N.L. preview: Battle of the titans

Phillies, Braves and Mets are legitimate oligarchs, but the Dodgers have the biggest castle.

Kyle Schwarber

NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES

2024 Record: 95-67.

Rank in Runs Scored: Third.

Runs Allowed: Fifth.

Manager: Rob Thomson.

Rotation: Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Jesus Luzardo, Cristopher Sanchez, Taijuan Walker.

Bullpen: Orion Kerkering, Jose Alvarado, Matt Strahm, Jose Ruiz, Tanner Banks, Joe Ross, Carlos Hernandez.

Closer: Jordan Romano.

Lineup: 1B Bryce Harper, 2B Bryson Stott, SS Trea Turner, 3B Alec Bohm, LF Max Kepler, CF Brandon Marsh, RF Nick Castellanos, DH Kyle Schwarber, C J.T. Realmuto.

Injured List: LHP Ranger Suarez, OF Weston Wilson.

Fun Fact: Schwarber either walked, struck out or homered in 36 percent of his plate appearances.

Fun Fact II: Wheeler won 16 games. The bullpen blew saves in four other starts.

Forecast: They’re basically playing it again, on the theory that the .500 team after the All-Star break really wasn’t them.

ATLANTA BRAVES

2024 Record: 89–73.

Rank In Runs Scored: Eighth.

Runs Allowed: First.

Manager: Brian Snitker.

Rotation: Chris Sale, Reynaldo Lopez, Spencer Schwellenbach, AJ Smith-Shawver, Grant Holmes.

Bullpen: Pierce Johnson, Aaron Bummer, Dylan Lee, Hector Neris, Daysbel Hernandez, Enyel De Los Santos, Jose Suarez.

Closer: Raisel Iglesias.

Lineup: 1B Matt Olson, 2B Ozzie Albies, SS Orlando Arcia, 3B Austin Riley, LF Jurickson Profar, CF Michael Harris II, RF Jarred Kelenic, DH Marcell Ozuna, C Drake Baldwin.

Injured List: OF Ronald Acuna Jr, RHP Spencer Strider, RHP Joe Jimenez, INF Nacho Alvarez, C Sean Murphy.

Fun Fact: Braves had nine sacrifices last year. The year before, they had two.

Fun Fact II: Sale, at 35, gave up nine home runs in 177 ⅔ innings.

Forecast: Strider made two starts last year, Acuna played 49 games, Albies 99, Riley and Harris 110 each. A return to normalcy, and maybe to the World Series.

NEW YORK METS

2024 Record: 89–73.

Rank In Runs Scored: Fifth.

Runs Allowed: Eighth.

Manager: Carlos Mendoza.

Rotation: Kodai Senga, David Peterson, Clay Holmes, Tylor Megill, Griffin Canning.

Bullpen: A.J. Minter, Jose Butto, Reed Garnett, Ryan Stanek, Danny Young, Max Kranick, Paul Blackburn.

Closer: Edwin Diaz.

Lineup: 1B Pete Alonso, 2B Brett Baty, SS Francisco Lindor, 3B Mark Vientos, LF Brandon Nimmo, CF Jose Siri, RF Juan Soto, DH Jesse Winker, C Luis Torrens.

Injured List: LHP Sean Manaea, RHP Frankie Montas, RHP Christian Scott, RHP Drew Smith, C Francisco Alvarez, 2B Nick Madrigal, SS Ronny Mauricio, 2B Jeff McNeil.

Fun Fact: As the Mets surged to a wild-card spot, Lindor’s slugging percentage was .607 in September.

Fun Fact II:: With his fourth team in four years, Manaea held opponents to a .202 batting average.

Forecast: The rotation is iffy, but the Mets will beat up fourth and fifth starters all season.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS

2024 Record: 71-91.

Rank In Runs Scored: Fourteenth.

Runs Allowed: Twelfth.

Manager: Dave Martinez.

Rotation: MacKenzie Gore, Trevor Williams, Jake Irvin, Mitchell Parker, Michael Soroka.

Bullpen: Jorge Loepz, Jose Ferrer, Lucas Sims, Eduardo Salazar, Colin Poche, Orlando Ribalta, Jackson Rutledge.

Closer:; Kyle Finnegan.

Lineup: 1B Nathaniel Lowe, 2B Luis Garcia, SS CJ Abrams, 3B Paul DeJong, LF James wood, CF Jacob Young, RF Dylan Crews, DH Josh Bell, C Keibert Ruiz.

Injured List: RHP Josiah Gray, RHP Cade Cavalli, LHP DJ Jerz, RHP Derek Law, RHP Mason Thompson, RHP Zach Brzykcy, 1B Andres Chaparro.

Fun Fact: Nationals led the N.L. in stolen bases, and eight stole 10 or more. Crews had 12 in his first 33 MLB games.

