The NL East produced a championship team last season after the Washington Nationals caught fire in the month of June and carried the momentum all the way to the franchise’s first-ever World Series appearance and Commissioner’s Trophy win. A quick look at the futures odds for the winner of 2020’s abbreviated season lets it be known that oddsmakers once again expect this to be a very competitive division all the way through. The Atlanta Braves took the honors last season by way of logging a 97-65 record. However, each of the Nats, Mets and Phillies played to winning or .500 records as well, so it’s pretty safe to assume all four will have a shot at NL East bragging rights with the moves made in the offseason to bolster each of their respective rosters. Provided the coronavirus doesn’t halt MLB’s abbreviated 60-game season, this division race should go down to the wire. Let’s put the offerings under the microscope and see what the NL East could potentially deliver come the end of September.
NL East Betting Odds
Atlanta Braves +215
Washington Nationals +250
New York Mets +275
Philadelphia Phillies +325
Miami Marlins +20000
Atlanta Braves +215
Freddie Freeman’s absence from the lineup due to testing positive for the coronavirus hasn’t had much of an impact on the Braves odds of repeating as division champs. Same goes for Felix Hernandez and Nick Markakis who have elected to sit out the 2020 season before it even begins. That speaks volumes for the job upper management has done to assemble a roster so loaded that it’s still the odds on favorite even without the heart and soul of the team able to play early on. With Ronald Acuna Jr. and Ozzie Albies setting the table atop the lineup, offense won’t be an issue for the Braves in 2020. It will however all come down to the pitching staff. If the trio of Mike Soroka, Max Fried and Mike Foltynewicz take it to the next level, Atlanta will be just fine.
Washington Nationals +250
The loss of stud 3B Anthony Rendon is no doubt a tough one for the defending champs to swallow with 2016 1st round draft pick Carter Kieboom a major downgrade in his stead. Still, there’s plenty of offensive pop littered up and down the Nats roster with guys like Trea Turner and Adam Eaton setting the table for newcomer Starlin Castro, Juan Soto and Howie Kendrick to accumulate some counting stats. Regardless, Washington possesses the nastiest starting rotation in the division after re-inking Stephen Strasburg to a gargantuan deal in the offseason. He’ll join Max Scherzer and Patrick Corbin to form a dominant trio. The bullpen was also bolstered with the acquisition of Will Harris to bridge the gap to either Sean Doolittle or Daniel Hudson in the 9th.
New York Mets +275
Two seasons worth of managing games was all upper management needed to see of Mickey Callaway before handing him his walking papers; regardless of the Mets finishing 10-games over .500 last season. The Carlos Beltran fiasco might’ve been a blessing in disguise with Luis Rojas, the son of legendary manager Felipe Alou, taking over instead. With the reigning Cy Young and Rookie of the Year Award winners in tow, the Mets have two studs they know they can depend on in Jacob deGrom and Pete Alonso. But the fun doesn’t stop there! Jeff McNeil is grossly underrated, and sticks like J.D. Davis, Michael Conforto, Wilson Ramos and Amed Rosario aren’t too shabby either. If only Robinson Cano can stay healthy. While the pitching staff has a ton of question marks behind deGrom, the bullpen could be one of the best in the league with Edwin Diaz, newcomer Dellin Betances, Seth Lugo, Justin Wilson and Jeurys Familia all out to make amends.
Philadelphia Phillies +325
The Phillies couldn’t handle the crowd that jumped onto their hype train at the outset of 2019 after signing Bryce Harper to an astronomical contract. He wasn’t able to live up to the expectations – at least in the first half, and the rest of the team suffered due to the injury bug targeting a multitude of the roster’s integral parts. Back-to-back .500ish campaigns saw Gabe Kapler get the boot which paved the way for Joe Girardi to land another managing gig off a 2-year hiatus. Other notable moves include the signing of Zack Wheeler to give the starting staff another solid arm to compliment Aaron Nola and Jake Arrieta as well as the addition of Didi Gregorius. What wasn’t improved however is a bullpen that was one of the worst in the league. Rhys Hoskins, J.T. Realmuto, Harper and Andrew McCutchen are going to need to do a ton of damage at the plate for this team to be a contender.
Miami Marlins +20000
And then there’s the Marlins. You know, the team that hasn’t sniffed the playoffs since winning it all back in 2003. It’s also the team that rid itself of Christian Yelich and Giancarlo Stanton to rebuild the roster, yet enters the 2020 season off a 105-loss campaign that saw it finish 40 games in back of the division winning Braves. Until this franchise starts developing MLB-caliber players or spends the money to sway them into coming to Miami, the Marlins will continue to be the NL East’s forgotten team. The division is way too competitive and top heavy for this team the way it’s currently assembled to compete against. While there’s some nice pieces in the batting order and starting rotation – looking at you Brian Anderson, Caleb Smith and Sandy Alcantara – it’s by no means enough for the Fish to give the Braves, Nats, Mets or Phillies a run for their money. Only the Royals, Tigers and Orioles have a lower season win total than the Marlins (24.5)!
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