Predicting the N.L. East

 This may be the toughest division to predict as the top three teams are pretty equal in talent and roster depth.  I'm leaning towards the Mets, but it is likely that three teams from this division reach the playoffs.

N.L. East

            Pecota                Wins                                                Cru's Corner                    Wins

1.  Atl                            90.5                                                1.  Mets                            91

2.  Mets                        89.2                                                 2.  Phil                              89

3.  Phil                          85.5                                                3.  Atl                                87

4.  Mia                        74.5                                                  4.  Mia                               70

5.  Wash                       66.0                                                5.  Wash                            64

     The New York Mets will look to have their expectations meet reality again this year, and must find a way to accomplish this without their top power hitter Pete Alonso.  The Mets brass has been willing to spend the past two winters and they certainly expect a winner in 20026.  Bo Bichette and a revamped approach at the plate for Luis Robert Jr., have Mets fans thinking playoffs this season.  If the Mets can keep Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto, and Marcus Semein healthy, they should have enough to win the East.  Adding Freddy Peralta to the staff with Nolan McLean and Clay holmes will give them enough arms for 162 games, but may not make them a team to fear in the playoffs.  Watch for a big time move at the trade deadline to aquire another top arm.

     Every year the experts pick the Mets and Braves to win this division, and every year the Phillies seem to end up at the top.  The Phillies return most of last seasons line-up; however they have upgraded in right field by adding Adolis Garcia to replace Nick Castellanos.  Garcia will give them the power that was missing from the corner outfield spot last season.  Trae Turner, Kyle Schwarber, and Bryce Harper give the Phillies an elite top of the order, and Bryson Stott, Brandon Marsh, and Alex Bohm are all veterans with proven numbers. The only question mark in the lineup will be non roster invitee Justin Crawford in centerfield, however he will hit ninth and not be a pivotal player offensively. Their pitching is solid with Cristopher Sanchez, Jesus Lazardo, Aaron Nola, and a young Andrew Painter who might be a super star in the very near future.  Closer Jhoan Duran and eighth inning specialist Jose Alverado make comebacks impossible for opponents.

     The Atlanta Braves are banking the 2026 season on the health of their veteran pitching staff.  Chris Sale is as good a left-hander as the game has when healthy, and Spencer Strider proved he can be a Cy Young candidate with 30 starts.  The early injury to Spencer Schwellenbach is definitely a concern and has the Braves relying heavily on veterans like Reynaldo Lopez and Bryce Elder to carry a bigger load.  Still any line-up with Ronald Acuna Jr., Matt Olson, Drake Baldwin, Ozzie Albies, and Austin Riley will keep a team in contention for the Crown.  Quietly picking up Jurickson Profar and Mike Yastrzemski was big for the Braves as both will provide everyday starters in a line-up hurt by injury in the past.

     I picked the Marlins ahead of the Nationals simply because of pitching.  Sandy Alcantara was starting to come around at the end of the season and was once a dominating starter.  Eury Perez is a bulldog top of the order arm and will be sought by every team at the trade deadline.  Max Meyer is a hard throwing first round draft pick in 2020 looking to make his mark in the big leagues.  Kyle Stowers should continue to provide power numbers and Owen Caissie might do the same from right field.  There are starting nines in college baseball with an average age about the same as the Marlins, but good young talent will play hard to win a big league job.  We will see how many of these guys stick in the bigs.

     The Nationals have also decided to go with the youth movement; however I can't figure out their direction.  C.J. Abrams and Dylan Crews provides a nice starting point for rebuilding, but relying so heavily on young arms like Brad Lord, Cade Cavalli, and Cole Henry makes little sense.  When Miles Mikolas is your ace, you are in trouble. 

     The Braves, Phillies, and Mets will battle all year for the top spot, but I have the Mets being a little stronger over the 162 game schedule.