National League

WEST DIVISION

1. LOS ANGELES DODGERS Last year: 106-56 (1st place), lost to Washington Nationals in NLDS, 3-2 Key newcomers: OF Mookie Betts, SP Alex Wood, RP Brusdar Graterol, RP Blake Treinen.

Key losses: OF Alex Verdugo, SP Hyun-Jin Ryu, SP Rich Hill, SP Kenta Maeda,1B David Freese, IF Jedd Gyorko, SP David Price (opted out), SP Jimmy Nelson (back surgery)

Best-case scenario: Betts seamlessly transitions to the National League, a deep rotation overcomes the absence of Price, and the Dodgers finally get the World Series monkey off their back.

Worst-case scenario: The Dodgers fall short of a World Series title. 2. ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

Last year: 85-77 (2nd place)

Key newcomers: SP Madison Bumgarner, OF Starling Marte, OF Kole Calhoun, RP Hector Rondon, RP Junior Guerra, C Stephen Vogt

Key losses: IF Wilmer Flores, OF Adam Jones, OF Steven Souza Jr., OF Jarrod Dyson, RP Yoshihisa Hirano, C Alex Avila, SP Mike Leake (opted out)

Best-case scenario: The additions of Bumgarner and Marte are enough to push Arizona into a wild-card spot.

Worst-case scenario: SP Ketel Marte regresses after his career season and the Diamondbacks can’t muster enough offense. 3. SAN DIEGO PADRES

Last year: 70-92 (5th place)

Key newcomers: OF Tommy Pham, RP Emilio Pagan, RP Drew Pomeranz, SP Zach Davies, OF Trent Grisham, 2B Jurickson Profar, 2B Jorge Mateo.

Key losses: OF Manuel Margot, OF Hunter Renfroe, 2B Ian Kinsler, SP Eric Lauer, 2B Luis Urias, RP Andres Munoz (elbow surgery).

Best-case scenario: Fernando Tatis Jr. and Chris Paddack continue to serve as pillars of San Diego’s future.

Worst-case scenario: Tatis Jr. regresses after his amazing freshman campaign, Wil Myers and Eric Hosmer’s contracts become albatrosses, further restricting San Diego’s financial flexibility. 4. COLORADO ROCKIES

Last year: 71-91 (4th place)

Key newcomers: C Drew Butera, RP Tyler

Kinley

Key losses: 1B Yonder Alonso, SP Tyler Anderson, RP Chad Bettis, OF Ian Desmond (opted out)

Best-case scenario: The Rockies generate enough offense to be somewhat competitive, with top prospect Brendan Rodgers emerging to provide some additional juice.

Worst-case scenario: Colorado’s inactivity in the offseason results in another wasted season. 5. GIANTS

Last year: 77-85 (3rd place)

Key newcomers: SP Kevin Gausman, SP Drew Smyly, OF Hunter Pence, IF Wilmer Flores, RP Jerry Blevins

Key losses: SP Madison Bumgarner, C Stephen Vogt, OF Kevin Pillar, RP Will Smith, C Buster Posey (opted out), SP Tyler Beede (elbow surgery).

Best-case scenario: Young players such as Mauricio Dubon, Steven Duggar and Jaylin Davis emerge. The team’s veteran arms, namely Jeff Samardzija, Gausman and Smyly, generate interest at the trade deadline and are dealt for prospects.

Worst-case scenario: Various members of the Giants’ youth struggle in full-time roles and members of their veteran infield continue to regress with age.

CENTRAL DIVISION

1. CINCINNATI REDS Last year: 75-87 (4th place)

Key newcomers: OF Nicholas Castellanos, IF Mike Moustakas, OF Shogo Akiyama, SP Wade Miley, RP Pedro Strop

Key losses: IF Jose Peraza, SS José Iglesias

Best-case scenario: Castellanos, Moustakas and Akiyama provide firepower, and Joey Votto bounces back to complement a very respectable starting rotation.

Worst-case scenario: Cincinnati’s starting rotation can’t replicate its production from last season, the crowded outfield creates problems and the Reds’ postseason drought lives. 2. CHICAGO CUBS

Last year: 84-78 (3rd place)

Key newcomers: OF Steven Souza Jr., RP Jeremy Jeffress, RP Casey Sadler Key losses: OF Nicholas Castellanos, SP Cole Hamels, IF Addison Russell, RP Pedro Strop, OF Tony Kemp, RP Derek Holland, OF/ IF Ben Zobrist

Best-case scenario: Kris Bryant and Javier Báez play at an MVP level, the pitching staff overachieves, and the Cubs find their way back into the playoffs.

