In the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers, the National League West had the 2 finest groups within the majors through the 2021 common season. But after profitable the N.L. East (once more), the scrappy Atlanta Braves knocked off the Dodgers within the National League Championship Series after which upset the Houston Astros within the World Series. While hoping for a repeat, Atlanta faces a frightening problem within the type of Steven A. Cohen’s large checking account, because the Mets’ proprietor appears decided to spend no matter it takes to get his childhood favourite crew its first title since 1986.
Here is a team-by-team take a look at the explanations for every N.L. membership to be optimistic and pessimistic this season.
National League East
Mets
Last season: 77-85 | Key additions: Max Scherzer (P), Chris Bassitt (P), Starling Marte (OF), Eduardo Escobar (3B), Mark Canha (1B/OF), Adam Ottavino (P) | Key subtractions: Michael Conforto (OF), Kevin Pillar (OF)
Half Full: While Jacob deGrom will probably be out for a number of months with a shoulder damage, the additions of Max Scherzer and Chris Bassitt make shedding deGrom sting far lower than it did final yr. The crew additionally addressed its offensive depth. With Steven A. Cohen paying the payments, there may be additionally the expectation that there will probably be extra additions because the season progresses.
Half Empty: Despite his excessive price ticket, Starling Marte shouldn’t be a very good defensive heart fielder, leaving that place a bit shaky. When factoring in Scherzer’s age and deGrom’s damage historical past, there may be the potential for an enormous low season to finish up as a really costly letdown.
Atlanta Braves
Last season: 88-73 | Key additions: Matt Olson (1B), Kenley Jansen (P), Collin McHugh (P) | Key subtractions: Freddie Freeman (1B; face of franchise), Jorge Soler (OF)
Half Full: Atlanta rebuilt its roster on the fly final season and a lot of the crew is again, with big reinforcements coming within the type of first baseman Matt Olson and outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. A two-time All-Star, Acuña is concentrating on May for his return from knee surgical procedure. Kenley Jansen and Collin McHugh add to an already-strong bullpen, and the crew’s rotation could possibly be higher than anticipated if Max Fried and Ian Anderson proceed to develop and Mike Soroka will get again on the sphere after an Achilles tear final season.
Half Empty: Jorge Soler had an enormous World Series, however his loss will barely make a ripple in comparison with the huge wave of laborious emotions on the departure of Freddie Freeman, a beloved fixture within the crew’s lineup for greater than a decade.
Philadelphia Phillies
Last season: 82-80 | Key additions: Nick Castellanos (OF/D.H.), Kyle Schwarber (OF/D.H.) | Key subtractions: Andrew McCutchen (OF)
Half Full: The additions of Nick Castellanos and Kyle Schwarber ought to dramatically enhance the crew’s run manufacturing, whereas the event of the lefty Ranger Suárez might give Philadelphia a stable No. 3 starter behind the right-handers Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola.
Half Empty: Have you ever seen Castellanos or Schwarber play protection? Until the N.L. permits two designated hitters per sport, the Phillies will probably be in for some miscues.
Washington Nationals
Last season: 65-97 | Key additions: Nelson Cruz (D.H.), Dee Strange-Gordon (2B/OF) | Key subtractions: They traded practically everybody final July and Ryan Zimmerman retired.
The M.L.B. Lockout Comes to an End
Half Full: It is completely exhilarating to look at outfielder Juan Soto play baseball and Washington’s rotation has sufficient expertise to win some video games even when the remainder of the offense doesn’t do a lot.
Half Empty: After buying and selling away Max Scherzer, Trea Turner and Kyle Schwarber final season, the crew signaled {that a} huge rebuild was within the works. It doesn’t seem that it’s anyplace near carried out.
Miami Marlins
Last season: 67-95 | Key additions: Jorge Soler (OF/D.H.), Avisaíl García (OF), Joey Wendle (INF), Jacob Stallings (C) | Key subtractions: Derek Jeter (chief govt)
Half Full: Despite a fame for avoiding spending cash, the Marlins made some particular upgrades via free company. Jorge Soler particularly might thrive in the course of the crew’s batting order.
Half Empty: Those costly upgrades have been obligatory as a result of Miami traded away most of its notable gamers final yr. That Derek Jeter determined to stroll away shouldn’t be a very good signal for the crew’s course.
Milwaukee Brewers
Last season: 95-67 | Key additions: Andrew McCutchen (OF), Hunter Renfroe (OF) | Key subtractions: Jackie Bradley Jr. (OF), Brett Anderson (P)
Half Full: The band is again collectively, with no vital departures from a crew that simply gained its division final yr. Andrew McCutchen and Hunter Renfroe are stable additions within the outfield and a top-notch beginning rotation returns three aces in Brandon Woodruff, Freddy Peralta, and Corbin Burnes, the 2021 Cy Young Award winner.
Half Empty: Outfielder Christian Yelich has spent two years struggling after he gained the N.L.’s Most Valuable Player Award in 2018 and completed second within the award’s voting in 2019. It is unclear if his days of stardom are over.
