Unlike the AL, the NL is full of perennial powerhouses and unpredictable upstarts, just what we’d expect considering what has been going on over the last few years. Anyways what do the 15 teams in the Senior Circuit have for themselves to bring hope to their fans.
Atlanta Braves: Last season they made huge strides towards the ultimate goal but unfortunately couldn’t overcome the Atlanta stereotype. This year the Braves have one goal in mind. Their First World Championship since 1995. Max Fried has taken that next step toward stardom but can the rest of the pitching staff overcome getting bashed by the Dodgers in Game 7. At least Marcell Ozuna is back and every one of the hitters is entering their primes. The issue that could take place early won’t be themselves because the rest of their division is stacked.
Miami Marlins: After what I saw out of South Beach last year, the real question for the Marlins is that can they regain the magic despite one of the hardest divisions in baseball only getting stronger. Starling Marte is back, Miguel Rojas looks like an All Star caliber infielder and the pitching staff still has 2 top prospects yet to make their big league debut. Everyone was criticizing Derek Jeter when he first bought the team but in 3 years the Fish have evolved into a dark horse that’s only getting stronger. Just imagine if their fanbase regains its pride for the team after being blackballed by Loria in the mid 2010s.
New York Mets: Behold Ladies and Gentlemen the most overhyped team in Major League Baseball outside of Cincinnati and California! A team that threw pretty much its entire future to Cleveland for getting potentially 1 year of Francisco Lindor plus there are plenty of questions surrounding the rotation and bullpen excluding Seth Lugo and Jacob Degrom. No matter what the storyline, no matter who they bring in, there usually is a case for LOLMETS. Even with new ownership and plenty of optimism, the reality for the Mets is that they are in the hardest division in the National League, and you also lost the JT Realmuto sweepstakes since he went back to Philly. (LOLMETS!) The major concern in the hitters is Pete Alonso trying to overcome a rough 2020. That or they need more production from the bottom of the order. From the way I see it the Mets have 2 choices for them this year. They are either going to be the 1997 Marlins or the 2015 Padres. What is it with teams from New York that have “ets” as their names get ridiculous amounts of hype. That usually doesn’t work out, ask the 2014 Nets and 2011 Jets that question, and the Big Apple is still a Yankees town and it always will be!
Philadelphia Phillies: The last 2 years have been disasters for the Phillies. This year they are trying to strike for a playoff spot. Getting eliminated on the final day of the year last season is fresh in their minds. At least the one thing they have going for them is that they brought back Didi Gregorious and JT Realmuto plus Alec Bohm looks like a potential 30 home run hitter. The real concern for the Phills is the bullpen. This offseason they got closers Archie Bradley and Jose Alverado to support Aaron Nola and Zach Wheeler in the pitching staff. If they can get off to a flying start even if they have to rely on Hector Neris too much they should make the playoffs. Bryce Harper has also claimed that the NL East is the hardest division in baseball. Honestly for his sake he’s right!
Washington Nationals: The World Series Championship hangover is gone and thank goodness. Stephen Strasburg is coming back from sitting out the 60 game season last year, he is too special of a pitcher to be out long term. This offseason the Nationals didn’t blow it up but they were able to get the Big Bats of Kyle Schwarber (their fans enjoyed watching him at the 2018 Home Run Derby) and Josh Bell and in the final year of Max Scherzer’s huge contract, expectations are once again high. Well all they need is more depth to the pitching with Brad Hand, Jon Lester, and Jeremy Jefferess. I think they will still be around.
Chicago Cubs: I feel like once Theo Epstein left last fall everyone thought the Cubs were done. That’s not the case with a team that looks like they are set for another deep playoff run despite this being the last year of Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, and Javy Baez’s contracts. If there is one thing about this team that has been true ever since David Ross became manager last year is that they know how to develop starting pitchers even if Yu Darvish and Jon Lester are gone. Look everyone, JAKE ARRIETA! He was a fossil in Philly but he will return to old form because Cubs. I think these guys are once again overlooked by the results of the last few years plus some of the contracts they have but knowing this team they will do everything they can to win the NL Central again. I hope so!
Cincinnati Reds: Well another offseason in which the Reds ownership crew convinced the fans that they will be the class of the NL Central. They have the best hitting lineup and starting rotation in the division they said! Well the question I have for Cincy is how will they overcome the loss of Trevor Bauer. I know Sonny Gray and Luis Castillo look like the obvious replacements but they too are free agents at the end of the year. I don’t know what to expect of these guys. They are the Phillies of NL Central and that trend is going to continue if the bullpen is mediocre again this year.
Milwaukee Brewers: One year after they successfully wasted the career of the best home run hitter that they’ve ever had (poor Ryan Braun, he deserved a chance at a World Series Championship despite his steroid act in 2013) the Brewers are entering a season that could determine their fate for the next few years. Their rotation led by Brandon Woodruff and an emerging Corbin Burnes looks like they could pick up where they left off in the 2nd Half if they stay healthy. The hitting core needs bounce back years from Christian Yelich and Lorenzo Cain plus they brought back Travis Shaw to hopefully regain his 2017 form. Plus they lack an elite catcher once again. This is the problem with the small market franchise, you must pick and choose the players to keep or to let go of.
