2017 MLB Preview: NL East

My series of MLB previews soldiers on for its second day. Most Major League teams open their seasons a week from today as they prepare for another campaign. A week from today is also the official start of the MLB Tournament of Champions, which you can find out more about here.

As has been my custom, I alternate leagues daily, so today we stay out east but switch over to the National League.

1. Washington Nationals
Last year: 95-67 (1st in NL East), 8 wins above COAS Prediction; Lost in NLDS

The Nats forced a Game 5 in the NLDS, which has to count for something, especially since they return just about everyone from last year's team. But Washington added Matt Weiters to catch, and his bat will make this dangerous lineup even more potent. Adam Eaton brings table setting and elite defense to center field as well. Combine that with the dangerous starting rotation headlined by Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg, and the Nats will be right in the mix again this season.

2017 Prediction: 95-67

2. New York Mets
Last year: 87-75 (2nd in NL East), 5 wins below COAS Prediction; Lost NL Wild Card Game

If healthy, this starting rotation is going to make the Mets an extremely dangerous team. At the moment, everyone is good to go, with Noah Syndegaard tentatively getting full support in the rotation from Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, and Steven Matz. With that, they just need a decent offense to be a playoff team, and they have that with Yoenis Cespedes and a full season of Jay Bruce. There's no reason the 2015 pennant winners can't be back for a deep postseason run again... again, assuming their rotation stays healthy.

2017 Prediction: 90-72, Wild Card

3. Miami Marlins
Last year: 79-82 (3rd in NL East), At COAS Prediction; Missed playoffs

Well, the Marlins are taking a page out of the Cardinals' playbook and honoring a drunk boating murderer, so there's that. Jose Fernandez' death is certainly a tragedy, but I lost a lot of sympathy when the investigation came to a close and they found alcohol and cocaine in his system. So Miami loses its ace to stupidity, and their emotions are probably going to fuel the team for stretches of the season, but the talent level takes a hit. Edison Volquez is a decent #1 to take his place, but the depth gets hurt a ton. If Giancarlo Stanton stays healthy, the Marlins will probably exceed my expectations, but emotion and relying on injury prone guys can only take you so far. Also, I don't support teams who honor drunk driving/boating murderers.

2017 Prediction: 79-83

4. Philadelphia Phillies
Last year: 71-91 (4th in NL East), 3 wins above COAS Prediction; Missed playoffs

It's another rebuilding year in Philly. Odubel Herrera is a good piece, and the pickup of Michael Saunders was a good move to bring a veteran presence into the clubhouse, as is Howie Kendrick, but beyond that there's a lot of inexperience. The rotation is actually not too bad considering, with Jeremy Hellickson bringing a solid arm to the top of the mix. At the end of the day though, it's clearly still a rebuilding job here, and I have the Phillies dropping in wins from last year, but who knows? They make take a step forward.

2017 Prediction: 69-93

5. Atlanta Braves
Last year: 68-93 (5th in NL East), 4 wins above COAS Prediction; Missed playoffs

The Braves are a weird team to figure. They have several veteran pieces like Matt Kemp, Nick Markakis, and Brandon Phillips to along with core pieces like Freddie Freeman and Julio Teheran. That core is solid, but like the Phillies, there's so much unproven youth here. Tyler Flowers is a decent catcher, and the Braves' rotation isn't awful, but there's not quite enough talent here I don't think.

2017 Prediction: 66-96