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The National League East last year was one of the best divisions in all of baseball with both the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets winning over 100 games while the third-place Philadelphia Phillies surprised the baseball world by making a run to the World Series after an 87-win regular season. This offseason, all three teams made significant moves in hopes of making World Series runs in 2023.

Below, we take a look at the moves each team made this offseason and their overall outlook for the upcoming season.

Atlanta Braves

Additions: OF/1B Jordan Luplow, RP Nick Anderson, C Sean Murphy, SP Kolby Allard, RP Joe Jimenez, RP Sam Hilliard

Subtractions: SS Dansby Swanson, OF Adam Duvall, OF Robbie Grossman, RP Luke Jackson, RP Jay Jackson, RP Darren O’Day, RP Kenley Janson

The Braves are coming off a 101-61 win season but failed to repeat as World Series champions, being knocked out by the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS in three games. It was a disappointing end to the season for the Braves who made a tremendous second-half push to win the National League East by chasing down the New York Mets after being behind by 10 games in May.

This offseason, the Braves saw the departure of longtime shortstop Dansby Swanson who signed with Chicago Cubs and also saw the departure of outfielders Adam Duvall and Robbie Grossman as well as key relievers Luke Jackson, Darren O’Day ,and Kenley Janson.

They did, however, make one big addition this offseason in trading for catcher Sean Murphy from the Oakland Athletics. One of the best catchers in all of baseball, Murphy will help solidify the Braves catcher position and should provide a more consistent at-bat at the plate.

All in all, the Braves should continue to be one of the league’s best teams and are a true World Series contender in 2023.

Miami Marlins

Additions: RP A.J Puk, RP Matt Barnes, INF Luis Arraez, INF Jacob Amaya, RP JT Chargois, SP Johnny Cueto, 2B Jean Segura

Subtractions: 3B Brian Anderson, SP Nick Neidert, OF JJ Bledary, RP Richard Bleier, SP Pablo Ropez, INF Miguel Rojas

It wasn’t an overly active offseason for the Marlins who made some quality under-the-radar moves but are still looking at an overall tough offseason. They picked up two nice infield pieces in second baseman Jean Segura and the American League’s 2022 batting champ, Luis Arraez. Arraez on top of his great bat will bring versatility to the Marlins with the ability to play both second base and first base. Signing Johnny Cueto was a sneaky but solid signing as well that will help the Marlins make up for the loss of starting pitcher Miguel Rojas.

The Marlins have an opportunity to be competitive again in 2023 but overall lack the higher end talent that will allow them to compete with the upper echelon of the National League. Pushing for .500 isn’t out of the question but a playoff trip is surely a longshot.

New York Mets

Additions: SP Justin Verlander, SP Jose Quitnana, RP David Robertson, SP Kodai Senga, OF Tommy Pham

Subtractions: OF Dominic Smith, RP Trevor May, RP Joely Rodriguez, OF Tyler Naquin, SP Trevor Williams, RP Seth Lugo, SP Chris Bassitt, SP Taijuan Walker, SP Jacob deGrom, RB Mychal Givens, C James McCann

After a red hot start to their season last year, it looked like the Mets were going to run away with the NL East. While the Mets still played strong baseball throughout the second half, going 54-32 from the beginning of July to the end of the season, late season struggles to the Atlanta Braves ultimately cost the Mets the division. They would be knocked out in the National League Wild Card round by the San Diego Padres.

This offseason, the Mets saw the departure of trio starting pitchers in Chris Bassitt, Taijuan Walker, and Jacob DeGrom. In the meantime, they replaced the trio with the likes of defending AL Cy Young winner Justin Verlander as well as veteran Jose Quintana and Japanese import Kodai Senga. The only major addition they made in the field was outfielder Tommy Pham who will provide the Mets with a quality depth outfielder this upcoming season.

Another name to watch is outfielder Abraham Almonte who was picked up by the Mets this offseason after spending last year with the Boston Red Sox and signed to a minor league contract with a chance to make the team and add some depth to the line-up. He is off to a hot start in Spring training and is someone to keep an eye on. For Bostonians WynnBET Massachusetts promo will come in handy this season as Massachusetts is about to legalize online sports betting just in time for the MLB season.

