By: Kipp Branch

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

The NL East is the best overall division in Major League Baseball.

The Braves, Mets, and Nationals could all finish over .500 on the season. In 2019 the last full season before the pandemic four teams finished at .500 or better in this stacked division.

Let take a look at each team:

Miami Marlins: The Marlins made the playoffs in the pandemic shortened season of 2020, and eliminated the Chicago Cubs in the playoffs before the Braves ended their season.

This team has one of the top farm systems in baseball and just continues to produce talent.

Sixto Sanchez is one of the best young pitchers in baseball. Starling Marte is an All-Star and Gold Glove winner in the outfield and will be surrounded by all of that younger talent. This team will continue to improve.

Washington Nationals: The Nationals won the World Series in 201, and finished last in the division in 2020.

They still have Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, and Patrick Corbin in this rotation, so they will be in just about every game.

Juan Soto is a superstar and they have Kyle Schwarber and Josh Bell potentially surrounding him in the line-up. How will this bullpen perform in 2021? That is the question surrounding this team.

Philadelphia Phillies: This team has spent a lot of money on free agents over the past couple of seasons but still floats around the .500 mark in the standings.

Bryce Harper is only 28 years old and will probably have a monster season and you have J.T. Realmuto and Didi Gregorius.

The core is there, but will this pitching staff hold up? Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler have to have great seasons for this team to contend.

NY Mets:  The Mets have become the trendy pick by most everyone to win the NL East.

Can this team be consistent enough to win the division? That is a huge question mark in my mind.

Pete Alonzo will probably hit 40+ HR’s, and the Francisco Lindor trade was huge offensively and defensively.

Jacob deGrom, Carlos Carrasco, and Marcus Stroman will lead this pitching staff. This team has good pitching and will hit a lot of HR’s.

Something to watch down the stretch is can Noah Syndergaard return this summer from his Tommy John surgery? If he does and is effective then this could tilt the NL East in the Mets favor.

Atlanta Braves:  We all know the Braves are one of the best teams in baseball. Freddie Freeman is the reigning MVP and Ronald Acuna Jr. is a young superstar.

The Braves resigned Marcell Ozuna. The Braves signed Charlie Morton and Drew Smyly to beef up the starting rotation.

How quickly can Mike Soroka regain form in 2021 after recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon last season?

Can Kyle Wright be the starter the Braves envisioned when they drafted him?

The everyday line-up is the best in the division if the Braves play Cristian Pache in CF.

Who will grab the closer job?

My NL East Predictions:

Atlanta Braves: 93-69

NY Mets: 91-71

Washington Nationals: 88-74

Miami Marlins: 78-84

Philadelphia Phillies: 75-87

I see the Braves winning the NL East in the last weekend of the regular season.