Looking at the Phillies and the NL East

by Marc Narducci | Mar 23, 2026

With the MLB season beginning this week, here is a look at the Phillies and the rest of the National League East. Teams are listed in predicted order.

1.Phillies

Last year: 96-66 (first in NL East, lost to the LA Dodgers 3-1 in the National League Division Series).

Key newcomers: Rookie CF Justin Crawford (.334 at Triple A), OF Adolis Garcia (19 HR, 75 RBIs with Texas), RHP Andrew Painter (5.40 ERA at Triple A), RHP Brad Keller (2.07 ERA, 25 holds for the Chicago Cubs).

Key losses: OF Harrison Bader (.305), LHP Ranger Suarez (12-8, 3.20).

Outlook: The Phillies are again the team to beat in the East. The pitching staff is among the best in baseball, led by Cristopher Sanchez (13-5, 2.50), the runner-up in the Cy Young race, who just signed a contract extension. The big question is that can the players who didn’t perform in the postseason come through. Bryce Harper is the key. Harper was just 3-of-15 (.200) with no RBIs in the playoff loss to the Dodgers. Another question is whether Kyle Schwarber (.240, 56 HR, 132 RBIs) can come close to duplicating his numbers from last year when he was second in the MVP voting. The Phillies have made the playoffs four consecutive years, but they will be judged on how they fare in the postseason.

NY Mets

Last year: (83-79, 2^nd in the NL East)

Key newcomers: 3B Bo Bichette (.311, 18 HR, 94 RBIs, .840 OPS with Toronto), RHP Freddy Peralta (17-6. 2.70 with Milwaukee), RHP Devin Williams (4.78 ERA, 18 saves with the NY Yankees), 2B Marcus Semien (.230, 15 HR, 62 RBIs, .669 OPS with Texas), CF Luis Robert (.223, 14 HR, 53 RBIs, .661 OPS with the Chicago White Sox), RHP Luke Weaver (3.62 ERA, 21 holds, 8 saves with the NY Yankees).

Key losses: 1B Pete Alonso (.272, 38 HR, 126 RBIs, 144 OPS+), LF Brandon Nimmo (.262, 25 HR, 92 RBIs), RHP Edwin Diaz (1.63 ERA, 28 saves).

Outlook: Losing Alonso, who signed with Baltimore as a free agent was huge, especially since he played all 162 games. Bichette, who hit .348 for Toronto in the World Series despite being banged up, is a major addition if healthy. Peralta adds greatly to the rotation, but losing Diaz, who signed with the LA Dodgers as a free agent, is a big loss to the bullpen. The Mets should contend for a playoff spot, but they are depending on many players coming off poor seasons such as newcomers Semien, Robert and Williams to perform well. That said, the Mets aren’t as talented as the Phillies.

Atlanta Braves

Last year: 76-86 (4^th)

Key newcomers: RHP Robert Suarez (2.97, 40 saves with San Diego), OF Mike Yastrzemski (.233, 17 HR, 46 RBIs for San Francisco and KC).

Key losses: DH Marcell Ozuna (.232, 21 HR, 68 RBI), OF Jurickson Profar (.245).

Outlook: The Braves were hit by injures last year and it has already started this year with RHPs Hurston Waldrep (6-1, 2.88) and Spencer Schwellenbach (7-4. 3.09) still recovering from elbow injuries and there is no exact timetable for their return.

Catcher Sean Murphy is still recovering from a hip injury. If the Braves don’t suffer any more key injuries, they could contend for a playoff spot, but a lot has to go right. Health will be a big factor. Last year the Braves received 21 starts from ace Chris Sale (2.58 ERA) and will need more than that from the off-injured soon to be 37-year-old lefty.

Miami Marlins

Last year: 79-83 (3rd)

Key newcomers: RHP Pete Fairbanks (2.83 ERA, 27 saves for Tampa Bay), OF Owen Caissie (.286, 25 HR, 55 RBIs, .937 OPS in Triple A, .192 in 26 at-bats for the Chicago Cubs).

Key losses: RHP Edward Cabrera (8-7, 3.53).

Outlook: The Marlins surprised many by finishing third last season. This is a team on the rise with many talented young players, but they just don’t seem capable of contending just yet.

Washington Nationals

Last year: 66-96 (5^th).

Key newcomers: Manager Blake Butera, RHP Zack Littell (10-8, 3.81 with Tampa Bay and Cincinnati), RHP Miles Mikolas (8-11, 4.84 with St. Louis).

Key losses: LHP MacKenzie Gore (5-15, 4.17, All-Star selection), DH Josh Bell (.237, 22 HR, 63 RBIs).

Outlook: Since winning the World Series in 2019, the Nationals have had six straight losing seasons, and a seventh seems likely. This rebuild has taken a long time, and the Nats can’t still see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Cristopher Sanchez / Courtesy of Phillies X/Twitter

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Author: Marc Narducci

Looking at the Phillies and the NL East

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