Fun Fact II: Williams gave up 34 home runs in 144 innings two years ago. Last year he gave up three in 66, and lowered his ERA from 5.55 to 2.03.

Forecast: A lot of interesting faces, especially on offense, but no aces.

MIAMI MARLINS

2024 Record: 62-100.

Rank In Runs Scored: Fifteenth.

Runs Allowed: Fourteenth.

Manager: Clayton McCullough,

Rotation: Sandy Alcantara, Connor Gillispie, Valente Bellozo, Max Meyer, Cal Quantrill.

Bullpen: Jesus Tinoco, Anthony Bender, Lake Bachar, Anthony Veneziano, George Soriano, Seth Martinez, Ronny Henriquez.

Closer: Calvin Faucher.

Lineup: 1B Matt Mervis, 2B Otto Lopez, SS Xavier Edwards, 3B Graham Pauley, LF Griffin Conine, CF Derek Hill, RF Kyle Stowers, DH Jonah Bride, C Nick Fortes.

Injured List: RHP Edward Cabrera, LHP Braxton Garrett, RHP Eury Perez, LHP Ryan Weathers, 3B Connor Norby, OF Victor Mesa Jr., OF Jesus Sanchez., LHP Andrew Nardi, RHP Declan Cronin.

Fun Fact: Edwards had an .820 OPS in 70 games with only one home run. He hit .328.

Fun Fact II: Only two position players in the Marlins’ projected lineup have played as man as two major league seasons.

Forecast: This is like the cast of “Major League,” except the Marlins aren’t as funny or talented.

Kyle Tucker

NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL

CHICAGO CUBS

2024 Record: 83-79.

Rank In Runs Scored: Seventh.

Runs Allowed: Fourth.

Manager: Craig Counsell.

Rotation: Justin Steele, Jameson Taillon, Shota Imanaga, Matthew Boyd, Ben Brown.

Bullpen: Porter Hodge, Ryan Brasier, Nate Pearson, Caleb Thielbar, Julian Merryweather, Brad Keller, Colin Rea.

Closer: Ryan Pressly.

Lineup: 1B Michael Busch, 2B Nico Hoerner, SS Dansby Swanson, 3B Matt Shaw, LF Ian Happ, CF Pete Crow-Armstrong, RF Kyle Tucker, DH Seiya Suzuki, C Miguel Amaya.

Injured List: RHP Javier Assad, RHP Tyson Miller.

Fun Fact: Hodge, a 13th-round pick in 2019, allowed a .132 batting average in 39 appearances.

Fun Fact II: Hoerner struck out 66 times in 641 appearances, second-best ratio in baseball behind Luis Arraez.

Forecast: Tucker could be the rising tide that lifts the Cubs’ boat to first place.

CINCINNATI REDS

2024 Record: 77-85.

Rank In Runs Scored: Ninth.

Runs Allowed: Seventh.

Manager: Terry Francona.

Rotation: Hunter Greene, Brady Singer, Nick Lodolo, Nick Martinez, Carson Spiers.

Bullpen: Taylor Rogers, Scott Barlow, Graham Ashcraft, Sam Moll, Tony Santillan, Brent Suter, Ian Gibaut.

Closer: Emilio Pagan.

Lineup: 1B Jeimer Candelario, 2B Matt McLain, SS Elly De La Cruz, 3B Gavin Lux, LF Austin Hays, CF TJ Friedl, RF Jake Fraley, DH Christian Encarnacion-Strand, C Jose Trevino.

Injured List: RHP Alexis Diaz, LHP Andrew Abbott, RHP Justin Aguiar, RHP Rhett Lowder, LHP Brandon Williamson, INF Spencer Steer, C Tyler Stephenson.

Fun Fact: Greene gave up six earned runs, three of them on homers, in his final nine starts.

Fun Fact II: De La Cruz made 29 errors, stole 67 bases and was caught 16 times, leading the league in each. He also hit 25 homers and struck out 218 times.

Forecast: Francona wouldn’t have come back if he hadn’t seen the potential here.

MILWAUKEE BREWERS

2024 Record: 93-69.

Rank In Runs Scored: Fourth.

Runs Allowed: Second.

Manager: Pat Murphy.

Rotation: Freddy Peralta, Nestor Cortes, Aaron Civale, Tyler Alexander, Jose Quintana.

Bullpen: Jared Koenig, Joel Payamps, Bryan Hudson, Abner Uribe, Elvis Peguero, Connor Thomas, Elvin Rodriguez.

Closer: Trevor Megill.

Lineup: 1B Rhys Hoskins, 2B Brice Turang, SS Joey Ortiz, 3B Oliver Dunn, LF Sal Frelick, CF Garrett Mitchell, RF Jackson Chourio, DH Christian Yelich, C William Contreras.

