EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE NL EAST

Any one of the Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, Washington Nationals, or New York Mets may finish first in what promises to be an ultra-competitive NL East.

The Nationals have won the division four times over the last seven years, but the Phillies could be poised to claim their first division title since 2011. The last time that the Mets finished on top was 2015 when they made it all the way to the World Series. The Braves are looking to win consecutive crowns for the first time since 2004-05, which punctuated an incredible run of 11 straight. The lowly Miami Marlins, meanwhile, stand absolutely no chance and could easily finish with the worst record in the majors.

As Opening Day approaches, here's what you need to know about the NL East:

ATLANTA BRAVES

2018 record: 90-72 (1st in NL East)

Payroll: $114,866,394

Record for 2019: 84-78

3-year trend: 2016 (5th); 2017 (3rd); 2018 (1st)

Highest projected WAR: Freddie Freeman (4.2)

X-factor: Josh Donaldson

Prospect to watch: Mike Soroka (MLB.com: No. 24)

Winter report card: C+

PROJECTED LINEUP

ORDER	PLAYER	POS.	PROJ. WAR
1	Ender Inciarte (L)	CF	2.3
2	Josh Donaldson	3B	4.1
3	Freddie Freeman (L)	1B	4.2
4	Ronald Acuna Jr.	LF	3.4
5	Nick Markakis (L)	RF	0.8
6	Ozzie Albies (S)	2B	3.7
7	Brian McCann (L)	C	0.8
8	Dansby Swanson	SS	1.6

Bench

PLAYER	POS.	PROJ. WAR
Tyler Flowers	C	2.9
Charlie Culberson	IF	-0.3
Johan Camargo (S)	IF/OF	1.1
Adam Duvall	OF/IF	-0.1

Ronald Acuna Jr. could blossom into an MVP candidate in his first full MLB season. Freeman is one of the best first basemen in the game and the double-play combo of Ozzie Albies and Dansby Swanson should be solid in the field and provide pop in the bottom third of the lineup. If Donaldson can stay healthy - he only played in 52 games in 2018 - and recapture his old form, he could take Atlanta to another level.

PROJECTED ROTATION

PITCHER	THROWS	PROJ. ERA
Julio Teheran	R	4.81
Kevin Gausman	R	4.10
Sean Newcomb	L	4.17
Touki Toussaint	R	4.37

Bullpen

PITCHER	THROWS	PROJ. ERA
Arodys Vizcaino	R	3.88
Dan Winkler	R	3.88
Jonny Venters	L	3.73
Shane Carle	R	4.20
Jesse Biddle	L	3.47
Chad Sobotka	R	3.99
Max Fried	L	3.58
Wes Parsons	R	4.01
Luke Jackson	R	4.08

The Braves are dealing with some injuries to their pitching staff heading into the season. Right-hander Mike Foltynewicz, the team's No. 1 starter, is battling through elbow tightness and could be back at some point in April, leaving the fifth rotation spot up for grabs between Luiz Gohara, Kolby Allard, and Soroka. Potential future closer A.J. Minter continues to be out with shoulder issues, while Darren O'Day, another high-leverage reliever, is also on the mend and his timeline is unknown at this point.

MIAMI MARLINS

2018 record: 63-98 (5th in NL East)

Payroll: $73,037,143

Record for 2019: 66-116

World Series odds: 350-1

3-year trend: 2016 (3rd); 2017 (2nd); 2018 (5th)

Highest projected WAR: Brian Anderson (2.8)

X-factor: Lewis Brinson

Prospect to watch: Sixto Sanchez (MLB.com: No. 27)

Winter report card: B

PROJECTED LINEUP

ORDER	PLAYER	POS.	PROJ. WAR
1	Curtis Granderson (L)	LF	0.5
2	Brian Anderson	3B	2.8
3	Neil Walker (S)	1B	0.8
4	Starlin Castro	2B	1.5
5	Garrett Cooper	RF	0.1
6	Lewis Brinson	CF	0.8
7	JT Riddle (L)	SS	0.8
8	Jorge Alfaro	C	1.7

BENCH

PLAYER	POS.	PROJ. WAR
Chad Wallach	C	0.4
Martin Prado	IF	0.1
Miguel Rojas	IF	0.5
Rosell Herrera (S)	IF/OF	0.1

The Marlins are in a full-blown rebuild and their lineup reflects that. Veteran bats like Curtis Granderson, Neil Walker, and Starlin Castro will likely be moved during the season if they perform. Brinson turned heads this spring following an ugly 2018 campaign as the key piece in the Christian Yelich trade. Anderson could end up being the best player on this team - and is projected as such - after finishing fourth in NL Rookie of the Year voting last year.

