NL EAST, CENTRAL DIVISION CAPSULES
NL EAST ATLANTABRAVES
2020 record: 35-25, first in East, lost to Dodgers in NLCS
2020 NL rank in runs scored: Second
2020 NL rank in runs allowed: Seventh
Lineup: 1B Freddie Freeman, 2B Ozzie Albies, SS Dansby Swanson, 3B Austin Riley, LF Marcell Ozuna, CF Cristian Pache, RF Ronald Acuña, C Travis d’Arnaud
Prediction: First in East. When you blow a 3-1 series lead and lose the NLCS, there’s only one goal.
NEW YORK METS
2020 record: 26-34, tied for fourth in East
2020 NL rank in runs scored: Seventh
2020 NL rank in runs allowed: 13th
Lineup: 1B Pete Alonso, 2B Jeff McNeil, SS Francisco Lindor, 3B J.D. Davis, LF Dominic Smith, CF Brandon Nimmo, RF Michael Conforto, C James McCann
Prediction: Second in East. Lindor’s energy and leadership could have a Betts-like effect.
WASHINGTON NATIONALS
2020 record: 26-34, tied for fourth in East
2020 NL rank in runs scored: Sixth
2020 NL rank in runs allowed: 11th
Lineup: 1B Josh Bell, 2B Starlin Castro, SS Trea Turner, 3B Carter Kieboom, LF Kyle Schwarber, CF Victor Robles, RF Juan Soto, C Yan Gomes/Alex Avila
Prediction: Third in East. Given health, there’s too much star power not to contend.
MIAMI MARLINS
2020 record: 31-29, second in East, lost to Braves in NLDS
2020 NL rank in runs scored: 11th
2020 NL rank in runs allowed: 12th
Lineup: 1B Jesús Aguilar/Garrett Cooper, 2B Jazz Chisholm, SS Miguel Rojas, 3B Brian Anderson, LF Corey Dickerson, CF Starling Marte, RF Adam Duvall, C Jorge Alfaro
Prediction: Fourth in East. Their rotation held up for 60 games. What about 162?
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
2020 record: 28-32, third in East
2020 NL rank in runs scored: Fourth 2020 NL rank in runs allowed: 14th Lineup: 1B Rhys Hoskins, 2B Jean Segura, SS Didi Gregorius, 3B Alec Bohm, LF Andrew McCutchen, CF Adam Haseley/Odubel Herrera, RF Bryce Harper, C J.T. Realmuto Prediction: Fifth in East. But, on paper, manager Joe Girardi seems to have a bullpen he can manipulate.
NL CENTRAL
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS 2020 record: 30-28, second in Central, lost to Padres in NL wild-card series
2020 NL rank in runs scored: 12th
2020 NL rank in runs allowed: Second
Lineup: 1B Paul Goldschmidt, 2B Tommy Edman/Matt Carpenter, SS Paul DeJong, 3B Nolan Arenado, LF Tyler O’Neill, CF Harrison Bader, RF Dylan Carlson, C Yadier Molina
Prediction: First in Central, assuming Arenado and Carlson provide the power cord.
MILWAUKEE BREWERS
2020 record: 29-31, fourth in Central, lost to Dodgers in NL wild-card series
2020 NL rank in runs scored: 13th
2020 NL rank in runs allowed: Sixth
Lineup: 1B Keston Hiura, 2B Kolten Wong, SS Luis Urias/Orlando Arcia, 3B Travis Shaw, LF Christian Yelich, CF Lorenzo Cain, RF Jackie Bradley Jr./Avisaíl García, C Omar Narváez
Prediction: Second in Central. The HaderWilliams bullpen combo will not let wins escape.
CHICAGO CUBS
2020 record: 34-26, first in Central, lost to Marlins in NL wild-card series
2020 NL rank in runs scored: 10th
2020 NL rank in runs allowed: Third
Lineup: 1B Anthony Rizzo, 2B David Bote/ Nico Hoerner, SS Javier Báez, 3B Kris Bryant, LF Joc Pederson, CF Ian Happ, RF Jason Heyward, C Willson Contreras
Prediction: Third in Central. A healthy and productive Kris Bryant is a must.
CINCINNATI REDS
2020 record: 31-29, third in Central, lost to Braves in NL wild-card series
2020 NL rank in runs scored: 14th
2020 NL rank in runs allowed: fifth
Lineup: 1B Joey Votto, 2B Jonathan India, SS Eugenio Suárez, 3B Mike Moustakas, LF Jesse Winker, CF Nick Senzel, RF Nick Castellanos, C Tucker Barnhart
Prediction: Fourth in Central. Losing your top starter (Trevor Bauer) and closer (Raisel Iglesias) might not be the way to go.
PITTSBURGH PIRATES
2020 record: 23-35, fifth in East
2020 NL rank in runs scored: 15th
2020 NL rank in runs allowed: 10th
Lineup: C Jacob Stallings, 1B Colin Moran, 2B Adam Frazier, SS Kevin Newman/Erik Gonzalez, 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes, LF Bryan Reynolds, CF Anthony Alford, RF Gregory Polanco
Prediction: Fifth in Central. The worst team in baseball by a Secretariat-style margin.