This is the continuation of the 2013 MLB preview. The post before had the AL and I will follow it up with this post witch contains the NL side of the league.
NL East
- Washington Nationals
- Atlanta Braves
- Philadelphia Phillies
- New York Mets
- Miami Marlins
This is the best division in the national league. The Nationals are the front runner and i think it will be pretty tough to unseat them but if there is somebody that can do it its the Braves. First lets talk Nats, that staff is the reason for the season with this club. Strausberg is a monster and with the leash growing as his arm comes around after Tommy John surgery. They should give him more inning and that is not good for any opposing teams. Gio would be an ace on most staffs and has great stuff just have to wait and see if he has a complete season like he did the first half of last year. J Zimm is the icing on the cake, very very good young arm. The lineup is solid although I tend to like the Braves a little more. Harper could be the MVP by the time the year is out who knows with that kid, the sky is the limit. Zimmerman at 3rd is solid, Ian at SS is a rising star. Alot to like about this club that is why I think they will come out on top in this tough division race. The Braves, adding the Upton brothers is nice to go with Heyward in the OF. I think that all three will be 25-25 guys this year. (25HR&25Steals) I like Freeman a lot think he is going to be an outstanding bat for years to come. When McCann gets back and Uggla figures it out again move over Nationals. The staff is solid as it always is in ATL. Hudson keeps eating innings and giving them chances to win, Medlen is a rising stud on the hill. Julio Teheran is a name to put in your back pocket and Kimbrel is the best closer in baseball. The Phillies, same old Phillies and that seems to be the problem they are getting old. Utly, Rollins, Howard are all on the downside of there careers and so is the once prominent staff outside of Hamels. Halladay is done folks and Lee and Hamels are not going to drag this team to the post season. Mets, they are not going to be very good but lucky for them the Marlins will be worse. The staff is very disappointing to look at and the lineup lacks much pop through out. Wright is a hell of a ball player and Murphy can be scrappy but not expecting much for the Mets. Marlins, um... Giancarlo Stanton is an absolute monster and would be in the MVP watch if he didn't play for Miami. Steve Cishek i think is a good closer but outside of those pieces not excited about anyone else.
NL Central
- Cincinnati Reds
- St Louis Cardinals
- Pittsburgh Pirates
- Milwaukee Brewers
- Chicago Cubs
I think the Reds will come out on top but I could see the Cardinals staying with them for the most part. I like Cueto a lot he is a ligit ace. Latos is a great number two and i think Bailey is going to be a good three. Votto leads the charge again and Phillips, Bruce, Choo and Ludwick are surly going to be helping him get it done. In the back end Chapman is 2nd best only to Kimbrel. The Cards, Could win this division but i just have to give the nod to the Reds. I love the lineup Beltran, Holiday, Craig, Molina and Freese. Its the best top to bottom in this division and that is saying something. The rotation however is good but not great by any means. Motte is a monster in the back end as well. Pittsburgh, it sucks that they have to be in this division because they are just good enough to hang around all season and not get in. McCutchen is a beast and Marte could be his second comming but lineup lacks pop. Rotation is average. Burnett has great stuff but always hits a rough patch, Wandy is a disappointment always and McDonald needs a whole year like last years first half to be a factor. The Brew crew is going to be okay but that is all they will be. I think that Braun is going to be a top 5 MVP guy again and they will score a little bit but that rotation leaves somthing to be desired. Gallardo has been hit or miss the last two seasons and has not turned into the 20 game winner he was suppose to when he started pitching in the majors. Axford scares the hell out of me and every Brewers fan every time he takes the hill, I don't trust him. Kyle Lohse was a nice late add though. The Cubbies, well the lovable losers do just that lose some more. I love Castro and Rizzo i think that is a excellent place to start if you are rebuilding. In the back end they dont have a true closer, Marmol has closer stuff but he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn every other day. The rotation is improved so they will stay in more games but they will not be able to score enough runs for it to matter.
NL West
- LA Dodgers
- SF Giants
- Arizona Diamondbacks
- Colorado Rockies
- San Diego Padres
Will the money be money well spent for the Dodgers? I think the answer is yes and I think the Boston trade of last year will be the driving force this year as well. If you just look at the names in this lineup you could fill half an all star team with it. If Kemp stays healthy he could be down right scary, NL MVP if he does so. Crawford will be good to go opening day, Either will benefit from the guys hiting in front of him and in the 2nd half last year A-Gone figured it out and should put up .300/25/110 numbers as well. Kersh is in my opinion the best in the NL and will win his 2nd Cy Yound in three years. Greinkie is as solid as a number 2 comes Beckett pitched better since comming over from Boston last season so 1-3 is nice. I see Jansen regaining the closer role early and it will be a good move as he is solid in the back end. The Giants, they are starting to hit better witch was really the only think keeping them from being the favorite every year. That staff is still the best in baseball. Cain, Bumgarner, Lincecum, Vogelsong, Zito I will take it pretty much every time. The lineup is better, Posey is the man and will be the best catcher in baseball for a good while. Panda needs to stay healthy, Pence is good and Belt could take a step up this year. If both teams play their best baseball i just think the Dodgers have more to give. The D Backs, Life after Upton is probaly a good thing for both parties involved. Pardo was good value back, Hill, Kubal and Goldschmidt will score runs for this team. Putz is a nice closer but that rotation is nothing to write home about. The Rockies are of the same mold just not quite as good as the D Backs. Tulo and Cargo are fantastic and the Rockies can score but that pitching.... gross. Although the Padres pitch in the best pitchers park in baseball they don't do it well. With that said they don't hit well either. Jedd Gyorko is a good name to hold on to and I like Headley and Alonso as well. Last place to me is where this all adds up to in my opinion.
Wild Card Teams: Braves, Cards
Cy Young: Clayton Kershaw
MVP: Matt Kemp
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