PROJECTED ROTATION

PITCHER	THROWS	PROJ. ERA
Jose Urena	R	4.41
Dan Straily	R	4.84
Trevor Richards	R	4.11
Caleb Smith	L	4.00
Pablo Lopez	R	4.11
Wei-Yin Chen	L	4.41

BULLPEN

PITCHER	THROWS	PROJ. ERA
Drew Steckenrider	R	3.56
Sergio Romo	R	3.86
Adam Conley	L	4.01
Tayron Guerrero	R	3.81
Tyler Kinley	R	3.83
Riley Ferrell	R	3.91
Austin Brice	R	3.96

There isn't a whole lot to look at in terms of pitching. However, there could be a few diamonds in the rough as Trevor Richards, Caleb Smith, and Pablo Lopez have all thrown well during the spring. Drew Steckenrider is pegged to be the closer but he comes into the season with only six career saves and a Grapefruit League ERA this year that sits close to double digits. Sergio Romo, Adam Conley, or Rule 5 pick Riley Ferrell could challenge for the ninth-inning role if Steckenrider falters.

NEW YORK METS

2018 record: 77-85 (4th in NL East)

Payroll: $162,339,092

Record for 2019: 89-73

World Series odds: 22-1

3-year trend: 2016 (2nd); 2017 (4th); 2018 (4th)

Highest projected WAR: Jacob deGrom (5.9)

X-factor: Robinson Cano

Prospect to watch: Pete Alonso (MLB.com: No. 51)

Winter report card: B+

PROJECTED LINEUP

ORDER	PLAYER	POS.	PROJ. WAR
1	Brandon Nimmo (L)	LF	2.4
2	Pete Alonso	1B	1.6
3	Robinson Cano (L)	2B	3.3
4	Wilson Ramos	C	2.2
5	Michael Conforto (L)	RF	3.0
6	Amed Rosario	SS	2.1
7	Jeff McNeil (L)	3B	1.5
8	Juan Lagares	CF	0.6

BENCH

PLAYER	POS.	PROJ. WAR
Travis d'Arnaud	C	1.2
J.D. Davis	IF	0.1
Dominic Smith	1B/OF	0.0
Luis Guillorme	IF	0.0
Keon Broxton	OF	0.1

This Mets' lineup is missing some punch as Yoenis Cespedes, Todd Frazier, and Jed Lowrie are all dealing with injuries. Cespedes could miss the first half of the season as he recovers from multiple heel surgeries. New York is hoping Cano can still be a force offensively at 36 years old. Alonso, who has slashed .356/.387/.627 this spring as of Saturday morning, should be in the mix for NL Rookie of the Year if he makes the team.

PROJECTED ROTATION

PITCHER	THROWS	PROJ. ERA
Jacob deGrom	R	2.94
Noah Syndergaard	R	3.52
Steven Matz	L	4.05
Zack Wheeler	R	3.86
Jason Vargas	L	4.30

BULLPEN

PITCHER	THROWS	PROJ. ERA
Edwin Diaz	R	2.45
Jeurys Familia	R	3.25
Robert Gsellman	R	3.92
Justin Wilson	L	3.29
Seth Lugo	R	3.58
Luis Avilan	L	3.76
Kyle Dowdy	R	3.88

New York may own the majors' best starting rotation. DeGrom and Syndergaard are both aces, Wheeler is finally coming into his own, and Matz is still just 27 and owns a respectable 3.98 ERA for his career. Vargas, an All-Star in 2017, is a solid No. 5 who will look to bounce back from a disappointing 2018 campaign. The bullpen looks like a weapon with 2018 MLB saves leader Edwin Diaz on board. Add Jeurys Familia and Justin Wilson, and the Mets should be feeling good with a late lead in games.

