MLB2020: National League Preview

Before the Covid-19 virus came and blew up all of our lives, I had completed four of six MLB Offseason Moves articles. I decided to wait on the AL East and NL West (the two remaining divisions) because I was unsure that the season would even happen. Now just three days away from Opening Night, I'll recap the National League offseasons (providing more detail on the NL West being that I never wrote them an article) and give my predictions for the 2020 playoffs.

NL EAST

• My NL East Offseason Moves Articles from March

This will be the most competitive division in baseball this season. Especially considering the fact that these five also have to play the AL East in the regionalized schedule. Two teams definitely deserve to make the playoffs from the NL East, and they might regardless, but if these teams all beat up on each other then their could be a few unfortunate snubs. I think that 32-33 win range will yield the second wildcard, or possibly both wildcards in the National League, so that's kind of the mark to reach (in my opinion). So who are the players? Four out of five should be vying for a playoff spot in the NL East in 2020, barring any major injuries or covid setbacks. The Miami Marlins should be scrappier than last year, but I do not expect them to compete for the division or the wildcard. That leaves the defending World Series Champs (Washington Nationals), the defending NL East Champs for two straight seasons (Atlanta Braves), the popular betting pick in preseason (New York Mets), and the forgotten but talented Philadelphia Phillies. It's really hard to come to a conclusion on which of these four will nudge by the others. The Braves were my initial pick to come out on top, but with covid affecting their preseason the most (Freddie Freeman out, Will Smith delayed, Nick Markakis and Felix Hernandez opting out), will they get off to a slow start in the ATL? The Nats have by far the deepest rotation (Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, Patrick Corbin, Anibal Sanchez and Austin Voth), but without Anthony Rendon there is a hole in their lineup. Juan Soto and Trea Turner are great, but can they carry this offense? The Mets have maybe the deepest roster with Yoenis Cespedes healthy and a full bench of startable options. This could be really important with covid testing. New York's rotation is diminished after losing both Zack Wheeler and Noah Syndergaard however. They will need Marcus Stroman and either Rick Porcello or Michael Wacha to step up in their place. Lastly, the fighting Phils who despite adding both Wheeler and Didi Gregorius (plus manager Joe Girardi) to a healthy lineup that sports Bryce Harper, Andrew McCutchen, J.T. Realmuto, Rhys Hoskins and more... aren't even being considered by anyone for the Eastern crown. And I didn't even mention Pete Alonso or Ronald Acuna Jr. yet. The East will be a dogfight in 2020. It will come down to blown saves and missed opportunities. It will come down to errors and clutch plays. It will come down to managing and handling covid. The only way I can make sense of it other than gut feeling is by grading.

LINEUP: Braves- B, Mets- B+, Nationals- C+, Phillies- A-

ROTATION: Braves- B-, Mets- C+, Nationals- A-, Phillies- B-

BULLPEN: Braves- B+, Mets- B, Nationals- B-, Phillies- C

DEPTH: Braves- B+, Mets- A-, Nationals- B-, Phillies- C+

MANAGER: Braves- A-, Mets- N/A, Nationals- B-, Phillies- B+

As much as I hate to say it as a lifelong Mets fan, the Braves will repeat in 2020. Photo: Todd Kirkland, Getty Images

