N.L. East preview: Battle of the titans
Phillies have improved the most, but Mets and Braves could win the World Series, too.
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
2022 Record: 87-75.
Rank in Runs Scored: 5th.
Runs Allowed: 7th.
Manager: Rob Thomson.
Rotation: Aaron Nola, Zack Wheeler, Taijuan Walker, Matt Strahm, Bailey Falter.
Bullpen: Craig Kimbrel, Jose Alvarado, Seranthony Dominguez, Andrew Bellatti, Connor Brogdon, Andrew Vasquez.
Closer: Gregory Soto.
Lineup: 1B Darick Hill, 2B Bryson Stott, SS Trea Turner, 3B Alec Bohm, LF Kyle Schwarer, CF Brandon Marsh, RF Jake Cave, C J.T. Realmuto, DH Nick Castellanos.
IL: DH Bryce Harper, 1B Rhys Hoskins.LHP Ranger Suarez.
Fun Fact: At 29, Nola has three 200-inning seasons and four seasons of 32 or more starts.
Projection: First. They’ve gone from the shakiest bullpen in the division to the deepest.
NEW YORK METS
2022 Record: 101-61.
Rank in Runs Scored: 3rd.
Runs Allowed: 2nd.
Manager: Buck Showalter.
Rotation: Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, Carlos Carrasco, Kodai Senga, David Peterson.
Bullpen: Adam Ottavino, Brooks Raley, Drew Smith, Tommy Hunter, Stephen Nogosek, John Curtiss.
Closer: David Robertson.
Lineup: 1B Peter Alonso, 2B Jeff McNeil, SS Francisco Lindor, 3B Eduardo Escobar, LF Mark Canha, CF Brandon Nimmo, RF Starling Marte, C Tomas Nido/Omar Narvaez, DH Daniel Vogelbach.
IL: RHP Edwin Diaz.
Fun Fact: They had only three walkoff losses and were 10-2 in extra inning games, but they also had Diaz.
Projection: Second, with Scherzer and Verlander lined up for a best-of-3 series.
ATLANTA BRAVES
2022 Record: 101–61.
Rank in Runs Scored: 2nd.
Runs Allowed: 3rd.
Manager: Brian Snitker.
Rotation: Max Fried, Charlie Morton, Spencer Strider, Jared Shuster, Dylan Dodd.
Bullpen: Joe Jimenez, Collin McHugh, Jesse Chavez, Dylan Lee, Lucas Luetge, Michael Tonkin, Nick Anderson.
Closer: A.J. Minter.
Lineup: 1B Matt Olson, 2B Ozzie Albies, SS Orlando Arcia, 3B Austin Riley, LF Edwin Rosario, CF Michael Harris, RF Ronaldo Acuna Jr., C Sean Murphy/Travis d’Arnaud, DH Marcell Ozuna.
IL: LHP Tyler Matzek, RHP Raisel Iglesias, RHP Kyle Wright.
Fun Fact: Braves led the league with 243 home runs, had one sacrifice bunt all year.
Projection: Third. Probably the deepest team in baseball, but the bullpen could be trouble. Once they get into the playoffs, they’ll trouble whomever they play.
MIAMI MARLINS
2022 Record: 69-93.
Rank in Runs Scored: 15th.
Runs Allowed: 6th.
Manager: Skip Schumaker.
Rotation: Sandy Alcantara, Jesus Luzardo, Johnny Cueto, Trevor Rogers, Edward Cabrera.
Bullpen: JT Chargois, Dylan Floro, A.J. Puk, Matt Barnes, Huascar Brazoban, Andrew Nardi, Tommy Nance, Nic Enright, Steven Okert.
Closer: Tanner Scott.
Lineup: 1B Garrett Cooper, 2B Luis Arraez, SS Joey Wendle, 3B Jean Segura, LF Jesus Sanchez, CF Jazz Chisholm, RF Avisail Garcia, C Jacob Stallings, DH Jorge Soler.
IL: RHP Anthony Bender.
Fun Fact: Jon Berti led the league with 41 stolen bases after he stole only eight in 2021.
Projection: Fourth. Alcantara, the Cy Young winner who averaged 7.1 innings per start, is the main attraction.
WASHINGTON NATIONALS
2022 Record: 55–107.
Rank in Runs Scored: 13th.
Runs Allowed: 14th.
Manager: Dave Martinez.
Rotation: Josiah Gray, Patrick Corbin, MacKenzie Gore, Trevor Williams. Chad Kuhl.
Bullpen: Hunter Harvey, Carl Edwards, Erasmo Ramirez, Mason Thompson, Thad Ward.
Closer: Kyle Finnegan.
Lineup: 1B Dominic Smith, 2B Luis Garcia, SS C.J. Abrams, 3B Jeimar Candelario, LF Corey Dickerson, CF Victor Robles, RF Lane Thomas, C Keibert Ruiz, DH Joey Meneses.
IL: RHP Cade Cavalli, RHP Tanner Rainey, RHP Victor Arano, RHP Stephen Strasburg.
Fun Fact: Corbin lost 16 games two years ago, 19 last year, leading the league both times.
Projection: Fifth. That 2019 World Series flag is beginning to curl up.