Braves, Nationals, Mets, Marlins, Phillies: The good, bad and injured in the NL East
By Beau Adams
The Bad
The Philidelphia Phillies (29-32) are bad. Last year’s National League champion was a heavy favorite to contend after signing mega free agent start Trea Turner. However, Turner has been a high-dollar disappointment. His .240 batting average is a career-low, and is only on pace for 17 homers in 2023.
Kyle Schwarber is dropping bombs, 16 home runs on the season, but he is hitting an abysmal .173, struck out 77 times, and left 93 runners on base. Combine these issues with Harper’s injury to start the season, and the Phillies are bad.
NL East even worse
The Washington Nationals (25-36) are even worse and in last place in the NL East. In the National League, they are in the bottom five in RBI and runs. They are last in the NL in walks and home runs. The only team with a lower winning percentage is the St. Louis Cardinals (.403).
Not only are they not hitting homers, but they are also giving up an NL most of 83. That means they are giving up 1.7 home run to each one they hit. That’s the worst in the MLB, for the worst team in the NL East.
On the mound, they are just as bad; they are in the bottom five of the NL in wins, ERA, WHIP, walks, and average against. There is no doubt the Nationals are sellers now, and sadly, their only trade chips are Jeimer Candelario, Victor Robles, and Chad Kuhl. That’s not going to fetch very much at the trade deadline.