» NL East season preview: Can the Braves repeat as division champs?

The National League East had four teams finish at .500 or better last season, and it expects to be even better in 2020. The NL East arguably is the best division in baseball, boasting a handful of aces, star sluggers, an exciting group of youngsters and large, passionate fan bases.

Last season was an eventful one for the East. The Braves led most of the way en route to 97 wins, fortifying their status among the NL elite. The Nationals, of course, got the last laugh, capping a 93-win wild-card season with a World Series championship. The Mets somewhat quietly won 86 games and found their next superstar in slugger Pete Alonso. For all their offseason fireworks, the Phillies underwhelmed and stumbled to an 81-81 mark. The rebuilding Marlins were one of MLB’s worst teams.

So, yes, while the Braves have claimed the past two East titles, the division is shaping up to be more competitive in 2020. Four have legitimate playoff aspirations, while the perennial last-place Marlins hope to field a much-improved product.

Because the Braves were better than the Nationals during the regular season, and Washington lost lineup pillar Anthony Rendon in free agency, the Braves will probably be considered the preseason favorite. But the rest of the East should present a tougher challenge than the past two years. As the season evolves, it’s important to remember one significant move in Atlanta, D.C., New York or Philadelphia — which feels likely given where each franchise is — could be the determining factor in who takes the division.