– Last Updated on November 21, 2022 4:48 pm
MLB BASEBALL FUTURES ODDS – 2018 AL East PREDICTIONS
Looking for 2018 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 NL East looks like a forgone conclusion.
NL East Predictions & Handicapping Insight
The Washington Nationals are going to win it and they might even have it wrapped up by the All-Star break.
After the Nats the New York Mets look like the next best team. They definitely have the pitching talent to return to the playoffs but health concerns and what looks like a streaky lineup may mean that even second place is not good enough.
The Miami Marlins are tanking and the Phillies and Braves are looking like they still need at least another year or two before they are going to be in the mix.
Washington Nationals NL East Predictions
Nationals NL East Division Odds: -400
Nationals Win Total Odds: 91.5
The Nats may disappoint in the playoffs but during the regular season they are very, very good.
Even though Bryce Harper gets the pub it is the pitching that sets this group apart. Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg are co-aces and basically make it impossible for them to have a real losing streak. The other three starters are all good enough in their own right and would slot higher in other lineups.
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The bullpen has been a consistent bugaboo for this group but due to trades last year they should be really set in this area this season. Sean Doolittle may not be the scariest closer around but he has experience in the role and can get the job done.
Back to Harper, he is the key to whether this will be a good or great lineup. There will be drama around him, there always is, due to his pending free agency but over the years others have proven to be quality compliments. The likes of Anthony Rendon, Trea Turner and Daniel Murphy could all put up All-Star level season.
New York Mets NL East Predictions
Mets NL East Division Odds: +425
Mets Win Total Odds: 80.5
New York enters the season as the only team with a chance to push the Nationals.
They are composed similarly with a high potential rotation, except their littered with a bunch of arms that have to prove they can make it through an entire season unscathed. Noah Syndergaard especially, no group will be elite without their ace.
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The Mets’ bullpen is not fearsome but they have guys who have been successful in their roles in the past. Bullpen success comes and goes and there is no reason to expect this year will be a disaster.
The lineup will be very sporadic. It is loaded with slugger but with the exception of Todd Frazier at third base, most are past their best before date. They should be among the leaders in homers but I an not expecting steady offense from this group.
A .500 season is doable and if the team below them all backslide maybe even more is possible.
Philadelphia Phillies NL East Predictions
Phillies NL East Division Odds: +900
Phillies Win Total Odds: 74.5
Based on what we saw last year the Phillies have to like their chances for improvement.
Philadelphia made a big investment in a bat in the off-season adding Carlos Santana at first base. No longer being able to DH might affect him later in the season but there is no doubting his ability to get on base and hit home runs. He takes some pressure off a young core in the lineup.
On the mound Aaron Nola looks like a stud, a future ace. Behind him they have some promising arms but it still to be determined the ceilings of the likes of Vince Velasquez and Jared Eickhoff. If they are #2s great, but they might be #4s. Too early to tell.
Leading the bullpen is Hector Neris. He can strike guys out but the rest of the pen is more functional than fearsome.
I think this team can finish third but there will be a noticeable gap between them and the Mets above.
Atlanta Braves NL East Predictions
Braves NL East Division Odds: +1800
Braves Win Total Odds: 73.5
The Braves were respectable last season. Anything more than that is just too much to ask in 2018.
This team has an intriguing lineup. Freddie Freeman is legit but the cast around them is essentially past their prime building towards one. They need someone from both camps to break out and it would be great if it were SS Dansby Swanson.
The rotation is paper thin and has been reinforced with castoffs in Scott Kazmir and Brandon McCarthy. If they are any good and healthy they could be dealt for even more future considerations. Julio Teheran is never going to be an ace.
The bullpen lacks big names but it is more stocked with prospect than the rotation. They are going to keep running guys out there to see who truly can be a part of the long term foundation of the club.
Atlanta will scrap but in most games they are going to be obviously the lesser team between them and their opponent.
Miami Marlins NL East Predictions
Marlins NL East Division Odds: +10000
Marlins Win Total Odds: 64.5
The way the Marlins have stripped their team down to the wood is well documented. Still that win total looks optimistic,
The offense will be lucky to score enough to win regularly. Their outfield was the most productive in baseball and now they might be the least. That is going to be very hard to overcome.
The pitching rotation does not offer much in the way of promise either. Jose Urena is a legitimate prospect but he has nowhere near the ceiling of the deceased Jose Fernandez.
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They have no one you can really count on to halt a losing streak and there will be losing streaks.
The relief corps has a little more promise but it looks like they are not putting their best arms in the highest leverage spots. Projected closer Brad Ziegler is a great candidate to get dealt before the season is over.
I think Florida is going to be terrible this season. I know most teams win at least 60 games but I don’t see how this team reaches that floor.
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