Pittsburgh Pirates: Just like last year the only sounds that PNC Park will be hearing this year even if the fans return are those glorious tanks. Even if Felipe Vasquez returns they traded their 2 best players, their top prospect got arrested this offseason and 2 of their rising stars are probably going to get traded soon. We’ll see you in September for the NFL season Yinzers!
St Louis Cardinals: This team is clearly playing baseball’s edition of Poker. They have shoved their chips to the table to try and bring a World Series title to St Louis for the first time in 10 years. Their main move this offseason was sending a king’s ransom of projects and prospects to the Rockies for former MVP Nolan Arenado. (They did the exact same thing with Larry Walker in the 2000s and turned him into a champion in 2006) That’s great for you guys but what about the backend of the rotation? I know that Jack Flaherty and Miles Mikolas are a 2 headed monster but what they truly need is for Carlos Martinez and Andrew Miller to avoid a steep decline. As a fan of their most hated rival I hope that they play 2nd fiddle to the Cubs or lose to the Padres again!
Arizona Diamondbacks: Last summer was a kick in the face for these guys. Getting outclassed in a division with perhaps the 2 best teams in baseball. This year the Diamondbacks are trying to continue their roller coaster ride by trying to get back in the playoffs. As long as MadBum doesn’t fall off again like last year and Ketel Marte and the hitting core overcome last year’s slump I could see them getting close to the playoffs. Even if they somehow make the playoffs, they will have to face the Dodgers right away. Good luck keeping up boys!
Colorado Rockies: I think it’s time to bring out the tanks again. You lowballed Arenado the same way you did with Larry Walker and failed to keep him long term and traded him to St Louis. I know you still have Charlie Blackmon but he has a dinosaur of a contract. And yes your pitching staff can’t save you now! TANK TIME!
Los Angeles Dodgers: I don’t know how they did it but the Dodgers following their World Series win decided to throw even more money at their stacked team. The big prize for them is the best pitching on the market in Trevor Bauer, (Modern Day Dodgers = Joe Torre Yankees) now they will be throwing Kershaw, Bauer, Buelher, May, and Price as their Top 5 starters plus they brought back Justin Turner. Just like the Lakers everyone is crowning them the next great dynasty in the MLB. From what I’m seeing the biggest threat to the Dodgers is in their own division.
San Diego Padres: That threat is #SlamDiego! After getting one upped the LA menace in the playoffs last year the Padres once again went all in on this new era of baseball in San Diego. They traded for 2 of the best pitchers on the trade market in Blake Snell (I bet you he wants revenge for last year) and Yu Darvish. The big blow for them this offseason was losing Kirby Yates but Trevor Rosenthal is back in 2013 form with how well he pitched last year. I wonder what they will do next? YOU GAVE TATIS A 14 YEAR CONTRACT!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! (Not gonna lie, I like his commercials for MLB 21 the Show) Now they have 2 of the Top 5 Biggest Contracts in Baseball with him and Manny Machado. They truly are the poor man’s version of the Dodgers.
San Francisco Giants: Well last year was unexpected. They were clearly in a rebuilding process yet managed to come within 1 game of the playoffs. Now the question is now what? Buster Posey is close to the end of his career, the pitching staff is either too old or young and inexperienced. I will say though Joey Bart looks like an absolute stud after what he did last year and Mike Yaztremski is taking that next step to being what his grandfather was in the 1960s. I don’t know if they have enough for a playoff berth but it would be a good story.
The NL is really hard to predict because most of the divisional races are up for grabs and it really is anyone’s game. Let’s take a look at the predictions
NL East
- Braves 95-67 #2
- Phillies 92-70 #5
- Nationals 88-74 #8
- Mets 85-77
- Marlins 80-82
NL Central
- Cubs 93-69 #3
- Cardinals 91-71 #6
- Brewers 90-72 #7
- Reds 83-79
- Pirates 62-100
NL West
- Dodgers 103-59 #1
- Padres 102-60 #4
- Diamondbacks 78-84
- Giants 74-88
- Rockies 64-98
AL Wild Card
#1 Yankees over #8 Indians 2-0
#2 Astros over #7 Blue Jays 2-1
#6 A’s over #3 Twins 2-1
#5 Rays over #4 White Sox 2-0
NL Wild Card
#1 Dodgers over #8 Nationals 2-0
#2 Braves over #7 Brewers 2-1
#3 Cubs over #6 Cardinals 2-0
#4 Padres over #5 Phillies 2-1
ALDS
#1 Yankees over #5 Rays 3-0
#2 Astros over #6 A’s 3-1
NLDS
#4 Padres over #1 Dodgers 3-2
#2 Braves over #3 Cubs 3-1
ALCS
#2 Astros over #1 Yankees 4-1
NLCS
#4 Padres over #2 Braves 4-2
World Series
#4 Padres over #2 Astros 4-1
AL MVP: Matt Chapman A’s
NL MVP: Fernando Tatis Padres
AL Cy Young: Lucas Giolito White Sox
NL Cy Young: Max Fried Braves
AL Rookie of the Year: Ryan Mountcastle Orioles
NL Rookie of the Year: Carter Kieboom Nationals
AL Manager of the Year: Dusty Baker Astros
NL Manager of the Year: Joe Girardi Phillies
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