Predicting the Entire 2016 National League Playoff Field
Seven months from October baseball, it’s hard to tell who will be playing beyond the regular season in the National League. However, of the seven or eight teams that seem competitive, only five can make the playoffs.
Based on offseason moves, how their clubhouses seem to be meshing, and the current roster each team has, here are the five most likely teams to reach the postseason out of the National League in 2016.
Next: Wild Card No. 2 - New York Mets
Wild Card No. 2 – New York Mets
Most believe the Mets will cruise to a National League East division title, but it won’t be as easy as many think. They’re going to have to fend off a hungry Nationals team, which has just as much overall talent.
Of course, the Mets have more talent in the pitching department, as they figure to have the deepest starting rotation in the game. However, there are serious questions marks for this team offensively. While they managed to retain Yoenis Cespedes, it is highly unlikely he duplicates his performance from last season’s second half over an entire season.
Outside of Travis d’Arnaud and Michael Conforto, the lineup is aging and inconsistent. The team doesn’t know what it’s going to get from David Wright after he missed most of last season. With such a talented rotation, New York will find a way to make the playoffs, but it may not be as a division winner as many assume it will be.
Next: Wild Card No. 1 - Pittsburgh Pirates
Wild Card No. 1 – Pittsburgh Pirates
The poor Pirates seem like they’re playing in the wild card playoff game every single year. They’ve hosted the game in each of the last three years and have won just once. If they finish in this spot, Pittsburgh will once again play host to the National League’s wild card game.
This team certainly has the lineup depth to make a deep October run, although there are question marks in the rotation, especially with A.J. Burnett leaving the team. Gerrit Cole could take the next step in his career and become a Cy Young award contender.
When it comes down to it, though, the team just can’t match the firepower of the Cubs. Chicago is just as deep, has better pitching and appears to be the hungrier team at this point. A lot can change over the course of the season, but the Pirates look destined to be a tough-luck wild card team once again.
Next: NL West Champion - San Francisco Giants
NL West Champion – San Francisco Giants
Yes, this means the Dodgers miss out on the playoffs this season. They simply don’t have the top-of-the-rotation pitching past Clayton Kershaw now that Zack Greinke is in Arizona. At the end of the day, the Giants’ depth will help them outlast L.A. and Arizona in the division.
Last season, the team was hit by the injury bug hard. The chances of them being hit so hard by injury again is very low. On top of that, the team improved its depth a lot this offseason with the additions of pitchers Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija as well as outfielder Denard Span.
This is an even year, which means it’s time for the Giants to win it all again. Obviously, it doesn’t perfectly work like that, but it has become a mindset with San Francisco over the past half decade. It remains to be seen if they have the ability to win it all again, but they certainly seem capable of winning their division.
Next: NL Central Champion - Chicago Cubs
NL Central Champion – Chicago Cubs
The Cubs wanted to build on their momentum from last year, and boy, did they do that this offseason. They took away the best hitter and one of the best pitchers from the rival Cardinals in outfielder Jason Heyward and righty John Lackey. Oh, and they added second baseman, and great locker room guy, Ben Zobrist to the fold.
On paper, this team is the most stacked in the league. Of course, that doesn’t guarantee success once games are actually played, but it’s hard to imagine this team winning less than 90 games this year. In a very tough division, they very well may need 95-98 wins to take the NL Central. They’re more than capable of doing that.
The young players on the team could be up and down this year, but the veteran presence the front office has built up should counteract that. As long as the team plays to its potential, it will win the division and it will have its sights set on something nobody has seen in 108 years.
Next: NL East Champion - Washington Nationals
NL East Champion – Washington Nationals
With the best hitter on the planet and a clean bill of health, the Nationals look dangerous again in 2016. Coming off a disappointing 2015 campaign, this team figures to be one of the hungrier clubs in the league.
Their starting pitching can’t match the rival Mets, but the lineup is certainly more dependable than their divisional counterparts. This division race is one to watch all season long, but by the time it’s all said and done, Dusty Baker‘s squad will surprise some people and come out on top.
A year after disappointment, never underestimate a team’s resolve. This club was a mess toward the end last year, but they are starting over this season. Their determination mixed with their talent will help them to a division title and get back into the postseason.