Each week leading up to the regular season, I will look at a different division and predict how each team will do. This week, I looked at the NL East. 

Michael Shames | Co-News Editor 

NL East

Washington Nationals (97-65) – Division Champ

Notable Additions: SP Max Scherzer, INF Yunel Escobar, RP Casey Janssen
Notable Subtractions: 1B Adam Laroche, RP Tyler Clippard, 2B Absdurbal Cabrera

This offseason, the Nationals made a top 10 rotation in baseball arguably the best by signing top free agent ace Max Scherzer. The starting five is now headed by Scherzer, Jordan Zimmerman, and Stephen Strasburg. Those are three very scary guys NL East teams will have to face multiple times in the season. The loss of Laroche should not be too worrisome for the Nat’s, as third baseman Ryan Zimmerman can take over duties at first with breakout hitter Anthony Rendon filling in at third. Expect these guys to be the best team in the NL, if not all of baseball.

Miami Marlins (85-77)

Notable Additions: SP Mat Latos, SP Andrew Heaney, OF Ichiro Suzuki, IF Dee Gordon
Notable Subtractions: SP Nate Eovaldi, 1B Garrett Jones, 3B Casey McGehee

I really think the Marlins are going to take a huge stride this year. Their starting rotation is underrated, as people tend to overlook Latos, Henderson Alvarez, and Jarred Cosart. Oh and by the way, they have cuban sensation Jose Fernandez coming back to that rotation sometime midseason. Also, they re-signed one of the best hitters in the game, Giancarlo Stanton to a monster contract this offseason. If you aren’t familiar, he is capable of doing things like this. He will be in the outfield alongside the up and coming Marcell Ozuna and Derek Dietrich. I see big numbers coming out of that outfield. This team will certainly be in the run for a wild card spot.

New York Mets (81-81)

Notable Additions: OF Michael Cuddyer, OF John Mayberry Jr.
Notable Subtractions: None

The huge difference maker on this team is definitely going to be Matt Harvey returning from Tommy John surgery. But how good will he be? I think he will be a very good starter, but not as good as he was before the injury (a CY Young contender). That being said, the Mets have starter Jacob DeGrom entering his sophomore season after his NL Rookie of the Year campaign, and a pitcher still yet to prove his worth in Zach Wheeler. As for their hitting, even with the acquisition of a pretty solid hitter in Cuddyer, this team is still way below average. 3B David Wright, who has served as the face of the franchise, is in his decline, and the team lacks consistent power. Lucas Duda had the only praisable hitting season for the Mets, with his 30 home runs, despite a disappointing batting average. Adding it all up, this is a very average team.

Atlanta Braves (67-95)

Notable Additions: SP Shelby Miller, OF Nick Markakis, RP Jason Grilli
Notable Subtractions: SP Ervin Santana, SP Aaron Harang, SP Kris Medlen, OF Justin Upton, OF Jason Heyward, C Evan Gattis

Yeah, this team lost a lot of pitching that had previously led them to a top 5 rotation in 2014. Sure they added average players in Markakis and Johnny Gomes (emphasis on average), but they lost one of the strongest hitters in the league in Upton, as well as one of the best young catchers in Gattis. Hopefully for the Braves, IF Andrelton Simmons and OF BJ Upton can post better offensive numbers than the dismal ones they put together last year (.244 and .208, respectively). I would not count on it, though. Sorry Braves, but dark days are ahead of you.

Philadelphia Phillies (65-97)


Notable Additions: SP Chad Billingsley, SP Aaron Harang, OF Jeff Francoeur (!!!)
Notable Subtractions: IF Jimmy Rollins, OF Marlon Byrd

General Manager Reuben Amaro Jr. has been criticized by the Philly faithful for his managerial decisions these past few years, and for good reason too. He ran this team, which was a well-oiled machine a few years ago, straight into the ground. Their best pitcher, Cole Hamels, wants out of Philadelphia and their other stars are on the decline (Cliff Lee, Chase Utley, and Ryan Howard). It should be an exciting battle between the Phillies and Braves for the highly coveted “worst team in the NL East”.