NL East brings jumbled mix for division championship

The NL East is full of intrigue and speculation heading into the 2019 season and it’s clear this is the division to watch as the season progresses.

Here’s a look at the clubs within the NL East.

Philadelphia Phillies

Aaron Nola was the main attraction for the Phils a season ago and was in the running for a Cy Young Award, but he should get more help this year as he will enter his second season as the team’s ace.

Nick Pivetta has shown stretches of dominance and if he can step up and pack more of a punch, then a rotation with Nola, Pivetta, former Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta and Zach Eflin should be good enough to help the Phils reach first place in the division.

The additions of JT Realmuto, Jean Segura, Andrew McCutchen and David Robertson adds the right amount of experience and production to a team that is full of young bullpen talent and a lineup that includes Rhys Hoskins and Odubel Herrera.

If the Phils can find another bat to shift their offense into another gear, than there shouldn’t be any second half slump in ’19.

Washington Nationals

The Nationals are the favorites to win this division because they are one of the more complete teams in The Show.

How do you look past a lineup that includes, Trea Turner, Juan Soto, Adam Eaton, Ryan Zimmerman and Anthony Rendon?

Oh I forgot to mention their rotation which has the services of Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and newcomer Patrick Corbin.

The Nats will need to monitor their bullpen since there is still uncertainty there, but if Koda Glover takes the next step in his development than D.C. might have a World Series title coming its way.

If Washington gets strong production from its younger bullpen pieces, then the sky will be the limit as far as ruling the NL for years to come, let alone the NL East.

New York Mets

The Mets have some buzz around them this year after a lackluster showing in ’18.

Robinson Cano, Wilson Ramos and Jed Lowrie add experience and will bring much needed umph to New York’s everyday lineup.

With Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard and Zack Wheeler in the rotation and Edwin Diaz, Justin Wilson and Jeurys Familia in the pen, the Mets are officially flawless, right?

Wrong.

Last time I checked there are a lot of younger players in the pen and throughout the Mets roster that need to be more productive in order for NY to see another winner in the orange and blue.

It looks like Dominic Smith could be the Mets everyday first baseman after hitting five homers and driving in 11 RBIs in ’18.

Right-handed pitcher Paul Sewald might be one of the main options used out of the pen this year and he is coming off of a lousy campaign (6.07 ERA).

Despite some excitement around the Mets new additions, it is really important to evaluate and be realistic when it comes to other players on New York’s roster.

Miami Marlins

After going 63-98 last season and finishing dead last in the NL East, Miami probably won’t get any better after trading away prized catcher JT Realmuto.

It’s hard to imagine the fish becoming a playoff team in the next four years, but the most important thing is developing their young players and focusing on drafting well.

Expect the Marlins to have less than 60 wins in 2019 and who knows maybe Miami finds a way to acquire a free agent with interest in resurrecting them.

Jose Urena is the player to watch in Miami. The right-handed starter went 9-12 with 130 strikeouts and a 3.98 ERA.

Urena walked 51 batters in 174 innings pitched and if all goes well to start the season, maybe the 27-year old gets traded at the trade deadline.

Outfielder Lewis Brinson had 42 RBIs with the Marlins last year and should get better after posting a .199 average (.239 post all-star break.)

Miami will need to fix its bullpen quickly after losing Kyle Barraclough (traded to Nationals), Nick Wittgren (traded to Indians) and Brad Ziegler (retirement).

Atlanta Braves

The Braves have been pretty quiet this offseason, but they have one of the more complete teams in the MLB.

Sure the bullpen could use an extra arm or two, but they have a rotation with highly productive arms and a lineup which now includes Josh Donaldson.

Ronald Acuna Jr. and Ozzie Albies are coming off a fantastic 2018 campaign and Freddie Freeman (23 homers and 98 RBIs in ’18) remains one of the best power hitters in the game today.

The Braves should finish at least in second place in the NL East, but if Shane Carle, A.J. Minter and Arodys Vizcaino can take the next step, then Atlanta should make a deep run in the playoffs this year.

Fiuza can be reached on his radio show’s twitter page @MakinItBig1