While they did lose a talented trio of pitchers, the Mets filling their spots with a trio arguably just as good should keep the Amazins as a true World Series contender in 2023. Like for anyone else in the division, it will be tough to win the National League East but as long as they get to the playoffs, they’ll have a legitimate chance to win the World series again this fall.

Philadelphia Phillies

Additions: SS Trea Turner, RP Matt Strahm, SP Taijuan Walker, RP Craig Kimbrel, INF Josh Harrison, INF Kody Clemens, RP Gregory Soto, RP Yunior Marte

Subtractions: 2B Jean Segura, SP Zach Eflin, OF Matt Vierling, 2B Nick Maton, SP Kyle Gibson, RP Corey Knebel, RP Brad Hand, RP David Robertson

The Phillies made a surprise run to the World Series last year and came two wins short of a title but were not satisfied. This past offseason, they went out and upgraded in several spots including at shortstop, signing Trea Turner, arguably the top player on the market for 11-years and over $300 million. They also signed relievers Matt Strahm and Craig Kimbrel while trading for Gregory Soto from the Detroit Tigers, they also signed Taijuan Walker to help fill out their rotation.

On the departure side, the most impactful departure is likely that of SP Zach Eflin – who not only was a consistent and reliable starter but also had the ability to come in for relief when needed. They also saw the departure of utility men Matt Vierling and Nick Maton to the Detroit Tigers in order to land Soto.

The Phillies once again should be a playoff contender this season, if they do indeed make the playoffs, they’ll have the chance to replicate their National League title run thanks to their high-quality pitching staff and potentially the best lineup in baseball, once Bryce Harper returns from injury. If the Phillies can stay afloat in the National League East or Wild Card standings until Harper’s return, they’ll have an opportunity to make plenty of noise in the second half of the season.

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Washington Nationals

Additions: SP Chad Kuhl, SP Wily Peralta, RP Alex Colome, OF Corey Dickerson, 1B Dominic Smith, INF Michael Chavis, 1B Matt Adams, SP Trevor Williams, 3B Jeimer Candelario, OF Stone Garrett,

Subtractions: DH Nelson Cruz, SP Joe Ross, RP Steve Cishek, INF Cesar Hernandez, RP Will Harris, SP Anibal Sanchez, SP Erick Fredde ,1B Luke Voit

Finally, there’s the rebuilding Washington Nationals who are expected to once again be among the worst teams in all of baseball in 2023. They added some quality pieces to their rotation in Chad Kuhl and Wily Peralta but still have one of the worst rosters top to bottom in baseball.

That being said, the Nationals do have some young and intriguing pieces that should keep some of your more dedicated fans entertained for most of the season, names such as C Kiebert Ruiz, SS CJ Abrams, and 2B Luis Gonzalez headline position players to watch while Josiah Gray and MacKenzie Gore will be two young pitchers to keep an eye on this season in the nation’s capital.

The post NL East Primed To Be Competitive All Season Long appeared first on Metsmerized.

The red-hot New York Mets welcomed the defending World Series champion Atlanta Braves to New York to open their eighth series of the season Monday night. The Mets had won seven straight series to open the season heading into Monday night’s matchup against the NL East rival Braves.

Max Fried (2-2, 3.00 ERA) was on the mound for the visiting Braves in his fifth start off the season. Chris Bassitt (3-1, 2.25 ERA) was making his fifth start of the 2022 season for the home Mets.

The Mets bats were quiet as the offense struggled to produce runs and did not do well with runners in scoring position, either. Bassitt pitched well, striking out eight over the course of seven innings. However, he did not have support from his offense on Monday as the Mets fell to the Braves 5-2 to open the series at Citi Field.

Bassitt started off well in the top of the first, retiring the Braves in order. He retired Ronald Acuna Jr. on a strikeout during the inning for his first strikeout of the night. Bassitt needed just five pitches to get through the top of the first.

After Nimmo reached on a fielding error to open the bottom half of the inning, Mark Canha singled to left field to put two runners on with no outs to get the Mets offense started. Fried, however worked his way out of trouble, retiring the next three batters he faced as the Mets failed to produce on the lead-off batters reaching.

Bassitt continued to roll in the top of the second. He allowed a two-out single in the inning, but retired the other three batters he faced and collected his second strikeout of the game.

As the Mets came back up in the second, Marte led off with a lead-off, stand-up double for the Mets’ third base runner of the game. McNeil advanced Marte with a deep fly-out to center field. Marte then came across to score three pitches later on a wild pitch to give the Mets a 1-0 lead over the Braves in the second.