1. Atlanta Braves (34-26) - sticking Atlanta, but a slow start without Freeman could derail them

2. New York Mets (33-27) - Wildcard 2

3. Philadelphia Phillies (31-29) - up one from 4th in March predictions, Wildcard 4

4. Washington Nationals (30-30) - down one from 3rd in March predictions

5. Miami Marlins (23-37)

NL CENTRAL

• My NL Central Offseason Moves Article from March

Another narrow division, although I don't believe this one to be as talented as the East if they were to face off with one another. The Pittsburgh Pirates are the one rebuilding, and despite the fact that they have some real potential in their lineup with younger players like Josh Bell, Bryan Reynolds and Kevin Newman, the pitching staff just isn't where it needs to be (especially with Chris Archer out for the year). The other four should all be relatively close in talent. Some like the Milwaukee Brewers as a dark horse fueled by Christian Yelich and various incoming free agents, but the Brew Crew has two major concerns for me. One, the rotation will rely on a combination of failed prospects and has-been vets aside from Brandon Woodruff. Two, this team is like a rag-doll creation with no normal preseason or schedule to come together. In a short season, I just feel like those two things won't win you a tight division. Next on my list are the Cubbies. Chicago's pitching staff just keeps getting older, with players like Yu Darvish, Jon Lester and Tyler Chatwood getting worse before they get better. I do not trust closer Craig Kimbrel either. The lineup should win the Cubs some games, but I expect them to finish near .500. The battle for first will be between the St. Louis Cardinals (last year's champ) and the Cincinnati Reds, if things go the way I see them going. Back in March I had the Cards repeating as Central champs, but in a 60-game stretch I really like the Reds chances. Their rotation is better than St. Louis if Luis Castillo, Sonny Gray, Trevor Bauer and Wade Miley pitch true to form. The Cards have question marks behind Jack Flaherty. Both lineups are solid. St. Louis has prospects like Dylan Carlson and Tommy Edman taking on full-time roles, paired with the experience of Paul Goldschmidt and Matt Carpenter. Cincy added some beef with Mike Moustakas and Nicholas Castellanos, as well as Japanese recruit Shogo Akiyama. Nick Senzel will also elevate his role, along with familiar faces Joey Votto and Eugenio Suarez. I trust both bullpens over the rest of the Central, outside of Josh Hader, each one has three or four trusty arms. In the end I'll put my money on Red however, because I have both making the playoffs.

The Cincinnati Reds will win the NL Central for the first time since 2012. Photo: Joe Robbins, Getty Images

1. Cincinnati Reds (35-25) - up one spot from March ranks

2. St. Louis Cardinals (33-27) - down one spot from March ranks, Wildcard 1

3. Chicago Cubs (31-29) - Wildcard 5

4. Milwaukee Brewers (29-31)

5. Pittsburgh Pirates (25-35)

NL WEST

I never got to my NL West offseason breakdown, so I'll go into a little more detail for this division.

5. San Francisco Giants (manager: Gabe Kapler)

• Notable Additions: Hunter Pence (OF), Billy Hamilton (CF), Kevin Gausman (SP), Trevor Cahill (RP), Tyler Anderson (SP), Drew Smyly (SP), Wilmer Flores (2B), Jarlin Garcia (RP/SP), Nick Vincent (RP), Jerry Blevins (RP)

• Notable Losses: Madison Bumgarner (SP), Kevin Pillar (CF), Stephen Vogt (C), Fernando Abad (RP), Burch Smith (RP)

A relic of a small-time dynasty, this Giants franchise must finally move on from their former championship players like Brandon Belt and Brandon Crawford who are well past their prime. Replacing them with Evan Longoria types won't help either. They pieced together a rotation of washed up free agents this offseason and slapped some paint on the same antique car they've been racing for years now. It won't work. Buster Posey has the right idea sitting this one out.

2020 Projected Record: 24-36

4. Colorado Rockies (manager: Bud Black)

• Notable Additions: Elias Diaz (C), Tim Collins (RP)

• Notable Losses: Tyler Anderson (SP), Mike Dunn (RP), Chris Iannetta (C)

Another franchise that thinks throwing the same blank at the wall every year will eventually cause something to stick. The Rockies made literally no moves this offseason, pissing off one of the biggest stars that has ever worn their uniform (Nolan Arenado). Now they'll trot out the same below-average rotation and miserable bullpen to pitch in the best hitter's park in the MLB. Nice plan!

2020 Projected Record: 26-34

3. San Diego Padres (manager: Jayce Tingler)

• Notable Additions: Trent Grisham (OF), Tommy Pham (CF), Emilio Pagan (RP), Zach Davies (SP), Drew Pomeranz (RP), Jurickson Profar (UTIL), Kyle Barraclough (RP), Juan Lagares (CF), Jerad Eickhoff (SP)

• Notable Losses: Luis Urias (SS), Hunter Renfroe (OF), Manuel Margot (CF), Eric Lauer (SP), Carl Edwards (RP), Ian Kinsler (2B), Travis Jankowski (CF)

I feel like I keep saying this, but the San Diego Padres are still a year away. First off, they need MacKenzie Gore and some of their pitching prospects to actually pitch in the majors before they can make a run. Chris Paddack proved himself in 2019, but a back-four rotation of Dinelson Lamet, Zach Davies, Joey Lucchesi and Garrett Richards is uninspiring. The lineup is promising with rising youth like Fernando Tatis Jr. and Trent Grisham surrounding Manny Machado and Eric Hosmer, but it is nowhere near the Dodgers and probably just below the D-Backs in depth. The one area the Padres may have a leg up on the competition is the bullpen. Kirby Yates, Emilio Pagan and Drew Pomeranz might make a nasty late-game trio in 2020.