St. Louis Cardinals
Last season: 90-72 | Key additions: Steven Matz (P), Albert Pujols (1B/D.H.), Corey Dickerson (OF) | Key subtractions: Andrew Miller (P) and Jon Lester (P) retired
Half Full: The crew — which briefly appeared dominant in a 17-game profitable streak down the stretch final yr — hopes a shift to Oliver Marmol at supervisor will assist even issues out in 2022. Albert Pujols’s return is usually symbolic however the left-handed pitcher Steven Matz could possibly be an enormous addition to the beginning rotation.
Half Empty: Former superstars returning to their authentic membership of their 40s shouldn’t be normally a recipe for achievement and lots of the Cardinals’ issues from final yr — a top-heavy lineup, a skinny rotation, a questionable bullpen — are nonetheless very a lot there no matter who’s managing.
Chicago Cubs
Last season: 71-91 | Key additions: Seiya Suzuki (OF), Marcus Stroman (P), Yan Gomes (C), Clint Frazier (OF), Jonathan Villar (3B) | Key subtractions: None of be aware after the commerce deadline
Half Full: The crew bought a large rebuild began early by buying and selling away the core of the 2016 championship crew final summer time — even some non-core gamers have been despatched packing — and is now in build-back mode with the additions of Seiya Suzuki, a power-hitting outfielder from Japan, and the right-handed pitcher Marcus Stroman, who was an All-Star for the Mets final season.
Half Empty: The roster shouldn’t be barren however it’s unrecognizable after so many franchise mainstays, like Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo, have been despatched packing. Considering the excessive worth tags every of these core gamers fetched in free company, they could have made the precise name but it surely could possibly be some time earlier than Chicago is a contender.
Cincinnati Reds
Last season: 83-79 | Key additions: Jake Fraley (OF), Justin Dunn (P) | Key subtractions: Nick Castellanos (OF), Jesse Winker (OF), Eugenio Suárez (3B), Amir Garrett (P)
Half Full: If you’ll be able to ignore the remainder of the crew, second baseman Jonathan India, the 2021 N.L. rookie of the yr, is pleasant, and first baseman Joey Votto is a real skilled on an unconventional path to potential Cooperstown induction.
Half Empty: The remainder of the crew — stripped naked in a sequence of cost-cutting strikes — continues to be there.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Last season: 61-101 | Key additions: Roberto Pérez (C) | Key subtractions: Jacob Stallings (C)
Half Full: Third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes has the expertise to be a star and outfielder Bryan Reynolds already is one after hitting .302 with 24 homers final season. Even higher: Reynolds has mentioned he’d like to remain in Pittsburgh long-term.
Half Empty: The Pirates, because the Pirates do, have indicated that Reynolds, 27, could also be too previous to be a part of the crew’s long-term future, so the beginning heart fielder in final yr’s All-Star Game could possibly be on the transfer quickly.
National League West
Los Angeles Dodgers
Last season: 106-56 | Key additions: Freddie Freeman (1B), Craig Kimbrel (P), Kevin Pillar (OF), Andrew Heaney (P), Daniel Hudson (P) | Key subtractions: Corey Seager (SS), Max Scherzer (P), Kenley Jansen (P)
Half Full: If you’ll be able to lose an All-Star shortstop, however you already had one other one, and you’ll lose an ace starter, since you’ve two others, you’re the Dodgers. A crew with outrageous depth constructed via years of shrewd strikes (and outrageous spending), Los Angeles won’t even take a step again because of the addition of Freddie Freeman.
Half Empty: Even after they addressed the departure of nearer Kenley Jansen by buying and selling for Craig Kimbrel, the Dodgers are putting an awfully massive wager on Andrew Heaney with the ability to maintain down a rotation spot till Dustin May can return from damage.
San Francisco Giants
Last season: 107-55 | Key additions: Carlos Rodón (P), Joc Pederson (OF) | Key subtractions: Buster Posey (C), Kris Bryant (3B/OF), Kevin Gausman (P)
Half Full: Coming off a 107-win season, the Giants have developed a system of growing expertise on the main league stage that has continued to churn out success tales. In the previous White Sox pitcher Carlos Rodón, they added a left-handed starter who might problem for a Cy Young Award if every little thing goes proper.
Half Empty: An getting older crew mentioned goodbye to its longtime chief, catcher Buster Posey, who retired, and the addition of Rodón is offset by the lack of Kevin Gausman. The crew’s getting older roster, and a way that just about everybody had profession years in 2021, makes a repeat as division champions appear unlikely.
San Diego Padres
Last season: 79-83 | Key additions: Luke Voit (1B), Jorge Alfaro (C) | Key subtractions: Mark Melancon (P)
Half Full: A beginning rotation with Joe Musgrove, Yu Darvish and Blake Snell ought to make the Padres aggressive always, and it looks like the crew’s luck nearly must be higher than it was final season once they went from World Series hopefuls to not even ending at .500.
Half Empty: The wrist damage Fernando Tatis Jr. sustained in a motorbike accident takes San Diego’s largest bat out of its lineup for the foreseeable future and calls into query the judgment of one of many sport’s brightest stars. Even worse: Wrist accidents tend to linger with energy hitters.
