National League East preview

Washington Nationals

2016: 95-67, first place, lost to Dodgers in NLDS.

Outlook: The lineup is probably as good as it’s been, especially if Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman bounce back from down years and Trea Turner comes even close to replicating what he did as runner-up for N.L. Rookie of the Year while learning a new position, center field. Turner will be back at his natural spot, shortstop, and the team hopes Adam Eaton will provide stability in CF. Matt Wieters offers pop from both sides as the new catcher. If Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg are healthy, the rotation should be quite good again, maybe even strong enough to prevent bullpen questions from having much of a negative effect. Washington has been toggling back and forth between N.L. East champion and no-postseason disappointment in recent years. With Dusty Baker steering the way, the Nationals hope to make a second consecutive playoff trip for the first time – and finally win a series, too.

New York Mets

2016: 87-75, second place, lost to San Francisco in wild-card game.

Outlook: Seeking a third consecutive playoff appearance for the first time in franchise history, the Mets have enough talent and depth to make another October run. But a long list of critical injuries derailed the 2015 N.L. champs last year, so better health is crucial. Every experienced regular besides Curtis Granderson spent time on the disabled list last season, in addition to Wilmer Flores and Juan Lagares. Yet the primary concern is the overall fitness of a young, gifted, fragile rotation led by Noah Syndergaard – the only established starter who made it through the full 2016 season. Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, Steven Matz and Zack Wheeler are all coming off surgery. Harvey and Wheeler appear to be the biggest question marks. Robert Gsellman and Seth Lugo, the surprising rookies who rescued a depleted staff down the stretch, could again play important roles. New York quickly re-signed Yoenis Cespedes last fall for $110 million over four years and barely touched the big league roster. Still, challenges lie ahead. Jeurys Familia will miss the first 15 games after accepting a suspension under MLB’s domestic violence policy. Addison Reed, with 106 career saves, is likely fill in as closer, but that could stress the entire bullpen. The delicate status of captain David Wright remains a looming issue. The longtime third baseman with spinal stenosis is having trouble throwing after neck surgery last year. He’s sidelined with his latest ailment, a shoulder injury, but sounds determined to return. If most of the Mets can stay on the field and off the DL, they’ll go after N.L. East champion Washington with this number on their side: a 106-74 record with Cespedes in the lineup since August 2015.

Miami Marlins

2016: 79-82, third place.

Outlook: Frugal owner Jeffrey Loria is trying to sell the Marlins, and he approved increasing payroll by one-third to about $100 million, perhaps to make the team more appealing to prospective buyers. But depth remains a problem, and the minor league system is thin, meaning injuries could sink the season. The Marlins already face a challenge at third base, where Martin Prado will miss opening day because of a strained right hamstring and could be sidelined for the first several weeks. Dee Gordon, Justin Bour and $325 million slugger Giancarlo Stanton all missed significant playing time last season, dooming Miami’s bid to make the playoffs for the first time since 2003. The daily lineup remains the same for the third year in a row – when healthy – and the group will get one last chance to end the longest postseason drought in the N.L.

Philadelphia Phillies

2016: 71-91, fourth place.

Outlook: After four straight losing seasons, the Phillies have modest expectations. They’re still rebuilding and probably a year away from thinking postseason contention, but Pete Mackanin has set an 81-win goal and players believe they can win now. The team added three veterans in Howie Kendrick, Michael Saunders and Clay Buchholz, who have postseason experience and should help Philadelphia win games while holding down a few spots until some of the youngsters are ready. The starting rotation is pretty deep, though it lacks a true ace, and the organization has several pitching prospects close to being ready for the majors. A bunch of young hitters are also knocking on the door and could get the call to the big leagues this summer, including shortstop J.P. Crawford, catcher Jorge Alfaro and outfielders Roman Quinn, Nick Williams and Dylan Cozens.

Atlanta Braves

2016: 68-93, fifth place.

Outlook: After two straight seasons with 90-plus losses, the Braves are talking boldly about contending for a playoff spot in the N.L. East. That might be a bit of a stretch, but the team has clearly improved over the past year. General manager John Coppolella deserves credit for speeding up the rebuilding job by making several one-sided trades, including a deal with Arizona that landed Dansby Swanson and Ender Inciarte. Coppolella also acquired Matt Kemp from San Diego for nothing more than taking on his massive contract. The team seemed much more at ease after rookie manager Brian Snitker took over for Fredi Gonzalez early in the season, sparking a 50-47 run over the final 97 games. Snitker, at 61, is one of the oldest first-time managers in baseball history but seems well-suited for the job. The lineup packs some punch with Kemp sandwiched between Freddie Freeman and Nick Markakis, especially with Phillips coming over in a trade that brings him back to the city where he grew up. Pitching holds the key to how well the Braves fare this season, especially the geriatric rotation. The Braves should also get a boost from moving into their new suburban stadium, SunTrust Park, which replaces Turner Field.