Atlanta Braves, New York Mets, or Philadelphia Phillies? Who has best NL East lineup?

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 11: Ronald Acuna Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves rounds the bases against the Philadelphia Phillies during the third inning in game one of the National League Division Series at Truist Park on October 11, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 11: Ronald Acuna Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves rounds the bases against the Philadelphia Phillies during the third inning in game one of the National League Division Series at Truist Park on October 11, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
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Trea Turner, Phillies
PHILADELPHIA, PA – DECEMBER 08: Trea Turner # 7 of the Philadelphia Phillies smiles during his introductory press conference at Citizens Bank Park on December 8, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

2023 Philadelphia Phillies projected lineup and wRC+

  1. Turner, SS (127)
  2. Schwarber, LF (129)
  3. Hoskins, 1B (121)
  4. Realmuto, C (113)
  5. Castellanos, RF (108)
  6. Hall, DH (101)
  7. Bohm, 3B (104)
  8. Stott, 2B (96)
  9. Marsh, CF (82)
  • Team Average: 109

Note: The Phillies added Trea Turner at the top of their lineup, which will be a big upgrade over Jean Segura. However, from Castellanos to Marsh, the Phillies lineup drops off a lot whereas the Braves and Mets lineups don’t have that huge of a dropoff. They are projected to go 87-75, which would be third in NL East. That’s where their lineup ranks in the NL East as well. It would also be good enough for them to get to the playoffs as the third NL Wild Card team so, perhaps, they could repeat what they did last year.

2022 Washington Nationals projected lineup and wRC+

  1. Thomas, CF (102)
  2. Abrams, SS (91)
  3. Meneses, DH (110)
  4. Ruiz, C (106)
  5. Dickerson, LF (98)
  6. Candelario, 3B (104)
  7. Garcia, 2B (98)
  8. Smith, 1B (101)
  9. Robles, CF (81)
  • Team Average: 99

For a team that lost 107 games in 2022, you may think that having a 99 wRC+ sounds a bit high. However, they had a 93 wRC+ last season and a 99 OPS+ … but that was with about 100 games of Juan Soto. They have some prospects that should take a step forward, like Keibert Ruiz. Their biggest problem is that they have an atrocious pitching staff. You simply cannot compete under any circumstances with a team ERA+ of 79. They are projected to go 64-98 in 2023.

So, at least for the NL East, the lineup projections seem to be very indicative of how things could be in 2023 but without the Braves addressing left field and the Mets having a full season of Daniel Vogelbach and if they have a healthy Omar Narvaez, that gives them a slight edge for their lineup … and maybe even a slight edge in the division.