Worst-case scenario: Chicago’s pitching staff becomes a weak link and the offense can’t score enough runs to make up the difference. 3. ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

Last year: 91-71 (1st place), lost to Washington Nationals in NLCS, 4-0

Key newcomers: SP Kwang Hyun Kim, OF

Austin Dean

Key losses: OF Marcell Ozuna, SP Michael Wacha, 1B/OF Jose Martinez, OF Randy Arozarena, RP Jordan Hicks (opted out)

Best-case scenario:

of Paul DeJong, Tommy St. Edman Louis’ and young Harrison core Bader into translate career years their first at the taste plate, of and the playoffs the Cardinals staff to get compete just enough for a out wild-card of their spot. pitching

Worst-case scenario:

offseason comes back to Inactivity bite them, in the particularly when it comes to the pitching staff. 4. MILWAUKEE BREWERS Last year: Nationals 89-73 in (2nd NL Wild place), Card lost Game to Washington

Key newcomers: OF Avisaíl García, IF Justin Smoak, SS Luis Urias, SP Eric Lauer, SP Brett Anderson, SP Josh Lindblom, IF Jedd Gyorko, IF Ryon Healy, C Omar Narváez

Key losses: C Yasmani Grandal, IF Mike Moustakas, SP Zach Davies, RP Drew Pomeranz, IF Travis Shaw, SP Chase Anderson, IF Eric Thames

Best-case scenario: Christian Yelich and Keston Hiura continue to punish baseballs, and Milwaukee’s top-of-the-line bullpen makes up for an OK starting rotation and the Brewers compete for the division.

Worst-case scenario: The Brewers can’t find enough production to make up for the loss of Grandal, Moustakas and a plethora of others. 5. PITTSBURGH PIRATES

Last year: 69-93 (5th place)

Key newcomers: IF JT Riddle, OF Guillermo Heredia, C Luke Maile

Key losses: OF Starling Marte, OF Melky Cabrera, OF Lonnie Chisenhall, C Elias Díaz, SP Francisco Liriano, SP Chris Archer (opted out), SP Hector Noesi (opted out) Best-case scenario: Bryan Reynolds, Josh Bell and Kevin Newman continue to provide hope for the future.

Worst-case scenario: Pittsburgh’s foundational pieces regress, nobody in the rotation rises to the challenge, and the Pirates rack up another lost season.

EAST DIVISION

1. ATLANTA BRAVES Last year: 97-65 (1st place), lost to St. Louis Cardinals in NLDS, 3-2

Key newcomers: OF Marcell Ozuna, SP Cole Hamels, RP Will Smith, C Travis d’Arnaud

Key losses: 3B Josh Donaldson, SP Dallas Keuchel, SP Julio Teheran, C Brian McCann, RF Nick Markakis (opted out)

Best-case scenario: The additions of Oznua and d’Arnaud help ease the burden of losing Donaldson, Ronald Acuña Jr., Ozzie Albies and Mike Soroka continue their ascension into stardom, the pitching staff sneakily emerges as one of the league’s best and the Braves make their first NLCS appearance since 2001.

Worst-case scenario: Atlanta’s offense struggles, the bullpen isn’t as good as advertised and the Braves miss the playoffs. 2. WASHINGTON NATIONALS

Last year: 93-69 (2nd place), won World Series over Houston Astros, 4-3

Key newcomers: RP Will Harris, IF Starlin Castro, 1B Eric Thames

Key losses: 3B Anthony Rendon, OF Gerardo Parra, 2B Brian Dozier, C Welington Castillo (opted out), RP Joe Ross (opted out), 1B Ryan Zimmerman (opted out)

Best-case scenario: The returning crop carries the swagger from last season’s championship, the starting rotation remains strong, Juan Soto emerges as an MVP candidate and the Nationals win the division.

Worst-case scenario: The loss of Rendon and Zimmerman are too much to absorb, and the Nationals miss the playoffs. 3. NEW YORK METS

Last year: 86-76 (3rd place)

Key newcomers: SP Rick Porcello, RP Dellin Betances, SP Michael Wacha, OF Jake Marisnick

Key losses: SP Zack Wheeler, 3B Todd Frazier, OF Juan Lagares, IF Joe Panik, SP Noah Syndergaard (elbow surgery)

Best-case scenario: New York’s hitting core continues to mash, the bullpen comes together and the Mets win the division.

Worst-case scenario: Pete Alonso, J.D. Davis and Jeff McNeil can’t replicate last year’s numbers, the bullpen is mediocre, Yoenis Céspedes and Robinson Cano’s contracts become sunk costs. 4. PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES

Last year: 81-81 (4th place)

Key newcomers: SP Zack Wheeler, SS Didi

Gregorius

Key losses: OF Corey Dickerson, SP Jason Vargas, RP Pat Neshek, IF César Hernández, IF Maikel Franco, RP Seranthony Dominguez (elbow surgery).

Best-case scenario: Behind incumbents Bryce Harper, Rhys Hoskins and J.T. Realmuto, the Phillies score enough to mask a questionable pitching staff.

Worst-case scenario: The pitching staff’s lack of depth sinks any aspirations of postseason contention. 5. MIAMI MARLINS

Last year: 57-105 (5th place)

Key newcomers: OF Corey Dickerson, IF Jonathan Villar, RP Yimi García, 1B Jesús Aguilar, C Francisco Cervelli

Key losses: IF Starlin Castro, OF Curtis Granderson, IF Neil Walker, RP Wei-Yin Chen, IF Martín Prado

Best-case scenario: Brian Anderson and Isan Díaz have great seasons, veterans get flipped at the deadline for prospects.

Worst-case scenario: Miami records another losing season without any future building blocks rising to the surface.