Atlanta Braves
The NL East has been the Braves’ division to lose, winning six consecutive divisional titles and the 2021 World Series. More of the same is to be expected from Atlanta.
At the forefront of the Braves’ lineup is Ronald Acuña Jr., fresh off his MVP season, which saw him become the first player in MLB history to have a 40 home run and 70 steals in a single season. First baseman Matt Olson earned his first Silver Slugger award, launching 54 home runs and driving in 139 runs, both best in baseball. Over the past three seasons, third baseman Austin Riley has cemented himself as one of the best at the position. Michael Harris II followed his 2022 NL Rookie of the Year season with similar numbers, proving to be more than a one-year wonder. After an injury-riddled 2022 season, Ozzie Albies returned to his stellar form, posting career highs in home runs and RBIs. Shortstop Orlando Arcia earned an everyday opportunity with Atlanta last season and didn’t waste it, producing his best season, which earned him his first All-Star nomination. Marcell Ozuna packed a punch in the middle of the Atlanta lineup, popping 40 home runs. Catcher Sean Murphy excelled in his first season in Atlanta, making an argument to be a top five catcher.
Though he missed time last season, southpaw Max Fried was elite and as he enters his final season under contract, he’ll want to continue to build his value. Spencer Strider turned in another phenomenal season, leading the MLB in wins and strikeouts. Chris Sale has missed time in each of the last four seasons, but Atlanta has faith that Sale can produce the elite level that he’s shown in years past. Bryce Elder was an All-Star in his second season in the show and will look to take a step into that upper echelon of starters. Atlanta’s top two prospects, AJ Smith-Shawver and Hurston Waldrep, are expected to get the call to the bigs this season and be reliable arms at the end of the rotation. Closer Raisel Iglesias has been elite in a year-plus with Atlanta, producing an ERA south of two, quietly being one of the baseball’s best bullpen arms.
Atlanta’s reign in the NL East is far from over and their goal of returning to the promised land that is the World Series is well within reach.
Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies fell just one game short of winning back-to-back National League pennants. Philadelphia didn’t make many changes, showing that the team’s administration has faith in the team that has been rolled out the last two seasons.
The biggest bat in the Philadelphia lineup is Bryce Harper, who returned well before his anticipated timeline from his elbow surgery and thrived in a new position. The beginning of Trea Turner’s tenure in Philly started very underwhelming before the fans rallied behind Turner, which seemingly turned around his season. Catcher J.T. Realmuto saw a dip in his production, but still remains as one of the best at the position. Second baseman Bryson Stott was sensational in his sophomore season and will look to make another jump forward. Slugger Kyle Schwarber set career bests in home runs and RBIs, proving to be one of the premier power bats in baseball, though he led baseball and set a career worst in strikeouts. Right Fielder Nick Castellanos returned to All-Star form after a woeful first season in the City of Brotherly Love. Alec Bohm was able to add more pop to his bat in 2023, pounding 31 doubles and 20 home runs, while driving in 97 runs.
Philadelphia locked up its two top arms, retaining Aaron Nola on a seven-year deal and agreeing to a three-year extension with Zack Wheeler. Lefty Ranger Suarez remains a reliable arm in the Phillies’ rotation. Taijuan Walker had a season that wasn’t able to meet expectations, but will look to bounce back to a more consistent form. Mick Abel is expected to make an impact at the major league level at some point in the season. Flamethrowing lefty Josè Alvarado is expected to do most of the closing duties for Philadelphia following an exceptional 2023.
Philadelphia will be a team that is in the mix for a playoff spot by the end of the season and if the team is able to make it, there’s no telling what Philly is capable of.
New York Mets
The Mets followed their 101 win season with 26 game regression and tons of disappointment. With a new manager and lower expectations, New York is a team that can fly under many people’s radars.
Shortstop Francisco Lindor has produced back-to-back great seasons after a woeful start in Queens. Pete Alonso continues to be a premier power bat in baseball and with free agency looming next offseason, he has a chance to add more value to his already sky-high worth. The Mets rewarded Brandon Nimmo with an eight-year contract last offseason and he made good on the pact, producing another solid season for the club. Francisco Álvarez showed his elite pop and will look to be a feared bat in the middle of the Mets’ lineup. Jeff McNeil wasn’t able to match the production he showed in 2022, but has his eyes set on returning to one of baseball’s top contact hitters. Starling Marte’s 2023 was catastrophic, missing nearly half the year, while not bringing any value to the lineup. Youngsters Brett Baty and Mark Vientos will look to bounce back from dreadful seasons and prove to be parts of the Mets’ long term future, while Luisangel Acuña and Drew Gilbert are knocking on the door of becoming two vital pieces of the future.
