In theory, having an entire division separated by one game with the first month of the season coming to a close is a positive. This would seemingly lead to exciting battles throughout the season as those teams batter one another in their quest for divisional supremacy. In a division as talented as the NL East, this would be even more of a positive.
The only problem is that the division is this close for a reason. Heading into Friday’s action, none of the five teams in the division are over .500. Only the Marlins, at +12, have a positive run differential. The division has not lived up to expectations.
Does anyone actually want to win the NL East?
To be fair, the division was expected to be close. As it stands, the Phillies, Braves, and Mets are tied for first. Miami is a half game back, with the Nationals just one game out of the division. While almost every team in the majors can claim that it is early and they have a chance, that is particularly the case in the NL East.
But almost every team in the division has disappointed. The Phillies’ revamped bullpen is a disaster once again, and there are questions about the back half of their rotation. Atlanta’s offense has been stellar, while the pitching staff has The opposite has been true for the Mets, particularly in any games Jacob deGrom has started. Miami and Washington have been riddled with injuries, as key pieces of their lineup and pitching staff are on the shelf.
Eventually, one would have to anticipate that one of these teams will get hot and seize the division for themselves. It is bound to happen given the sheer amount of talent on these rosters. However, with the unbalanced schedule, these teams will also face one another 76 times this season. By beating one another up, having one team take over may not happen.
At the end of the day, one of these teams will come out on top. The NL East may be hard pressed to have a team win 90 games, but one team will find their way to the postseason. Considering how battle tested that team will be, they could be a surprise based on their record. But first, they need to win the division.
None of the teams in the NL East are over .500 at this point in the season. It is fair to wonder whether or not any team will pull away this year.