Bassitt struck out two in the third to bring his strikeout count to four as he continued to look strong on the mound through three.

The Mets extended their lead in the third as Cahna stayed hot. He hit a one-out solo home run to extend the Mets’ lead to 2-0 over the Braves in the third. It was his first home run as a Met. Cahna was 2-for-2 on the night with a single and a home run off of Fried.

The Braves got on the board in the fourth on a lead-off, solo home run by Austin Riley off of Bassitt. Bassitt then retired the next three batters he faced to get out of the inning, avoiding any further damage. He also struck out two in the inning to bring his strikeout count to six.

Fried retired the Mets in order in the bottom of the fourth.

Bassitt came back out in the fifth and surrendered a walk and hit a batter, but worked his way out of trouble to get out of the inning. He had seven strikeouts through five innings pitched.

McNeil, who is one of the Mets’ hottest hitters, led off the fifth with a surprise lead-off drag bunt single that no one saw coming to reach. The Mets, however, were not able to produce, leaving McNeil stranded and the score 2-1 through five innings.

The Braves then took the lead in the sixth.

Riley led off the inning for the Braves with a single to left field to put the tying run on base. Two batters later, Ozzie Albies singled to left field with one out to put runners on first and second. Old friend Travis d’Arnaud–and newfound Met killer–collected his second hit of the day immediately after with an RBI double to right field that scored Ozuna to tie the game 2-2 in the sixth.  Then it was Adam Duvall with a sacrifice fly that scored Albies. A pickle between second and third to get d’Arnaud caught between bases for the third out. But the run counted. It was a 3-2 game heading to the bottom of the sixth.

Fried came back out to throw the sixth for the Braves. He shut down the Mets in order to keep the Braves’ lead going into the seventh.

Bassitt settled back in in the seventh. He retired the Braves in order.

The Braves went to their bullpen in the seventh. Tyler Matzek came in to replace Fried on the mound in the seventh.

Fried’s final line: 6 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 6 SO, 1 HR, 3.00 ERA

After the first two Mets were retired in the seventh, the Mets tried to rally with two outs. McNeil walked and McCann was hit by a pitch to put two on with two outs. He was the 21^st Met to get hit this season. Nimmo then walked to load the bases.

That was it for Matzek as the Braves went to their bullpen with the bases loaded full of Mets. Collin McHugh came in to replace Matzek on the mound. He came in and got the job done, striking out Cahna to end the inning.

Bassitt’s day finished after another inning, giving him seven on the night.

Bassitt’s final line: 7 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 8 SO, 1 HR, 2.61 ERA

Trevor May came in in May to replace Bassitt on the mound for the Mets in the eighth.

May gave up a lead-off walk and a two-out single in the inning to put two runners on. d’Arnaud then hit a two-out, two-RBI double to left field to extend the Braves’ lead over the Mets to 5-2 in the eighth. May then got Duvall to fly out to end the inning but not before the damage was done as the Braves took an extended 5-2 lead into the bottom of the eighth. D’Arnaud ended the night with three hits and three RBI against his former team.

May said after the game he’s still not totally healthy after dealing with a triceps strain at the beginning of the season. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him end up on the injured list soon.

A.J. Minter replaced McHugh on the mound for the Braves in the bottom of the eighth, and the Mets bats once again couldn’t produce any runs. They couldn’t do any damage to Kenley Jansen in the ninth, either, and the Mets fell 5-2.

Fried (3-2, 3.00 ERA) took the win for the Braves. Bassitt (3-2, 2.61) surrendered the loss, and Jansen (7, 2.70 ERA) solidified the save. The Braves improve to 11-13 (4^th in the NL East) with Monday’s win. The Mets fall to 16-8, but remain in first in the NL East.

Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Player of the Game: Mark Canha

Canha got two hits, including his first home run, tonight. Despite the struggling offense, that warrants Player of the Game, we think!

On Deck

The Braves and Mets continue their series on Tuesday with a doubleheader. Game one is scheduled to start at 3:10 pm EDT. Carlos Carrasco and David Peterson will pitch tomorrow for the Mets (not yet announced who will pitch which game), and Charlie Morton and Kyle Wright will pitch for the Braves.

The post D’Arnaud Bests Mets In 5-2 Loss to Braves appeared first on Metsmerized.