The rotation suffered a huge blow when it was announced that Kodai Senga would be sidelined with a shoulder strain. In his 13 starts, José Qunitana was quality and will get the Opening Day nod this season. Luis Severino remains in New York, though with the Mets now, after a season that Severino would love to forget. The rest of the rotation will be the likes of Sean Manaea, Adrian Houser, and Tylor Megill, all of whom the Mets hope to get reliability from. Returning to the closer role is Edwin Díaz, who missed all of last season after suffering an injury in the World Baseball Classic.
The Mets are at the point of not being bad enough to rebuild, but not truly good enough to make a deep postseason run. However, this season will be a good gauge of which end of the spectrum they are closer to.
Miami Marlins
Outside of the two outlier seasons in 2020 and 2023, the Marlins have been mediocre at best in the last decade-plus. Still, Miami is coming off a playoff berth with the chance to make consecutive appearances for the first time in franchise history.
In his first season in Miami, Luis Arràez continued to prove that he was one of baseball’s best contact hitters, punching 203 hits and leading the MLB in batting average. Jazz Chisholm Jr. missed 65 games last season, but showed his speed and power upside, swiping 22 bases and launching 19 home runs. Miami acquired Josh Bell from Cleveland last year and didn’t disappoint, matching his home run total 44 less games. Similarly to Bell, Jake Burger was acquired last season and went on a tear, hitting .303 in his stint with the Marlins. Coming off a career worst year, Tim Anderson joined the Marlins on a one-year, prove it deal, trying to rebuild his value for next offseason. Dane Myers and Jacob Amaya are two of Miami’s prospects that are expected to produce for the big club after successful seasons in the minors in 2023.
The Marlins pitching staff suffered a huge blow when it was announced that Sandy Alcántara would miss all of 2024. Lefty Jesús Luzardo was stellar last season and will be relied on to be the ace of the rotation this season. In his first season in the pros, Eury Pérez was exceptional, posting a 3.15 ERA in 19 starts. Edward Cabrera showed flashes of excellence last season and will look to sustain that across all of his starts in 2024. Max Meyer debuted in 2022, before suffering an injury that sidelined him for all of 2023. Tanner Scott, Andrew Nardi and Anthony Bender are three of the pitchers in the ‘pen that Miami will turn to late in games.
Miami will have an uphill battle without Alcántara and having to bank on bounce backs and players recovering from injury to return to the playoffs.
Washington Nationals
Since winning the World Series in 2019, the Nationals have sunk to the cellar of the MLB, producing four straight losing seasons, finishing last in the NL East each time. More of the same can be expected, except Washington will have a chance to see what the future of Nationals baseball will look like.
Keibert Ruiz improved offensively, though Washington is hoping for more from their backstop. CJ Abrams was lethal on the base paths, swiping 47 bases, while also packing some pop with 28 doubles and 18 long balls. Lane Thomas produced a career best season, one which saw him hit 36 doubles and 28 home runs, while having 86 RBIs and 20 stolen bases. Joey Meneses is a solid bat in the middle of the lineup, hitting 36 doubles and driving in 89 runs. Nationals top two prospects, Dylan Crews and James Wood, both of who are within the top 15 prospects in baseball, are expected to be big bats for the future of the Nats, with the chance of debuting this season.
Josiah Gray finally showed why he was a highly touted prospect a few years ago, producing his first consistent season, earning an All-Star nod. MacKenzie Gore was solid in his first season in D.C. and will look to become a one-two punch with Gray. Patrick Corbin is in the final year of what has been a dreadful contract with Washington, having an ERA north of five and 15 or more losses in the last three seasons. Cade Cavalli was exceptional with the Rochester Red Wings, the Nats’ AAA affiliate, and will have a chance to be a part of the rotation. Doing late game work for D.C. will be Kyle Finnegan and Hunter Harvey.
Washington is still years away from being a legitimate threat, but this season will be a good chance to see the prospects get some time with the big club, while figuring out which pieces are in the long term plans.
All stats are from Baseball Reference as of March 14, 2024
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