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N.L. East preview

Pitcher Jose Fernandez became the ace of the Marlins as a rookie last season. (Associated Press)
Pitcher Jose Fernandez became the ace of the Marlins as a rookie last season. (Associated Press)

Atlanta Braves

2013 record: 96-66, first place (lost to Dodgers in division series).

Hot spot: After Tim Hudson and Paul Maholm departed as free agents, the Braves lost two more starting pitchers – projected opening day starter Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy – to season-ending elbow injuries in spring training. The Braves quickly signed Ervin Santana, but the rotation remains thin, especially early in the season.

Outlook: The Braves had the majors’ best ERA in 2013, when they won the division even as Dan Uggla and B.J. Upton hit below .200 and lost their starting jobs. The team expected to again lean on its pitching before losing Medlen and Beachy. Evan Gattis showed impressive power as a rookie and is now the starting catcher. The injuries to Medlen and Beachy probably make the Braves an underdog to Washington. A full, healthy season from Jason Heyward and even modest improvements from Uggla and B.J. Upton could make the lineup stronger.

Washington Nationals

2013 record: 86-76, second place.

Hot spot: Doug Fister was bothered by right elbow inflammation after his first spring start and missed about three weeks of action. The fifth spot in the rotation will be worth watching because Ross Detwiler, who came to the Nationals as the No. 6 overall pick in the amateur draft and has a lot more experience in the majors than Tanner Roark or Taylor Jordan, competed with that duo for the job before being relegated to the bullpen. Will Washington stick to the stance that Detwiler is better suited for relief than starting?

Outlook: The Nationals went from the best record in the majors in 2012 to missing the playoffs in 2013. Two big keys will be young stars OF Bryce Harper and pitcher Stephen Strasburg, a pair of No. 1 draft picks who had offseason surgery. The lineup is expected to be mostly the same as last season, other than some tinkering with the batting order.

New York Mets

2013 record: 74-88, third place.

Hot spots: First base, shortstop, catcher. With the Mets unable to upgrade at first base, Ike Davis and Lucas Duda were left to compete for playing time this spring. Then both were sidelined for weeks with leg injuries, making the decision more difficult. New York needs one of them to finally emerge for good. Light-hitting SS Ruben Tejada, who broke his leg in September, has regressed the past couple of years, and this might be his last chance to hold down the job.

Outlook: After three years of bargain hunting, GM Sandy Alderson spent more than $87 million on a trio of free agents. Outfielders Curtis Granderson and Chris Young finally give the Mets some depth and potential power in the outfield, without sacrificing speed and defense. RHP Bartolo Colon, who turns 41 in May, is coming off an All-Star campaign with Oakland that followed a drug suspension. Following five straight losing seasons, the roster has improved. Maybe not enough to contend just yet, but the Mets expect to make big strides as they wait for ace Matt Harvey to return in 2015.

Philadelphia Phillies

2013 record: 73-89, fourth place.

Hot spots: LHP Cole Hamels, the 2008 World Series MVP, is expected to miss the first month and could be out longer with a shoulder problem. Adding A.J. Burnett helps fill the void and gives the Phillies a solid 1-2 punch atop the rotation, but they don’t have much depth and haven’t been able to rely on their offense in a few years. Ryan Howard hasn’t played a full season since 2011 and the Phillies are counting on the 2006 N.L. MVP to be the slugger that plays up to his contract.

Outlook: These aren’t the Phillies who dominated the East from 2007-11. They may look like it because half the starting lineup is still there, but those core players are trending downward. The offseason moves were an indication it is trying to win now before the window closes. Re-signing 2B Chase Utley and C Carlos Ruiz and adding OF Marlon Byrd and Burnett weren’t rebuilding moves.

Miami Marlins

2013 record: 62-100, fifth place.

Hot spots: Here’s how the Marlins scored in the bottom of the ninth in last year’s final game: single, single, wild pitch, wild pitch. With that, they won Henderson Alvarez’s no-hitter, 1-0. So it went all season for an offense that ranked last in the majors in batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, runs, hits, doubles and home runs. No wonder the Marlins lost 100 games and finished last in the N.L. East for the third consecutive season. Larry Beinfest was fired as president of baseball operations, but the payroll remains small, and team team could only afford to add questionable veterans.

Outlook: The young rotation has abundant promise. If the Marlins hit at all they’ll be better than last season.