2010 NL East Preview

Part 5 of 7 in a series previewing the upcoming MLB season. This week, I check on the NL East division.

ATLANTA BRAVES
In what is manager Bobby Cox's last season coaching this team, the Braves have a lot to play for. With a lineup that includes catcher Brian McCann, Chipper Jones, Yunel Escobar, Nate McLouth and newcomers Melky Cabrera and Troy Glaus, this team could be a great hitting team, but when top prospect Jason Heyward comes to the big leagues, this team could be better than they are now. Their pitching is also strong with veteran Derek Lowe, young-guns Jair Jurrjens and Tommy Hanson, as well as Tim Hudson, who signed a 3-year extension with the team after missing most of last year due to Tommy John surgery. The Braves also picked up bullpen help from Takashi Saito and Billy Wagner (expected to be the closer) to help out this team to make Cox's last year enjoyable.

FLORIDA MARLINS
An underrated team, the Marlins will more likely struggle this year. The lineup includes Hanley Ramirez, Dan Uggla and Chris Coghlan. The pitching includes Anibal Sanchez, Ricky Nolasco, Chris Volstad and closer Leo Nunez. Not a lot of information about this team, but what I believe is that this club will go through a rebuilding year to be better in the future.

NEW YORK METS
After the injury bug plaguing the team last year that included David Wright, Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran, Johan Santana and John Maine, this team is looking for a big rebound to try to get back into the postseason for the first time since 2008. The Mets signed left-fielder Jason Bay to a 4-year deal with a 5th year option, which was their biggest move this offseason. Bay joins a lineup which features Wright, Beltran (returning in May), Reyes, Luis Castillo, Fernando Tatis and Omir Santos. With Santana and Maine leading the pitching rotation, they have a good closer in Franicsco Rodriguez (K-Rod). If the injuries don't play a factor, this team will greatly improve from '09.

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
With appearances in the World Series in the last 2 years, the Phillies are the best team in the National League all-around...and they keep getting better. The major offseason trade by sending Cliff Lee to Seattle and getting Roy Halladay from Toronto allowed a good Cy Young award pitcher to be replaced by a better one. Halladay (signed for 3-years, $60M) will lead the pitching staff which also includes Cole Hamels, Joe Blanton and J.A. Happ. Jose Contreras was also signed as a spot starter/long reliever to help the pitching. The lineup is also dangerous with Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Placido Polanco, Jayson Werth and Raul Ibanez who all will make contributions to making another good season to Charlie Manuel's team.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Probably if not the most improved team from last year is the Nationals. With all of the attention focused on top-rated prospect Stephen Strasberg, who looked good during spring training outings was sent to Double-A Harrisburg, but he'll be with Washington sometime during the season. The pitching also got a boost with the signing of Jason Marquis (was with COL last season), and the rotation also consists of John Lannon, Scott Olsen and Jason Bergmann. The lineup is also good, but most of the players are up-and-coming and consists of Josh Willingham, Adam Dunn, Ryan Zimmermann, Nyjer Morgan, Adam Kennedy and Cristian Guzman. Although a lot of these players aren't well-known, they have contributed and work well on fantasy teams. This team will definitely improve from last year and could finish the season over 500.

My division pick: Philadelphia