2016 MLB Picks & Predictions: National League East Expert Predictions & Forecast

2016 MLB Picks & Predictions – National League East Expert Predictions & Forecast: The 2016 Major League Baseball season is fast approaching, and with pitchers and catchers already reporting, it is time to start taking a closer look at how the divisions stack up. We will start in the National League East where last year’s pennant winners, the New York Mets, reside.

Overall, the division shapes up to be top heavy. This in part because Washington and New York are among the more talented teams in the National League, let alone the division. However, it is also because Atlanta and Philadelphia are in full fledge rebuilding mode and could both flirt with 100 losses. With that in mind, let’s take a look at how the NL East stacks up. Don’t forget to check out NSAwins.com this season for the best expert MLB picks and free MLB picks each game day.

2016 MLB Picks & Predictions: National League East Expert Predictions & Forecast

1. Washington Nationals

A year after being one of the biggest disappointments in the majors, the Nationals are poised to bounce back. After all, they have an MVP anchoring their lineup in Bryce Harper, and a healthy Anthony Rendon and Ryan Zimmerman should will bolster the offense tremendously. Max Scherzer is a Cy Young candidate at the top of the rotation, and don’t be surprised when Stephen Strasburg lives up to expectations in a contract year. Say what you want about new manager Dusty Baker, but there is no denying that he has gotten the most out of his teams, at least in the short term. This team has too much talent to fall flat again.

2. New York Mets

After winning the National League pennant last year, the Mets aren’t going to go away. However, their lineup is comprised mainly of all-or-nothing hitters and guys on the wrong side of their prime. Of course, their starting pitching could be the best in the league, but they have a lot of young arms that are going to be asked to throw more innings than ever before. The Mets should definitely be in the hunt for a playoff spot, but they are one injury to a starting pitcher away from being in a shaky situation.

3. Miami Marlins

The Marlins have an elite power hitter in Giancarlo Stanton, a terror on the bases in Dee Gordon and a Cy Young candidate in Jose Fernandez. Unfortunately, they have a lot of question marks everywhere else. Bottom line, they have enough star power to finish above the bottom dwellers of the division, but they don’t have enough depth, particularly when it comes to starting pitching, to contend for the division crown.

4. Atlanta Braves

The roster has experienced a sharp decline in talent in recent years, and while Freddie Freeman is a reliable bat in the middle of the lineup and Julian Teheran can pitch like an ace at times, the Braves simply don’t have enough weapons to make any kind of noise in this division. Their starting rotation in particular is well below average.

5. Philadelphia Phillies

On the plus side, the Phillies have a promising young bat in Maikel Franco and an intriguing starter in Aaron Nola. However, they are nowhere near ready to carry a team, especially a team with a roster as weak as Philadelphia’s. The Phillies’ rotation full of retreads is going to make it hard for them to maintain any measure of success. Heck, Jeremy Hellickson is expected to be their No. 2 starter. Philadelphia is admittedly in rebuilding mode, and the sad state of the roster is proof of that.

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