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES

2018 record: 80-82 (3rd in NL East)

Payroll: $140,437,462

Record for 2019: 84-78

World Series odds: 17-2

3-year trend: 2016 (4th); 2017 (5th); 2018 (3rd)

Highest projected WAR: Bryce Harper (4.6)

X-factor: Nick Pivetta

Prospect to watch: Alec Bohm (MLB.com: No. 59)

Winter report card: A+

PROJECTED LINEUP

ORDER	PLAYER	POS.	PROJ. WAR
1	Andrew McCutchen	RF	2.8
2	Jean Segura	SS	2.4
3	Bryce Harper (L)	LF	4.6
4	Rhys Hoskins	1B	3.5
5	J.T. Realmuto	C	3.8
6	Odubel Herrera (L)	CF	1.8
7	Maikel Franco	3B	2.1
8	Cesar Hernandez (S)	2B	2.0

BENCH

PLAYER	POS	PROJ. WAR
Andrew Knapp (S)	C	-0.1
Scott Kingery	IF/OF	0.4
Aaron Altherr	OF	0.0
Nick Williams (L)	OF	0.1

There is no shortage of firepower in Philadelphia in 2019. The Phillies' one-through-five hitters should cause a lot of headaches for opposing pitchers with two MVP awards and 14 All-Star Game nods between them. Harper will get almost all of the attention, but Rhys Hoskins could be primed for a monster season with plenty of protection around him. The 26-year-old has 52 career home runs in only 203 games.

PROJECTED ROTATION

PITCHER	THROWS	PROJ. ERA
Aaron Nola	R	3.58
Jake Arrieta	R	4.25
Nick Pivetta	R	3.99
Zach Eflin	R	4.61
Vince Velasquez	R	4.41

BULLPEN

PITCHER	THROWS	PROJ. ERA
David Robertson	R	3.26
Seranthony Dominguez	R	3.41
Hector Neris	R	3.60
Pat Neshek	R	4.49
Adam Morgan	L	4.00
Edubray Ramos	R	4.35
Jose Alvarez	L	3.85
Juan Nicasio	R	3.76

The rotation is led by a 2018 NL Cy Young finalist in Aaron Nola and the recipient of the 2015 award in Jake Arrieta. The 26-year-old Pivetta owns a career 9.9 K/9 rate so if he can find another gear, the starting pitching could really cause headaches for opposing lineups. Adding David Robertson to the bullpen provides a stable veteran presence to go along with the big arms of Seranthony Dominguez and Hector Neris.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS

2018 record: 82-80 (2nd in NL East) 

Payroll: $195,950,991

Record for 2019:: 89-73

World Series odds: 18-1

3-year trend: 2016 (1st); 2017 (1st); 2018 (2nd) 

Highest projected WAR: Max Scherzer (5.7) 

X-factor: Victor Robles

Prospect to watch: Robles (MLB.com: No. 4) 

Winter report card: A-

PROJECTED LINEUP

ORDER	PLAYER	POS.	PROJ. WAR
1	Adam Eaton (L)	RF	2.2
2	Trea Turner	SS	4.6
3	Juan Soto (L)	LF	4.1
3	Anthony Rendon	3B	5.1
5	Ryan Zimmerman	1B	1.1
6	Brian Dozier	2B	2.1
7	Yan Gomes	C	1.1
8	Victor Robles	CF	2.1

BENCH

PLAYER	POS.	PROJ. WAR
Kurt Suzuki	C	0.5
Matt Adams (L)	1B/OF	0.4
Wilmer Difo (S)	IF/OF	0.2
Andrew Stevenson (L)	OF	-0.1

Life without Harper shouldn't be too bad for the Nats. Anthony Rendon is primed for a big season entering his walk year. Adam Eaton and Trea Turner will score a bunch of runs as the table-setters for a deep lineup, with the latter likely to steal 50-plus bases. Juan Soto put up a .923 OPS as a 19-year-old and Robles could end up being the NL Rookie of the Year while replacing No. 34.

PROJECTED ROTATION

PITCHER	THROWS	PROJ. ERA
Max Scherzer	R	3.14
Stephen Strasburg	R	3.64
Patrick Corbin	L	3.53
Anibal Sanchez	R	4.30
Jeremy Hellickson	R	4.82

BULLPEN

PITCHER	THROWS	PROJ. ERA
Sean Doolittle	L	3.36
Trevor Rosenthal	R	3.13
Kyle Barraclough	R	4.04
Justin Miller	R	3.98
Matt Grace	L	3.85
Wander Suero	R	4.33
Tony Sipp	L	3.90

Like New York, Washington could very well have the top pitching staff in the game. Scherzer is a future Hall of Famer, Stephen Strasburg has a career 3.14 ERA, (though he's only pitched 200-plus innings once), and Patrick Corbin finished fifth in NL Cy Young voting in 2018. The addition of Trevor Rosenthal brings a big arm with closing experience to complement Sean Doolittle in the back end of the bullpen.