The National League Postseason spots are still wildly up in the air. Nothing is set in stone, not even the division titles. With no division leads larger than 3 games (going into 8/24), every current division leader could become a wild card team or out of the postseason all together. Every NL contender has a strong case to win their division or at least a wild card spot. Although all of these contenders have a strong case, there are only a certain number of postseason spots and so some teams will be left out of the postseason fun.
NL East
Atlanta Braves
Currently the Atlanta Braves have a 3 game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies for the division. The Braves have a strong, young core with plenty of energy and fight. The Baby Braves hit for average and can hit home runs. They are currently 7th in the NL in home runs with 144, directly behind the other NL East contender Philadelphia Phillies. Lately their lineup has been sparked by the emergence of Rookie of the Year candidate, Ronald Acuna Jr. Acuna Jr. has given this team the spark it needed to find the energy they had coming out of the gates earlier this year. The young pitchers have been solid for the Braves as well, sporting a 3.74 ERA, good for 5th in the NL. With the Braves solid pitchers and batters, they have a pretty strong case for keeping their division lead and winning the NL East.
My Prediction
Freddie Freeman and Ozzie Albies will catch fire to go along with the blazing hot Ronald Acuna Jr. and they will put the division to rest. The Braves will continue to defy expectations and win the NL East.
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are currently 3 games back from the Braves and 1 game back of the second wild card spot. Despite being behind in both spots, they are definitely not out of it. With a little over a month left of the season, the Phillies are capable of going on a ru and winning the division or at least grabbing a wild card spot. This lineup is highlighted by great seasons from Maikel Franco and Odubul Herrera. Although Herrera is ice cold as of late, he is very capable of going on a run similar to the one where he hit a home run in five straight games earlier in the season. Speaking of home runs, this lineup can hit them out pretty well, they are 6th in the NL with 149. The rotation has been great for the Phillies as well. The ace of the staff, Aaron Nola, is in the midst of a possible Cy Young winning campaign. Jake Arrieta is also having a strong season. This team is very capable of going on a huge run and dethroning the Braves or their current position at the top of the NL East.
My Prediction
Although this team is capable of going on a hugh run, their run won’t be good enough. Odubul Herrera will catch fire once again but it won’t be enough for a team with a .236 batting average, the third lowest batting average in the entire league ahead of only the San Diego Padres and the New York Mets. The Phillies just aren’t consistent enough offensively or defensively to catch the Braves or to catch a wild card spot. This year the Phillies will be on the outside looking in.
NL Central
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs have a 3 game lead on the St. Louis Cardinals, and the Milwaukee Brewers and a half game behind that. They the best batting average in the NL at .263 and the best on-base percentage in both leagues at .340. Although they don’t have the same power that they had last year, they still have a good amount of home runs at 134, 9th in the NL. Despite the injuries that have been plaguing Kris Bryant, the lineup has still been great for Joe Maddon’s squad. Anthony Rizzo is having a great season and Javier Baez is having a MVP type season. The Cubs also added Daniel Murphy who has been a model of consistency throughout his career. The pitching staff has been great with a 3.71 ERA, 4th in the NL. The addition of Cole Hamels has been paying dividends as he has been almost untouchable in his starts so far with the Cubbies. This team can very well win this division and find themselves in the postseason.
My Prediction
The Cubs have found themselves in this position before and so they know what to do to pull through. The Cubs will win the NL Central relatively easily and they will be looking towards the postseason.
St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals currently own the first wild card spot but they have their eyes on the division. The Cardinals have been the hottest team in the NL for the past couple of weeks and it doesn’t appear that they will be slowing down. Matt Carpenter has put this team on his back and has thrust himself into the MVP conversation. The Cardinals are second in the NL in home runs with 165. The young pitching staff has been great in this stretch as well despite injuries to Michael Wacha and Adam Wainwright. Miles Mikolas has been sensational, helping to make their team ERA 3.67, good for 3rd in the NL. If the Cardinals continue their hot streak, they very well can challenge the Cubs for the division.
My Prediction
Despite this great run, the Cardinals will finish behind the Cubs. The Cardinals do not have the experience that the Cubs have and so their run will come to an end and they will be out of the postseason altogether.
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are tied with the Colorado Rockies for the second wild card spot. The Brewers have been a solid team all season. They’ve enjoyed outstanding seasons from their offseason pickups Christian Yelich and Lorenzo Cain. These two have been the driving forces of their great offense. This team has been less bust and more boom compared to last years boom or bust lineup. The Brewers are 3rd in the NL in big blasts with 163. They are also 1st in the NL in stolen bases with 99, so they can beat you in a variety of ways. Their team ERA is a solid 3.86, 6th in the NL. Their starters have been solid and the bullpen has been terrific. Although the bullpen has been running on fumes lately, they can still return to their former selves. If this happens, this team can not only secure and a wild card spot, but it could surpass the Cubs for the NL Central.
My Prediction
Personally the Brewers have been a team I have rooted for all season. However, the Brewers not adding a starter will come to burn them once again. The bullpen can only be used so much throughout the season and so the Brewers will end up where they were last year, watching the postseason from home.
NL West
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are currently leading the NL West by 1 game over the Colorado Rockies. The Dodgers aren’t far behind at 4.5 games back. The D-Backs have been pretty consistent all season. Although their batting average and home run totals aren’t especially impressive, .241 and 142, they do what they need to do to get victories. It also helps that they have a team ERA of 3.59, 2nd in the NL. With starters like Zack Greinke, Patrick Corbin, and sneaky good Clay Buchholz, the Diamondbacks are poised to finish the season leading the division.
My Prediction
The Arizona Diamondbacks will stay consistent throughout the rest of the season and they will not allow the Rockies and the Dodgers to catch up. The D-Backs will ride a great year into the postseason as the winner of the NL West.
Colorado Rockies
The Rockies are only 1 game back from the lead and are closing in on the division leading D-Backs. The Rockies are playing with a lot of energy and are never out of a game with four walk-off wins just in the second half alone. As expected, they hit a lot of home runs (159) but they don’t necessarily need a homer to win, they find ways to win. However, contrary to expectations, Rockies pitchers have actually been pretty good. Kyle Freeland has been great all season, German Marquez and Jon Gray are both figuring it out and they’re pitching much better as of late. With a great lineup, a surprisingly solid pitching staff, and nonstop fight, the Rockies could end up atop the NL West.
My Prediction
The Rockies are surging their way towards the Diamondbacks but they will fall short. The Rockies biggest flaw is an inconsistent bullpen and this wi be the reason they won’t pass up the D-Backs. Currently the Rockies are tied with the Brewers for the second wild card spot but their hot streak will land them the first wild card spot.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Despite a blistering lineup that can take pitchers deep up and down, the Dodgers are 4.5 games behind Arizona. Since acquiring Manny Machado and Brian Dozier, the Dodgers have been boom or bust. They are currently second in the entire league with 176 home runs, trailing only the Bronx Bombers. Once this lineup gets in a rhythm though, they will be hard to stop. Since Kenley Jansen’s heart issue, the Dodgers bullpen hasn’t been any good. If he can return to his dominant self and their lineup regains its consistency, they can easily ascend to the top of the NL West.
My Prediction
The Dodgers will regain their consistency but they won’t do it in time to take the division or the first wild card spot. The National League postseason picture will look a lot like it did last year with three NL West teams. This time, however, The D-Backs will be at the top of the division with the Rockies and the Dodgers holding the two wild card spots.
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