National League East

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* – indicates new to team

+ – indicates injury

1. Atlanta Braves

They have stiff competition to repeat as division champs, but they have more elite talent at key positions than their division rivals.

2. Washington Nationals

Not having Anthony Rendon in the middle of their lineup will hurt, but their pitching staff as why they won the World Series last year.

3. New York Mets

Having the designated hitter the entire 60-game season plus the Postseason will benefit the Mets if they should make it to October.

4. Philadelphia Phillies

Their bullpen will be their downfall once again. Will they learn that lesson in the offseason?

5. Miami Marlins

The massive rebuild continues with some interesting pitching prospects starting to emerge.

Player to Watch: P Max Scherzer – Washington Nationals

Best Acquisition: OF Marcell Ozuna – Atlanta Braves

New Kid on the Block: INF Carter Kieboom – Washington Nationals Continue reading

2019 World Series Champions

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The Washington Nationals celebrate after Game 7 of the baseball World Series against the Houston Astros Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2019, in Houston. The Nationals won 6-2 to win the series. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

They were 19-31 on May 24th. Exactly 10 games back in the National League East. I didn’t have them making the Postseason before the season started, but I figured they were good enough to finish 2nd in a tough division. Continue reading

2019 World Series Preview

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The last time a team from Washington D.C. played in the Fall Classic was in 1933. The Washington Senators lost in 5 games to the New York Giants. The only time the Senators won the World Series was in 1924 defeating the New York Giants in 7 games. That team eventually became the Minnesota Twins in 1961. The Senators still played in D.C. until 1971 when they became the Texas Rangers. Currently the Washington Nationals were once the Montreal Expos who had a storied history as well. The Montreal franchise never played in a World Series, but came close in 1981 and would have contended in 1994 if not for the strike. They will go up against the Houston Astros who will play in their third Fall Classic and their second in the last three seasons. This matchup promises to be very competitive in terms of the starting pitching each team boasts and the depth of their lineups. It will most likely come down to whose bullpen pitches better and which manager outwits the other. Continue reading

2019 MLB Division Series Preview

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American League Division Series

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Houston Astros

This is the classic tale of ‘David vs. Goliath’. The Tampa Bay Rays have always had one of the lowest payrolls in baseball and yet they manage to compete for a spot in the Postseason. Continue reading