By: Michael Spiers

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

It’s a glorious time for a sports fan, even without the NFL.

We are down to the Sweet 16 in March Madness and the Masters starts soon. Heck, even the United Football League (UFL) is supposed to start the season this week. The most important of all…the MLB season starts.

This is Braves country, but with so much National League East talk about the Mets and Phillies this offseason, it’s easy to forget that the Braves, even with a rough year, still won 89 games and made the playoffs in 2024. By our standards, that was a down season.

The biggest reason? Health. Last season, Ronald Acuña Jr. and Spencer Strider missed most of the year, and while neither will be ready for Opening Day, both should be back early in the season.

Other players like Chris Sale, Reynaldo López, and Ozzie Albies have durability concerns, but it’s hard to imagine the Braves dealing with worse injury luck than they did in 2024.

The rotation has some holes to fill with Max Fried and Charlie Morton gone, leaving a big workload to replace. Young guys like AJ Smith-Shawver and Grant Holmes, will have to step up early while Strider works his way back.

The bullpen also took a hit, losing A.J. Minter to the Mets and Joe Jiménez to injury. The Braves always seem to find solid relievers, and I think Raisel Iglesias, Pierce Johnson, and Aaron Bummer will be key.

What makes Atlanta dangerous, though, is their offense. Michael Harris II is a breakout MVP candidate, the addition of Jurickson Profar adds depth, and if Austin Riley and Matt Olson play to their potential, this lineup can carry them. If Acuña comes back at full strength, the Braves could be the most balanced team in the NL.

The NL East is shaping up to be the toughest division in baseball. Three teams—the Braves, Phillies, and Mets—made the playoffs last season, and all three expect to be back.

Throw in an improving Nationals squad, and it’s going to be a battle all year long.

The Phillies finally won the NL East last season but got knocked out early in the playoffs by the Mets.

Their core, including Bryce Harper, is still strong, but they’re is getting older. The big question is consistency. They started last year red-hot but faded in the second half. Which version will show up in 2025? If they stay steady, they’re good enough to win the division again, but if age starts catching up, they could take a step back.

The Mets made a deep playoff run last season, knocking out the Phillies before falling to the Dodgers. Then, they made a huge splash by signing Juan Soto in the offseason, giving them a stacked lineup with Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso, and Brandon Nimmo.

I think in 2025, their biggest question is pitching. Their bats are strong, but if the pitching falters, they could be stuck fighting for a Wild Card spot.

The Washington Nationals have been rebuilding. Young stars Dylan Crews and James Wood are the future, and adding veterans Nathaniel Lowe and Josh Bell should help them compete.

The rotation has potential, with MacKenzie Gore and former Brave Michael Soroka looking to bounce back. I don’t think they’re playoff-bound yet, but they could be a tough matchup, especially late in the season.

Miami has struggled and could be headed for another 100-loss season. If they get off to a slow start, expect them to trade away any valuable players by midseason.

Sandy Alcántara is back from injury, and young ace Eury Pérez should return after the All-Star break.

The 2025 NL East is going to be a dogfight. The Braves, Phillies, and Mets all have the talent to win the division, while the Nationals are a team to watch for the future. The Marlins? Not so much.

Atlanta looks ready for a comeback, but with Philly and New York in the mix, nothing will come easy. Expect a tight race, plenty of drama, and some must-watch matchups all season long.