Each NL East Team’s Path to a Division Title
For the past several years, the National League East has been one of, if not the most, competitive divisions in the MLB. However, could it be anyone’s division in 2021? Let’s take a look at how each NL East team can end up with a new divisional title when the 2021 regular season comes to an end.
Atlanta Braves: The Pitching Steps Up
For the past several years, many have chosen the Braves as their favorites to win the division— and for good reason. The Braves are one of the few teams in the entire league that have a balance between the talent to win now and the depth in their farm system to count on a bright future.
Led by the young core of Ronald Acuna Jr., reigning NL MVP Freddie Freeman, and Ozzie Albies, the Braves offense is quite potent. The questions and doubts lie more with their pitching.
Mike Soroka, Max Fried, and Kyle Wright highlight a Braves rotation that looks great on paper, but may still be a few years away from reaching their true peak. If that trio manages to consistently win games like we all know they can next year, then the Braves will be the clear choice to walk away with another NL East title.
Miami Marlins: The Future Arrives Ahead of Schedule
Outside of the world of baseball, 2020 was filled with surprises. However, thanks to the Marlins playoff-worthy run in the shortened season, NL East fans were treated to another bewildering outcome.
Most don’t expect the Marlins to make lightning strike twice in 2021, but their best shot at doing so would be if their pool of young prospects develops into the stars of tomorrow… today. It’s no secret that the Marlins have been rebuilding for the past several seasons, and fast-tracking the rebuild likely seems tempting after reaching the 2020 postseason. However, doing so may do more harm than good in the long-term.
Right now, the Marlins need patience. In an overly-competitive division, it makes little sense to force the issue this year. The Marlins are better off hoping for the best while day-dreaming about the 2027 World Series that should be theirs for the taking.
I don’t expect the Marlins to walk home with a division title in 2021; however, if they do, it is surely thanks to a group of young stars who arrived before they were expected to. It’s unlikely, but if the past year has taught me anything, it’s that stranger things have happened…
New York Mets: Staying Healthy
Many have placed the Mets atop their list of winners of the offseason this year… which has also placed them atop the NL East predicted standings in many cases.
With high-profile acquisitions like Francisco Lindor, it’s difficult to argue against what’s brewing in Queens. However, those who do would likely point to the fact that little-to-no Mets players have avoided the IL in any of the past few seasons.
With a top-tier pitching staff and a seemingly potent lineup for 2021, the Mets are a strong bet for the divisional crown— but they need to stay on the field to win it. Noah Syndergaard is one of the most alarming cases. The flame throwing right-hander has been riddled with shoulder and throwing-arm injuries over the past few seasons, and even though the Mets have greatly improved their roster, they cannot do it without him.
Philadelphia Phillies: The Offense Takes Over
With J.T. Realmuto returning to Philadelphia this year, Phillies fans have exhaled quite a bit for now. However, most would agree that this is a team that has underperformed in recent years. When looking at the star power of their lineup, it’s hard to disagree.
So what has caused the recent woes in the City of Brotherly Love? Pitching. The achilles heel of the Phillies has been inconsistent pitching and a bullpen that has been referred to as a dumpster-fire— and that’s putting it kindly. The pitching may step up and surprise us all this year, but that does not change the fact that the greatest strength of this Phillies team is their offense.
With names that scare even the toughest pitchers in the league, this Phillies offense needs to top the MLB in several offensive categories to compete with this overly-crowded NL East.
Washington Nationals: The New Acquisitions Pay Off
After a disappointing title-defense in the shortened 2020 season, GM Mike Rizzo has made some eyebrow-raising moves this offseason to strengthen this Nationals roster. However, some of those new acquisitions struggled this past season— namely, 1B Josh Bell (.226/.305/.364 slash line in 2020) and OF Kyle Schwarber (.188/.308/.393).
It’s wrong to judge a shortened season as the end-all-be-all predictor for this one, but if the Nats want to return to a divisional title for the first time since 2017, the two big-bat newcomers need to patch some serious gaps in the lineup left by the departure of Anthony Rendon.
Five breakout players for 2021. dark. Next
In the bullpen, the common theme of the NL East in recent years has been inconsistency. Few NL East teams have managed to maintain a reliable bullpen. The Nats made great strides with young reliever Tanner Rainey last year, and the signing of closer Brad Hand gives the Nats a high-profile bullpen that needs to be lights out with so many high-caliber offenses within their own division.