Fantasy Baseball has become one of the most popular ways to enjoy the 162-game MLB season. In this fourth of six installments, we will discuss the National League East Division, which promises to be super exciting for fantasy baseball fans. In this division, we find the Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, Miami Marlins, New York Mets, and Washington Nationals. Each team has a ton of talent and outstanding players that can be valuable options for your Fantasy Baseball team.
Atlanta Braves
The reigning division champion Atlanta Braves lost Eddie Rosario, but they acquired a young Jerred Kelenic, who should improve on his numbers from last year with the Mariners (11 home runs, 49 RBIs, .253 Average). The Braves have a devastating lineup led by MVP Ronald Acuna Jr. (41 home runs, 106 RBIs, .337 Average, 73 SB) Matt Olson (54 home runs (franchise record),139 RBIs, .283 Average) Ozzie Albies (33 home runs, 109 RBIs, .280 Average) Austin Riley (37 home runs, 97 RBIs, .281 Average) and Marcell Ozuna (40 home runs, 100 RBIs, 274 average).
The Braves rotation boasts of Spencer Strider (20-5, 3.86 ERA), veteran Charlie Morton (14-12, 3.64 ERA), Max Fried (8-1, 2.55 ERA), and Chris Sale (6-5, 4.30 ERA), who is expected to have a season similar to those he had with the White Sox and Red Sox.
For the fifth starter in the Braves rotation, they have Dominican Reynaldo Lopez. Lopez signed a three-year, $30 million contract with the Braves in November and earned a spot in the rotation by only allowing four earned runs in 16 innings and two-thirds in five spring appearances. Lopez allowed ten hits, gave away six bases, and struck out 13 batters. Lopez beat out Bryce Elder, who allowed 11 earned runs and 14 hits in 12 innings in his four appearances on the mound with an 8.25 ERA.
Philadelphia Phillies
The main contenders again for the Braves will be the Philadelphia Phillies. Bryce Harper (21 home runs, 72 RBIs, .291 Average), should take over the full-time role of first base with the departure of Rhys Hoskins.
The rest of the Phillies lineup consists of Trae Turner (26 home runs, 76 RBIs, .266 Average), J.T. Realmuto (20 home runs, 63 RBIs, .252 Average), Kyle Schwarber (47 home runs, 104 RBIs, .197 Average), Nick Castellanos (29 home runs, 106 RBIs, 272 average) Alec Bohm (20 home runs, 97 RBIs, 274 Average) and Bryson Stott (15 home runs, 62 RBIs, 280 Average).
The Phillies round out a loaded lineup, and the team retains its core rotation led by Zack Wheeler (13-6, 3.61 ERA) and Aaron Nola (12-9, 4.46). The Phillies also have bullpen pieces such as Jose Alvarado (0-2, 1.74 ERA, 10 Saves) and Seranthony Dominguez (5-5, 3.78 ERA). As we can see, the Phillies have names to give the Braves a fight for the division pennant.
Miami Marlins
The Marlins were the pleasant surprise of the division last season and managed to reach the playoffs for the wild card. Venezuelan Luis Arraez (10 Home Runs, 69 RBIs, 354 Average) will be the spark plug of the team, accompanied by outfielder Jazz Chisholm (19 Home Runs, 51 RBIs, .250 Average) and first baseman Josh Bell (22 Home Runs, 74 RBIs, .247 Average).
The Marlins staff will be made up of interesting names like Jesus Luzardo (10-10, 3.63 ERA), Eury Perez (5-6, 3.15 ERA), and especially Trevor Rogers, an All-Star as a rookie in 2021, who made just four starts in 2023 while dealing with some injuries. The Marlins resisted offseason trade overtures for the lefty. While Rogers wasn't as effective in 2022 (5.47 ERA) as he was in his rookie campaign, there's still upside in the middle rotation with his changeup and ability to induce rolling. Rogers should be healthy and ready to start the season.
New York Mets
The Mets, with the arrival of a new Manager, Venezuelan Omar Lopez, and little movement during the winter break, are not expected to improve much on last season's record of 75 wins and 87 losses.
The Mets will count mainly on the powerful bat of Pete Alonso (46 home runs, 118 RBIs, .217 Average), Francisco Lindor (31 home runs, 98 RBIs, .254 Average), the newly signed J.D. Martinez (33 Home runs, 103 RBIs, .271 Average) and the quality behind home plate of Francisco Alvarez (25 home runs, 63 RBIs, .203 Average).
The Mets weakness continues to be pitching, with the departure of Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer since the middle of last season. The Mets haven't had that ace that every team needs to advance to the post-season. Even Japanese pitcher Kodai Senga (12-7, 2. 98 ERA) will start the season injured. The most prominent pitcher in the Mets rotation will be Luis Severino (4-8, 6.65 ERA), who will arrive after spending eight years with the archrival New York Yankees and having the worst season of his career.
Washington Nationals
The Nationals will have no other motivation for this season than to try not to finish last again and to see their two golden rookies, CJ Abrams and James Wood, play.
The 21-year-old Wood is coming off a line in the minors last year with 26 home runs, 91 RBIs, and a .262 average. Wood may not be ready to start in the Major League, but he will certainly get his chance down the road. Abrams, on the other hand, should be the big man in the lineup as he had an excellent 2023 (18 home runs, 64 RBIs, 245 average). Abrams will join Eddie Rosario, who last year with the Braves hit for 21 home runs, 74 RBIs and 255 average.
With starter Patrick Corbin coming off a disastrous four years (10-15, 5.20 ERA in 2023) and Josiah Gray not having the best of seasons either (8-13, 3.91 ERA), the Nationals are not expected to have a much better season than last year.
2024 NL East Predictions
Atlanta Braves
Philadelphia Phillies
Miami Marlins
New York Mets
Washington Nationals
Star Player: Ronald Acuña Jr.
Player to Watch: CJ Abrams