Injured List: RHP Tobias Myers, RHP Brandon Woodruff, LHP Aaron Ashby, LHP Robert Gasser, LHP DL Hall, OF Blake Perkins, RHP Nick Mears.

Fun Fact: Contreras’ .831 OPS was tops among major league catchers.

Fun Fact II: In the past seven full seasons, the Brewers have finished over .500 seven times, won four division titles and made the playoffs six times.

Forecast: They lose prominent players, grow their replacements, and keep winning games. There’s a limit to that.

PITTSBURGH PIRATES

2024 Record: 76-86.

Rank In Runs Scored: Thirteenth.

Runs Allowed: Eleventh.

Manager: Derek Shelton

Rotation: Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller, Andrew Heaney, Bailey Falter, Carmen Mlodzinski.

Bullpen: Colin Holderman, Dennis Santana, Caleb Ferguson, Justin Lawrence, Tim Mayza, Ryan Borucki, Joey Wentz.

Closer: David Bednar.

Lineup: 1B Endy Rodriguez, 2B Nick Gonzales, SS Isiah Kiner-Falefa, 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes, LF Tommy Pham, CF Oneil Cruz, RF Bryan Reynolds, DH Andrew McCutchen, C Joey Bart.

Injured List: RHP Jared Jones, RHP Johan Oviedo, 1B Spencer Horwitz, RHP Dauri Moreta.

Fun Fact: The Pirates haven’t finished higher than 13th in N.L. OPS since 2019.

Fun Fact II: Skenes made only 23 starts in his Rookie of the Year campaign but finished 12th in league strikeouts with 170.

Forecast: If Bednar can put last year behind him, this team will be competitive most nights and formidable every fifth.

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

2024 Record: 83–79.

Rank In Runs Scored: Twelfth.

Runs Allowed: Tenth.

Manager: Oliver Marmol.

Rotation: Sonny Gray, Eric Fedde, Andre Pallante, Miles Mikolas, Matthew Liberatore.

Bullpen: Ryan Fernandez, JoJo Romero, Phil Maton, John King, Steven Matz, Kyle Leahy, Chris Roycroft.

Closer: Ryan Helsley.

Lineup: 1B Willson Contreras, 2B Brendan Donovan, SS Masyn Winn, 3B Nolan Arenado, LF Lars Nootbaar, CF Victor Scott, RF Jordan Walker, DH Alec Burleson, C Ivan Herrera.

Injured List: LHP Zack Thompson.

Fun Fact: Arenado, who turns 34 in April, slumped to a .719 OPS, his low since his rookie year of 2013.

Fun Fact II: The franchise of Lou Brock and Vince Coleman was 12th in N.L. steals.

Forecast: Baseball Heaven isn’t so tranquil these days, and the Cardinals did little to reassure the patrons.

Blake Snell

NATIONAL LEAGUE WEST

LOS ANGELES DODGERS

2024 Record: 98–64.

Rank In Runs Scored: Second.

Runs Allowed: Sixth.

Manager: Dave Roberts

Rotation: Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Roki Sasaki, Tyler Glasnow, Dustin May.

Bullpen: Kirby Yates, Blake Treinen, Alex Vesia, Anthony Banda, Ben Casparius, Jack Dreyer, Luis Garcia.

Closer: Tanner Scott.

Lineup: 1B Freddie Freeman, 2B Tommy Edman, SS Mookie Betts, 3B Max Muncy, LF Michael Conforto, CF Andy Pages, RF Teoscar Hernandez, DH Shohei Ohtani, C Will Smith.

Injured List: RHP Tony Gonsolin, LHP Clayton Kershaw, RHP Kyle Hurt, RHP River Ryan, RHP Gavin Stone, RHP Emmet Sheehan, RHP Brusdar Graterol, RHP Michael Grove, RHP Evan Phillips, RHP Michael Kopech, RHP Edgardo Henriquez, RHP Michael Kopech.

Fun Fact: Stone led the pitching staff with 10 wins, and only he and Glasnow pitched 100 innings. Fourteen different Dodgers had saves.

Fun Fact II: Yates (with Texas) and Scott (with Miami and San Diego) pitched a combined 133 ⅓ innings last year and gave up 68 hits.

Forecast: If you’re in a nitpicking mood you can doubt their rotation, but the Dodgers turned around the NLDS with a bullpen game in San Diego and never lost again.

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

2024 Record: 89-73.

Rank In Runs Scored: First.

Runs Allowed: Thirteenth.

Manager: Torey Lovullo.

Rotation: Corbin Burnes, Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, Brandon Pfaadt, Eduardo Rodriguez.

Bullpen: Justin Martinez, Kevin Ginkel, Ryan Thompson, Joe Mantiply, Shelby Miller, Ryne Nelson, Bryce Jarvis, Jalen Beeks.

Closer: A.J. Puk.

