perhaps the most significant move that happened in the offseason for Philadelphia was in the front office, where Ruben Amaro was displaced as general manager by ex-Angels assistant GM Matt Klentak.
The Phillies did acquire Mark Appel from a trade with Houston and the former No. 1 overall pick’s development under Philadelphia is one worth following. If you’re into miracles, the chances of Philadelphia performing one by winning the NL East is pegged at +10,000.
Writer’s Prediction
The Washington Nationals win the NL East with the Mets finishing second and the Marlins third.