2020 Projected Record: 30-30 - Wildcard 5

2. Arizona Diamondbacks (manager: Torey Lovullo)

• Notable Additions: Madison Bumgarner (SP), Starling Marte (CF), Hector Rondon (RP), Kole Calhoun (OF), Junior Guerra (RP), Stephen Vogt (C), John Hicks (1B/C), Edwin Jackson (SP)

• Notable Losses: Adam Jones (CF), Yoshihisa Hirano (RP),Steven Souza Jr. (OF), Matt Andriese (RP), Zac Godley (RP), Braden Shipley (RP), Jarrod Dyson (OF), Greg Holland (RP), Taijuan Walker (SP), Wilmer Flores (2B), John Ryan Murphy (C)

I really wanted to take the Padres to finish second this season, but the Diamondbacks made it really hard with their recent moves. The first one I liked was when they traded for rookie starter Zac Gallen last year, with an eye towards the future. They continued to add pitching by signing Madison Bumgarner and reliever Hector Rondon. While their bullpen is still a bit weakened after all the losses in free agency, the rotation looks formidable. Gallen and Mad-Bum are joined by Robbie Ray, Luke Weaver and Merrill Kelly. If Mike Leake had not opted out, they would be in even better shape. They also have a ton of depth in their lineup. The trade for Starling Marte and the Kole Calhoun signing give Arizona a reliable 1-8 (besides their catcher), and prospect Daulton Varsho could change that to 1-9 if he's called up. The D-Backs may not keep up with the Dodgers, but they should be right in the thick of the wildcard conversation.

2020 Projected Record: 32-28 Wildcard 3

The Dodgers are poised to dominate the short season, taking the NL West, and possibly more. Photo: Associated Press, Jae C. Hong

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (manager: Dave Roberts)

• Notable Additions: Mookie Betts (OF), Alex Wood (SP), Blake Treinen (RP), Jimmy Nelson (RP), Edubray Ramos (RP)

• Notable Losses: Hyun-Jin Ryu (SP), Kenta Maeda (SP), Rich Hill (SP), Alex Verdugo (OF), Yimi Garcia (RP)

As we know, the Dodgers are stacked. Although they lost three starters this offseason, they added Mookie Betts to an already filthy lineup. David Price opting out does hurt slightly, but with Alex Wood back plus younger pitchers like Ross Stripling and Julio Urias stepping into larger roles, I don't see it as a major problem. No team in baseball carries the depth that Los Angeles does. I'm confident they will overpower the West region and have the best record heading into the playoffs.

2020 Projected Record: 42-18 NL West Champ

PLAYOFFS

As you can see, I have an extremely close wildcard race in the NL. By my standings, the Cubs, Phillies, Nationals and Brewers all find themselves within one or two games of the final playoff spot. A spot that the Diamondbacks and Mets are actually tied for. This will require two play-ins.

Best of 3 Round - (8) Chicago Cubs @ (1) Los Angeles Dodgers, Dodgers Win

(7) Philadelphia Phillies @ (2) Cincinnati Reds, Reds Win

(6) Arizona Diamondbacks @ (3) Atlanta Braves, Diamondbacks Win

(5) New York Mets @ (4) St. Louis Cardinals, Mets Win

Divisional Series - (5) New York Mets @ (1) Los Angeles Dodgers, Dodgers Win

(6) Arizona Diamondbacks @ (2) Cincinnati Reds, Diamondbacks Win

Championship Series - (6) Arizona Diamondbacks @ (1) Los Angeles Dodgers, Dodgers Win

The Los Angeles Dodgers are built to win the National League, and it's very hard to see them losing it as everything stands right now. I like the Mets and Diamondbacks to bust up the bracket with upsets behind aces deGrom and Bumgarner, but lose at the hands of the juggernaut out of L.A. They who have more depth than any other team in the MLB, which should help them outlast all competition in both the regular season and the playoffs.

World Series- Oakland Athletics @ Los Angeles Dodgers, Dodgers Win

As much as I love the A's this season, the Dodgers are the favorite for a reason. Walker Buehler and Clayton Kershaw pitch double-duties as Los Angeles out-hits Oakland and finally wins their elusive World Series title in 6.