After a long winter full of changes around the MLB, Opening Night is closing in.
Every division went through some major changes, but when the season begins on April 3, all 30 clubs will be hoping to end the campaign with a World Series championship.
In the National League East, it appears as though the Mets and Nationals will be jockeying for supremacy, while the Marlins may show some improvement and the Braves and Phillies look to be building toward the future.
Here is our preview and predictions for how things will play out in the NL East in the order of how the team's finished last season. To view this article in slideshow form, CLICK START at the top right of this page
New York Mets (90-72 in 2015)
The Mets made a shocking run not just to the NL East title last season, but all the way to the World Series. Though they lost in five games to the Royals, it was a huge step for the young rotation.
New York's major strength is obviously its rotation, with young guns in 2015 NL Comeback Player of the Year Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Steven Matz and Zack Wheeler, who will return from Tommy John surgery in June or July.
Ageless wonder Bartolo Colon will also do his part to hold down the fort until Wheeler returns. In the bullpen, Jeurys Familia will look to continue his dominance after collecting 43 saves (3rd in MLB) last season.
Trading for Yoenis Cespedes propelled the Mets to a new stratosphere late last summer and things are looking up after they unexpectedly re-signed him this winter. Cespedes hit 17 homers in 57 games with the Amazin's after the trade. With David Wright's spinal stenosis still a problem, it was huge for the Mets to retain a big bat in the middle of their lineup.
Major changes this offseason saw playoff hero Daniel Murphy depart, while New York revamped its middle infield by signing Asdrubal Cabrera, who may start the season on the disabled list, and Neil Walker.
After a surprising 2015, the Mets seem poised to be a great force in the NL East in 2016.
Washington Nationals (83-79)
Most pundits expected the Nationals to run away with the NL East last season, but they imploded. Though the Mets have an unbelievable rotation, Washington is unlikely to recede the same way they did in 2015 and it should be a tough fight to the end with Dusty Baker now calling the shots.
The Nationals boast 2015 NL MVP Bryce Harper, who is likely set for another big year after finishing first in the majors in OPS (1.109), second in runs (118) and third in homers (42, tied) and batting average (.330) last season. Washington added Daniel Murphy to its lineup and also brought in Ben Revere to serve as its leadoff hitter.
The rotation is also very strong, led by Max Scherzer, who finished second in the MLB with 276 strikeouts last season. Gio Gonzalez, Stephen Strasburg, Tanner Roark and Joe Ross are expected to round out the starting corps.
Washington certainly has a lineup and a rotation strong enough to wrest the division away from the Mets this season.
Miami Marlins (71-91)
Don Mattingly is the new manager at the helm this year and he has two studs on his team, which may not have enough strength to get over the hump. Giancarlo Stanton is obviously one of the best hitters in the league, while young ace Jose Fernandez, who went 6-1 with a 2.92 ERA in 11 games after returning from Tommy John surgery last year, leads the rotation.
Miami should have a solid outfield as Stanton is joined by Christian Yelich and Marcell Ozuna. Dee Gordon had a huge year for the Marlins last season, leading the NL in batting average (.333), stolen bases (58) and hits (205). First baseman Justin Bour also showed his pop, hitting 23 homers in 2015.
The Marlins had a quiet offseason, but they brought in Wei-Yi Chen out of free agency to pair with Fernandez at the top of the rotation. Rounding out the arms are Jarred Cosart and Tom Koehler, while Edwin Jackson could earn the fifth spot.
It'll be an interesting year for Miami to see if it parts ways with any of its major pieces, but the club is unlikely to clinch a playoff berth.
Atlanta Braves (67-95)
The Braves are in full-on rebuilding mode and hauled in a king's ransom this offseason when they traded Shelby Miller to the Diamondbacks in exchange for outfielder Ender Inciarte, former No. 1 overall pick Dansby Swanson and pitching prospect Aaron Blair.
Swanson, 19, a shortstop, should eventually be the club's franchise player at the position, especially now that Andrelton Simmons was dealt to the Angels. Atlanta is seemingly building around first baseman Freddie Freeman, 26, though he may eventually be traded for more pieces as the team prepares to move to Cobb County, Ga. in 2017.
This offseason, the Braves mostly made moves to shore up their future and bench, but Inciarte and shortstop Erick Aybar were brought in to impact the lineup. Julio Teheran will lead the pitching staff, while Bud Norris was signed to fill out the middle of the rotation.
With Atlanta in full rebuilding mode, they'll likely be battling the Phillies to see who will finish at the bottom of the division.
Philadelphia Phillies (63-99)
The Phillies finally committed to their rebuild as the lone players from their main core remaining are first baseman Ryan Howard and catcher Carlos Ruiz, who is expected to be the backup behind Cameron Rupp.
In the offseason, Philadelphia claimed Peter Bourjos off of waivers from the Cardinals and he is projected to be their starting left fielder this season. The Phillies have a promising future and one key player to watch this season is third baseman Maikel Franco, who hit .280 with 14 homers and 50 RBI in 80 games last season.
The rotation is pretty thin for Philadelphia as aside from Jeremy Hellickson and Aaron Nola, the group doesn't look very imposing.
The future is bright for the Phillies, but the present likely means a long 2016 as the young prospects continue to slowly develop.
The Prediction
Here are our projected standings for the NL East in 2016:
1) Mets (91-71)
2) Nationals (86-76)
3) Marlins (81-81)
4) Braves (63-99)
5) Phillies (62-100)
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