Predicting the 2022 NL East standings
By David Hill
4. Miami Marlins
It would not be a surprise to see the Miami Marlins move up the standings and hover around .500 this year. However, they still have a few flaws to address before they can truly be considered a viable contender.
The Marlins certainly did their best to upgrade the lineup. They traded for Jacob Stallings and Joey Wendle. Avisail Garcia and Jorge Soler were brought in via free agency. The Marlins were even in on Starling Marte before he signed in New York, showing a willingness to spend that had not been seen in years. Add in a strong rotation and the Marlins have the beginnings of a strong roster.
But they need more. The bullpen is a question mark and there may not be enough firepower in the lineup just yet. The likes of Jazz Chisholm and Jesus Sanchez are exciting players but will also have some more growing pains. While the Marlins seemingly have a bright future, it does not appear to be there yet.
3. Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies seem destined to be in third place in the NL East and at approximately .500 every year. 2022 does not promise to be an exception.
This time, the Phillies took a slightly different path in free agency. They loaded up on offense, adding Kyle Schwarber and Nick Castellanos to make the lineup much deeper. And, as is always the case, they added several pieces in their quixotic quest to find a viable bullpen. At least Hector Neris is no longer in the picture.
However, the same issues remain. The rotation has several question marks even if the names are different. Their bullpen still may not be good enough. It is possible that the Phillies look to win games 8-7 on days that Zack Wheeler is not pitching. Once again, this appears to be a team destined to finish around .500 and end up third in the NL East.