– Last Updated on November 21, 2022 4:47 pm
MLB BASEBALL FUTURES ODDS – 2017 NL EAST PREDICTIONS
Looking for 2017 NL East Predictions? We’ve got your back! Spring Training is finally here – all of the talking and reshaping of lineups will start to come to light as we inch closer to opening day. The last NL East team to win the World Series was Philadelphia in 2008.
MLB NL East Predictions & Handicapping Insight
The Phillies are a longshot heading into this season but there are a couple of teams that should be in the mix in 2017.
Washington has been an enigma for a number of seasons as their talent and output just don’t seem to match up. Is this the year it all comes together?
The Mets still have one of the best set of starting pitchers in the Majors but their lineup once again looks a little light. Still they should be in the mix til the end.
Miami is more talented than Atlanta but hardly an elite team. I am not sure what the Marlins ceiling is but I am very sure the Braves are going to be bad. The new stadium looks great but won’t suddenly make them a contender.
Let’s take a look at each team a little more closely.
2017 NL East Predictions: Washington Nationals
Nationals NL East Division Odds: -137
National Win Total: 90.5
2016 was another wasted season for the Nationals as they finished with the second best record in the NL but lost to the Dodgers 3-2 in the LDS. Still they enter the season as the favourite to win the division…and they should.
Check out the free sports picks from Cappers Picks experts today!
The pitching is still among the best in the Majors and there is no reason to expect fades from the likes of Max Scherzers, Stephen Strasburg or Tanner Roark. At the moment it looks like Shawn Kelley will be the closer.
He has never really held that role before but his stuff profiles well for the opportunity.
On offense the Nats made a splash in acquiring Adam Eaton for the top of their lineup.
They are equally excited about a full season from phenom Trea Turner. However, Bryce Harper needs to bounce back in a big way because I am not sure they can count on MVP level performance from Daniel Murphy. The lineup is good enough but not great.
2017 NL East Predictions: New York Mets
Mets NL East Division Odds: +188
Mets Win Total: 89.5
The Mets made the postseason but after losing the World Series the year before they could not get out of the Wild Card round. Hard to be too harsh on them as they ran into Madison Bumgarner, enough said.
The outlook for this season is similar to a year ago. The rotation, even without Bartolo Colon, is loaded. Loaded with talent and loaded with injury risks but nevertheless loaded.
Check out the free sports picks for today from Cappers Picks!
The bullpen is really locked in too which means it will be up to the offense to see whether this team can be better.
There is some power with the likes of OFs Yoenis Cespedes and Curtis Granderson but there is not a lot to be excited about this group. Jay Bruce was the big acquisition at the deadline but with the Mets he never clicked.
Now some pundits think he might not even start for New York. He is a known source of power and New York needs everyone on their game if they are going to maximize their pitching.
2017 NL East Predictions: Miami Marlins
Marlins NL East Division Odds: +1000
Marlins Win Total: 77.5
Suffice it to say the Marlins had a tumultuous 2016. As they look forward to 2017 they are just hoping to keep their heads down, stay healthy and play ball.
If they can do that they have some young talent that might surprise.
You can easily make the case that the Marlins have one of the best outfields in baseball with Giancarlo Stanton, Christian Yelich and Marcel Ozuna.
All can put up better numbers than they did a year ago, especially Stanton who missed 30 games. The infield is light but full seasons from Dee Gordon and Justin Bour will make the offense better.
The starting staff obviously suffered a huge blow last season. This year has brought some reinforcements but Edinson Volquez does not inspire much confidence.
They are going to need somebody from an ordinary group to step forward if they are going to be in the race. I am not seeing it.
2017 NL East Predictions: Philadelphia Phillies
Phillies NL East Division Odds: +1600
Phillies Win Total: 72.5
2016 was not a great season for Philly but it was much better than expected. I think the outcome is that a number of their young players established a baseline of MLB performance. They have some high ceilings too.
At times last year the Phillies really got some good pitching.
It faded as expected but the likes of Vincent Velasquez, Aaron Nola and Jared Eickhoff proved that they can dominate. Now they just have to focus on consistency.
Clay Buchholz is an interesting pickup for this group. I am not a fan of Jeremy Hellickson but if he is really your number 5 then you are in pretty good shape.
The offense is not in as good hands. Maikel Franco is an emerging power sources and Odubel Herrera is a nice speed threat but the rest of the lineup is not very established.
Tommy Joseph and Cameran Rupp have potential at 1B and C but I am not sure how good they can really be. Howie Kendrick was an interesting get. He can still hit and might be a positive influence on the young guys.
2017 NL East Predictions: Atlanta Braves
Braves NL East Division Odds: +1800
Braves Win Total: 71.5
It seems logical to put the Braves in last given their recent performances but they could surprise and sneak up to third.
There will be more positivity with this group then there has been in some time, with the new ballpark and a chance to be respectable and not terrible.
Julio Teheran suffered through 2016 – he has a 7-10 record despite a crisp 3.21 ERA. Reinforcements have come in the form of Bartolo Colon and R.A. Dickey.
They might not be difference makers but they will take their turns and pitch relatively deep into games. Maybe Dickey regains something close to his NL form with the Mets.
[dfads params=’groups=213&limit=1&return_javascript=1′]
The offense, believe it or not, has even more question marks. Freddie Freeman is a stud but the rest of the lineup is unknown. It was encouraging to see Matt Kemp look strong in an Atlanta uniform but with him you never know.
The outfield could be productive though with Ender Inciarte and Nick Markakis flanking him. Top prospect Dansby Swanson looked good but he has not even played 50 games.
2017 NL East Predictions Best Value: New York Mets
Assuming the pitching is healthy throughout the season they will be right there at the end. If the hitting improves there is no reason they can’t take the division and maybe even make a run back to the World Series.
What do you think of our 2017 NL East predictions? Comments are welcome below.
We’ll be providing 4* free MLB plays on the blog all season long, and check out our Experts for guaranteed premium & free MLB Baseball picks!
Check out our Updated MLB Betting Odds.