Will Anyone Take Control Of The NL East?

Miami Marlins

The Marlins began the season looking to bounce back from losing 100 games last season. With a combination of veteran players and youngsters, the Marlins now believe that they can win.

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton is one of the best sluggers in the game and this season he is a candidate to become National League MVP. Stanton currently leads the NL in home runs (16) and runs batted in (51). Stanton’s .311 batting average is 9th on the Senior Circuit as he is in the mix to become the National League’s first Triple Crown winner in batting since Joe Medwick of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1937. Infielder Casey McGehee spent last year playing baseball in Japan, but he has once again found a home in MLB; this time with Marlins. McGehee has appeared in 55 games this season with the Marlins and he has a batting average of .291 to go along with 34 runs batted in. After spending the last five seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, first baseman Garrett Jones signed with the Marlins and he has provided a veteran bat to protect Stanton as he has 8 home runs and 26 runs batted in on the season.

The Marlins have reaped the benefits of some good home cooking in 2014 as they are 20-11 at Marlins Park this season.

In the month of the June the schedule is extremely favorable for the Marlins. After being humbled by the Braves this past weekend, the Marlins will only face two other teams in June that currently have a winning record. Under second-year manager Mike Redmond this young Marlins team could be dangerous as they are gaining confidence.

Atlanta Braves

The Atlanta Braves are the defending National League East Champs, but the injury bug has hit them hard this season. The Braves have lost two starting pitchers in Brandon Beachy and Kris Medlen for the season after each underwent Tommy John surgery. The injuries put Braves general manager Frank Wren into scramble mode to fix his starting rotation and he was able to find veteran starting pitchers in Aaron Harang and Ervin Santana who each have 4 wins this season. In spite of the injuries the Braves still have the top team earned run average in the NL at 2.97.

As far as closing games go, the Braves still have relief pitcher in the ninth inning who has 15 saves this season in 17 opportunities. 

Led by first baseman Freddie Freeman, catcher Evan Gattis, and outfielder Justin Upton, the Braves have one of the most potent offenses in the National League this season. The Braves offense was center stage over the weekend as they now have a three-game lead over the Marlins in the division following their series sweep. 

The Braves face a tough seven-game road trip in June as they will face the Colorado Rockies and the resurgent Arizona Diamondbacks as they look to gain some traction.

Washington Nationals

The Washington Nationals underachieved last season as they were expected to win the division which is why they finished in second place and ultimately missed the postseason. The Nats were once again expected to contend for the NL East Title this season, but they currently find themselves with a losing record as they are 3.5 games behind the Braves for first place. 

The Nationals started the season with a record of 7-2, but since then they have been stuck in neutral. Since their quick start the Nationals have not won more than three games in a row and they current have a record of 27-28. Like the Braves, the Nationals currently have a litany of injuries. Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman and outfielder Bryce Harper are currently on the 15-day disabled list. Starting pitcher Gio Gonzalez is also on the 15-day disabled list while starting pitcher Ross Ohlendorf has yet to pitch this season as he is currently on the 60-day disabled list.

Under first year manager Matt Williams the Nats were able to win four series in the month of May and they are hopeful that they’re ready to turn the corner. This Friday the Nationals will embark on a 10-game road trip that could be telling of their season as they will face the San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, and St. Louis Cardinals.

New York Mets

2008 marked the last time that the New York Mets had a winning season. But heading into this year’s spring training, Mets general manager Sandy Alderson boasted that this team could win 90 games this season. Most people chuckled about it and I am surprised that Alderson didn’t as well.

The Mets are a young team that is trying to put it altogether, but when October rolls around will they be division champs?

This season the Mets offense has been putrid at best as they are 13th in the National League in batting average (.234), 14th in home runs (39), and last in slugging percentage (.348). In spite of their offensive woes the Mets have won five out of their last seven games as they are only four games out of first place.

In order for the Mets to be serious about winning the NL East in 2014 they are going to have to improve their hitting with runners on base as they have struggled mightily all year long.
The Mets team earned run average of 3.62 is 9th in the National League, but they have some young pitchers that they’re high on. Starting pitchers Jacob deGrom, Rafeal Montero, and Zack Wheeler are all under the age of 25 as they are the future for the Mets. Alderson and Mets manager Terry Collins appear to have solved their ninth inning woes. After releasing both Kyle Farnsworth and Jose Valverde as they both failed in the closer’s role for the Mets, the job has been handed to Jenrry Mejia. Mejia began the season in the Mets starting rotation, but he has 6 saves in as many opportunities and he appears to be the closer of the present and future for the Metropolitans.

If the Mets pitching holds up they can hang around, but it will come down to whether or not they are able to get another bat in the lineup. Mets third baseman David Wright and second baseman have been the team’s most consistent hitters this season, but they need some help in the lineup. In the off-season Alderson signed outfielder Curtis Granderson to a four-year, $60 million deal, but what he has gotten in return is a .200 batting average with 6 homers and 24runs batted in. This season the Mets traded first baseman Ike Davis to the Pittsburgh Pirates to make
way for Lucas Duda. Duda does lead the club in home runs with 8, but he is only batting .241 with 42 strikeouts.

If the Mets can hang around in the push for the playoffs expect Alderson to look for a bat on the trade market.

Philadelphia Phillies

From 2007-2011, the Phillies were the class of the NL East with five consecutive division titles. Since then the Phillies have become an aging team that is trying to hold on for one more shot in the sun. The Phillies are currently 24-30 and they are fighting with the Mets to avoid the division’s basement.

A 3.98 team earned run average has the Phils in 13th in the National League and they started the season on the wrong foot. Starting pitcher Cole Hamels was expected to be the ace of the Phillies starting rotation, but he began the the season on the disabled list with biceps tendinitis. Hamels has returned to the Phillies, but in eight starts he is 1-3 with a 4.01 earned run average. With Hamels back, starting pitcher Cliff Lee now finds himself on the disabled list with a strained left elbow. Prior to going on the disabled list Lee was 4-4 with a 3.18 earned run average. When Lee returns to the Phillies rotation they will have four pitchers in their starting rotation over the age of 30 which could put a damper on things in the second half of the season.

In the past it was the Phillies offense that carried them, but they are now near the bottom of the NL in most major offensive categories. As a team the Phillies are the second oldest team in Major League Baseball this season and it could be a telling tale for them for the remainder of the season as they could run out of gas.

In the end the National League East is the Nationals division to lose. Harper and Zimmerman will be returning to the Nats lineup and the same can be said about Gonzalez coming back to their rotation. With Craig Stammen, Tyler Clippard, and Rafael Soriano, the Nationals have one of the best bullpens in baseball which could be the difference in them winning their second division crown in the three years.

Source: Baseball-reference.com, Statista.com