Colorado Rockies
Last season: 74-87 | Key additions: Kris Bryant (3B/OF), Randal Grichuk (OF), Alex Colomé (P), José Iglesias (SS) | Key subtractions: Trevor Story (SS), Raimel Tapia (OF), Jon Gray (P)
Half Full: The Rockies acknowledged the intense worth of Ryan McMahon, rewarding the versatile infielder with a $70 million contract. He and outfielder Charlie Blackmon are rock stable and outfielder Kris Bryant could possibly be a monster at Coors Field if he can get again to the place he was offensively a number of years in the past.
Half Empty: Letting Trevor Story depart to Boston as a free agent after failing to commerce him on the deadline final yr was powerful and it’s laborious to see the crew competing in a top-heavy division even with a number of stable low season additions.
Arizona Diamondbacks
Last season: 52-110 | Key additions: Mark Melancon (P), Ian Kennedy (P) | Key subtractions: Kole Calhoun (OF), Tyler Clippard (P), Joakim Soria (P)
Half Full: Ketel Marte is an excellent baseball participant.
Half Empty: You can nearly think about the Diamondbacks’ entrance workplace buying veteran relievers like Mark Melancon and Ian Kennedy with a plan already in place to commerce them away to contenders in July.
Staff Predictions
Tyler Kepner, columnist
A.L.C.S.: Chicago White Sox over Tampa Bay Rays
N.L.C.S.: San Diego Padres over Los Angeles Dodgers
World Series: Padres over White Sox
The Padres and the White Sox spent years constructing for a chance like this. Both organizations are loaded with pitching, energy and prospects, and continued to make aggressive, win-now strikes, even late in spring coaching. The White Sox can have a transparent path to repeat as champions of an enhancing however still-thin American League Central — and with a robust bullpen and deep lineup, they’ll have an edge in October. The Padres fell aside late final season, however their new supervisor, Bob Melvin, is a extremely revered, skilled chief who can deliver that clubhouse collectively. The Dodgers could also be higher throughout a six-month season, however look ahead to the Padres to peak on the proper time and win the primary championship in franchise historical past.
James Wagner, reporter
A.L.C.S.: Tampa Bay Rays over Toronto Blue Jays
N.L.C.S.: Los Angeles Dodgers over Atlanta Braves
World Series: Dodgers over Rays
Making predictions is an inconceivable activity, notably forward of a six-month common season and a brand new postseason format. As you learn these, I’ve probably second-guessed myself dozens of occasions since. (The previous few years, I assumed Milwaukee would make one other deep playoff run.) No crew is ideal, but it surely’s laborious to select in opposition to the Dodgers profitable their second title in three seasons given their proficient roster and their entrance workplace’s monitor file of aggressively in search of upgrades.
David Waldstein, reporter
A.L.C.S.: Blue Jays over White Sox
N.L.C.S.: Mets over Dodgers
World Series: Blue Jays over Mets
The Mets will go on a tear as soon as Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer get better their well being and Francisco Lindor recovers his groove. Steven Cohen, Billy Eppler and Buck Showalter will take their bows and the N.L.C.S. will evoke photos of 2015, 1988 and “The Bad Lieutenant.” And then proper earlier than the World Series, deGrom will go down once more, Scherzer will probably be gassed, Lindor will droop, Showalter will over-manage and Cohen will over-Tweet. The Blue Jays will outpace the Yankees, the Red Sox and the Rays on their solution to their third title to offer solace for Torontonians after the Maple Leafs choke away a sequence they’ll lead, 3-1.
Benjamin Hoffman, baseball editor
A.L.C.S.: Toronto Blue Jays over Houston Astros
N.L.C.S.: Los Angeles Dodgers over Mets
World Series: Dodgers over Blue Jays
The depth the Dodgers have inbuilt latest seasons simply can’t be matched. Not solely can they plug any hole they encounter with their bench and their minor league system, they’re additionally unafraid to spend much more if the necessity arises. Eventually the Mets might overtake them (Steven A. Cohen’s billions will turn out to be useful), however the Dodgers had too huge of a head begin on roster building for that to come back this yr — notably with Jacob deGrom probably out far longer than most followers probably anticipate.
Scott Miller, contributor
A.L.C.S.: Toronto Blue Jays over Chicago White Sox
N.L.C.S.: Los Angeles Dodgers over Atlanta Braves
World Series: Dodgers over Blue Jays
After two seasons of gallivanting across the minor league outposts of Dunedin, Fla., and Buffalo whereas the pandemic principally saved them away from dwelling, the Blue Jays will take the love affair they rekindled with their followers once they lastly did return to Toronto late final season and construct on it to epic proportions behind Vlad Guerrero Jr.’s thump, Matt Chapman’s leather-based and Bo Bichette’s swag. The Dodgers will flip the tables on Atlanta and finally win a World Series in entrance of a Dodger Stadium crowd for the primary time in many years after their neutral-site triumph in 2020 in Texas.
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