Lineup: 1B Josh Naylor, 2B Ketel Marte, SS Geraldo Perdomo, 3B Eugenio Suarez, LF Lourdes Gurriel Jr., CF Jake McCarthy, RF Corbin Carroll, DH Pavin Smith, C Gabriel Moreno.:

Injured List: LHP Jordan Montgomery, RHP Kevin Ginkel, RHP Kendall Graveman, LHP Blake Walston, INF Blaze Alexander.

Fun Fact: Carroll has led the league in triples in both his major league seasons.

Fun Fact II: Arizona allowed 39 percent of inherited runners to score, worst figure in the league.

Forecast: If Puk takes up where he left off, this is a stealth contender in October.

SAN DIEGO PADRES

2024 Record: 93–69.

Rank In Runs Scored: Sixth.

Runs Allowed: Third.

Manager: Mike Shildt.

Rotation: Michael King, Dylan Cease, Nick Pivetta, Randy Vazquez, Kyle Hart.

Bullpen: Jason Adam, Jeremiah Estrada, Adrian Morejon, Yuki Matsui, Alek Jacob, Wandy Peralta, Juan Nunez.

Closer: Robert Suarez.

Lineup: 1B Luis Arraez, 2B Jake Cronenworth, SS Xander Bogaerts, 3B Manny Machado, LF Jason Heyward, CF Jackson Merrill, RF Fernando Tatis Jr., DH Gavin Sheets, C Elias Diaz.

Injured List: RHP Yu Darvish, RHP Joe Musgrove, RHP Matt Waldron, RHP Jhony Brito, RHP Bryan Hoeing, RHP Sean Reynolds.

Fun Fact: The Padres have drawn 6.7 million fans to Petco Park the past two seasons.

Fun Fact II: As a 20-year-old rookie Merrill led the league in centerfield assists, was fifth in batting average and sixth in slugging.

Forecast: Padres made some nice, quiet offseason moves (Diaz, Jose Iglesias, Yuli Gurriel, Martin Maldonado) but the rotation has taken too many hits.

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

2004 Record: 80–82.

Rank In Runs Scored: Tenth.

Runs Allowed: Ninth.

Manager: Bob Melvin.

Rotation: Logan Webb, Justin Verlander,Robbie Ray, Jordan Hicks, Landen Roupp.

Bullpen: Tyler Rogers, Camilo Duval, Erik Miller, Lou Trivino, Randy Rodriguez, Spencer Bivens, Hayden Birdsong.

Closer: Ryan Walker.

Lineup: 1B LaMonte Wade, 2B Tyler Fitzgerald, SS Willy Adames, 3B Matt Chapman, LF Heliot Ramos, CF Jung Hoo Lee, RF Mike Yastrzemski, DH Wilmer Flores, C Patrick Bailey.

Injured List: OF Jerar Encarnacion, C Tom Murphy.

Fun Fact: Webb is the only MLB pitcher to go 200 or more innings in each of the past two seasons.

Fun Fact II: Giants were 73-73 in 9-inning games, 24-24 in one-run games, 23-23 in interleague play, and were never more than three games over .500.

Forecast: An elite left side of the infield and a better rotation provides hope.

COLORADO ROCKIES

2024 Record: 61–101.

Rank in Runs Scored: Eleventh.

Runs Allowed: Fifteenth.

Manager: Bud Black.

Rotation: Kyle Freeland, German Marquez, Ryan Feltner, Antonio Senzatela, Bradley Blalock.

Bullpen: Seth Halvorsen, Victor Vodnik, Luis Peralta, Scott Alexander, Jake Bird, Angel Chivilli, Jimmy Herget.

Closer: Tyler Kinley.

Lineup: 1B Michael Toglia, 2B Tyler Freeman, SS Ezequiel Tovar, 3B Ryan McMahon, LF Jordan Beck, CF Brenton Doyle, RF Nick Martini, DH Kris Bryant, C Jacob Stallings.

Injured List: LHP Austin Gomber, 2B Thairo Estrada, RP Jeff Criswell.

Fun Fact: At 22, Tovar led the league in doubles and led the Rockies in home runs.

Fun Fact II: Since Freeland finished fourth in 2018 Cy Young voting, he has won 32 and lost 55.

Forecast: The biggest shocker in baseball this year would be the Rockies finishing anywhere but last.

PREDICTION

Division winners: Philadelphia, Chicago, Los Angeles.

Wild cards: Atlanta, New York, Arizona.

Wild card round: Arizona over Chicago, Atlanta over New York.

Division Series: Los Angeles over Arizona, Atlanta over Philadelphia.

NLCS: Los Angeles over Atlanta.

World Series: Los Angeles over New York.

MVP: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles.

Cy Young: Zack Wheeler, Philadelphia.

Rookie: Dylan Crews, Washington.