It’s time to play ball as the 2023 Major League Baseball season returns. Last season was wild, and the Houston Astros can finally raise a World Series trophy that won’t be tarnished by allegations of cheating. The 2023 campaign should bring a faster, more exciting game as changes and new rules are being implemented that all fans, and teams, will have to get used to. There were massive deals and huge roster moves so let’s break it all down and get you caught up with our 2023 MLB Predictions NL East preview.
What Happened in 2022:
It wasn’t a whole lot of fun to be in the NL East in 2022 because it was so darn competitive. The Atlanta Braves and NY Mets finished with 101 wins while the Philadelphia Phillies put up 87 wins and somehow found themselves in the World Series. Sure, the bottom half of the division wasn’t so hot with the Miami Marlins finishing with 69 wins and the Washington Nationals with 55, but most teams would pile up the losses too when having to face Atlanta, New York, and Philly on a consistent basis. The Braves and Mets were both postseason disappointments, but it should just make them hungrier as they move forward with similar rosters that remain extremely talented.
Players to Watch:
Braves – CF Michael Harris II – He was the National League Rookie of the Year and he was incredibly fun to watch. He ranges the outfield with absolute smoothness and can hit for average and power. If he gets his strikeouts down, we are looking at a new face of the league.
Mets – 3B Brett Baty – He could be an up-and-coming star, he just has to become more consistent at the plate and good things will happen to a guy that the Mets would like to turn into their future franchise player.
Phillies – 2B/CF Trea Turner – One of the biggest moves of the offseason was the Phillies signing Turner away from the Dodgers. He joins Bryce Harper as NL East refugees who once played for the Nationals. He’s a legit star in the middle of their infield.
Marlins – 2B Jazz Chisholm – He was a bit of a disappointment at the plate last year, hitting just .254 but there is still so much untapped potential in Chisholm who will play on an otherwise boring team that needs as much help as they can get.
Nationals – SS CJ Abrams – He was a top prospect for the Padres who was the major piece in the Juan Soto trade. He will look to make a name for himself on a roster that is completely overhauled.
Biggest Additions and Subtractions:
Lots of big stars came in and out of the division this offseason. For the reigning champ Braves, they lost SS Dansby Swanson to the Chicago Cubs as they look to get younger and spend less. They took a big trade swing and got C Sean Murphy from Oakland. The Mets watched painfully as P Jacob DeGrom went to the Texas Rangers, but they added future hall-of-famer Justin Verlander and Japanese star P Kodai Senga. The Phillies added Turner which was huge but will be without OF Bryce Harper for half the season as he recovers from Tommy John surgery.
Prediction:
The Braves are still the best team in this division when you look at the rosters. Will it be competitive once again? Absolutely. But I am rolling with Atlanta until they prove to me that they aren’t one of the most well-run franchises over the last five years. Division Winner: Atlanta Braves 99-63