NATIONAL LEAGUE PREVIEWS

NL EAST

ATLANTA BRAVES

How they look: The young Braves grew up so fast they ended up in the playoffs in 2018, and now OF Ronald Acuna, 2B Ozzie Albies, et al. will need to deal with the expectations that come with that success. The Braves weren’t active on the winter market — 3B Josh Donaldson and C Brian McCann were the only significant additions — but there’s enough talent to make Atlanta a playoff threat again.

X factor: Donaldson was one of the biggest impact players in baseball as recently as 2016. He is just 33 and appears to finally be healthy.

Manager watch: Last year’s success earned Brian Snitker the National League Manager of the Year award and a two-year extension.

MIAMI MARLINS

How they look: An 11-game winning streak in spring training doesn’t disguise the fact that the Marlins are the only team in the NL East without playoff hopes in 2019. The rebuilding process continued with the winter trade that sent C J.T. Realmuto to the Phillies, and rather than show off big new signings the Marlins emphasized improvements they have made to their 7-year-old home ballpark.

X factor: Keep an eye on RHP Pablo Lopez, a 23-year-old who had a 0.90 ERA in 20 innings this spring.

Manager watch: Don Mattingly was hired three years ago by former owner Jeffrey Loria, but he has shown the patience needed as the Marlins try to build under Derek Jeter , Mattingly’s one-time New York Yankees teammate.

NEW YORK METS

How they look: New General Manager Brodie Van Wagenen has brought a new optimism to Queens, but the Mets’ hopes will depend on keeping their talented rotation healthy and getting enough offense and bullpen help to support it. Van Wagenen’s biggest winter trade was aimed at addressing both those needs, with closer Edwin Diaz and 2B Robinson Cano coming over from the Seattle Mariners.

X factor: With OF Yoenis Cespedes ’availability uncertain after surgery on both heels, OF Michael Conforto becomes a key guy in the lineup. Conforto started slowly in 2018 coming off a major shoulder injury, but he had a .895 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) in the second half.

Manager watch: Van Wagenen kept Mickey Callaway, but after a difficult first season Callaway likely can’t afford a slow start in 2019.

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES

How they look: The Phillies are excited, and they should be. They showed improvement last season and even more during a winter that already was looking good even before OF Bryce Harper accepted their 13-year, $330 million contract. The Phillies haven’t made the playoffs since 2011 and haven’t had a .500 record since 2012, but they go into 2019 believing both droughts can end.

X factor: Harper cost more in terms of dollars, but the trade with the Marlins for CJ.T. Realmuto cost the Phillies plenty in terms of prospects. Realmuto should be worth the price, though, as one of baseball’s best two-way catchers.

Manager watch: It was an eventful first season for Gabe Kapler, but the Phillies believe in their sometimes unorthodox manager. With the big winter, though, there will be more pressure on him to produce.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS

How they look: They look different because for the first time since 2011 they won’t have Bryce Harper. But the Nationals don’t look at all bad because they have tons of returning talent with RHP Max Scherzer , 3B Anthony Rendon and OF Juan Soto , among others, and they added free agent LHP Patrick Corbin to their already strong rotation.

X factor: As good as Soto was in finishing second in the National League Rookie of the Year vote, Victor Robles was supposed to be the young outfielder who got the first chance in 2018. Now the speedy Robles will play alongside Soto, an exciting thought that makes the loss of Harper easier to take.

Manager watch: It wasn’t the smoothest of first seasons for Dave Martinez (82-80, missed playoffs), and there will be pressure to get the Nationals back into the postseason.

NL CENTRAL

CHICAGO CUBS

How they look: The Cubs are looking for redemption after blowing a five-game lead in the NL Central last September, then losing to the Brewers in the division tiebreaker and to the Colorado Rockies in the wild-card game to end their season.

X factor: Closer Brandon Morrow will begin the season on the injured list after having arthroscopic elbow surgery in the offseason. The Cubs hope he can regain his form of 2018, when he had a 1.47 ERA and 22 saves in 35 games.

Manager watch: Joe Maddon is entering the final season of his contract, and there have been no negotiations on an extension. Though Maddon has led the Cubs to the postseason in each of his four seasons, this could be it.

CINCINNATI REDS

How they look: The Reds believe they are ready to make a big step forward with a revamped roster and new manager David Bell following four consecutive seasons of at least 94 losses. LHP Alex Wood and RHPs Sonny Gray and Tanner Roark are expected to bolster the rotation, while LF Matt Kemp and RF Yasiel Puig should add power to the lineup.

X factor: Roark was 9-15 with a 4.34 ERA in 31 games for the Washington Nationals last season but looks like a bounceback candidate after a strong spring.

Manager watch: Bell takes over for Jim Riggleman, who replaced Bryan Price last April. This is Bell’s first major league managing job, but he has a great reputation and comes from a noted baseball family.

MILWAUKEE BREWERS

How they look: The Brewers are brimming with optimism after coming within one game of the franchise’s first World Series appearance since 1982. They have plenty of power and speed in the lineup, but their vaunted bullpen was weakened by injuries to RHPs Jeremy Jeffress and Corey Knebel during spring training.

X factor: 2B Mike Moustakas is learning a new position after spending his entire eight year career as a third baseman, the first 7 1 / 2 with the Kansas City Royals before being traded to the Brewers last July.

Manager watch: Craig Counsell is under contract through 2020 and in no danger of losing his job anytime soon. A Milwaukee-area native and former Brewers infielder, he seems to be the perfect fit.

PITTSBURGH PIRATES

How they look: The Pirates finished a surprising 82-79 last season after trading Andrew McCutchen and Gerrit Cole the previous winter. The team believes it can build off that momentum, thanks in large part to a potentially outstanding pitching staff that includes RHP Jameson Taillon fronting the rotation and LHP Felipe Vazquez serving as a lockdown closer.

X factor: RHP Chris Archer was 3-3 with a 4.30 ERA in 10 starts after being acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays in a trade last July. However, Archer was a two-time All-Star with the Rays, and the Pirates think he can regain that form.

Manager watch: Clint Hurdle has plenty of security with three years remaining on his contract. He is also a favorite of owner Bob Nutting.

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

How they look: The Cardinals are confident they can get to the postseason after missing it in each of the past three seasons. What fuels that optimism is the winter additions of 1B Paul Goldschmidt to the lineup and LHP Andrew Miller to the bullpen. Goldschmidt agreed to a five-year, $130 million contract extension last week.

X factor: Rookie RHP Dakota Hudson is the No. 5 starter but has higher upside after winning Pitcher of the Year in the Class AAA Pacific Coast league last year. He also had a 2.63 ERA in 26 relief appearances with the Cardinals.

Manager watch: Mike Shildt replaced Mike Matheny the day before last year’s All-Star break. The interim tag was removed in September, and he was signed through 2020.

NL WEST

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

How they look: The departures of three key players — 1B Paul Goldschmidt (St. Louis Cardinals), CF A.J. Pollock (Los Angeles Dodgers) and LHP Patrick Corbin (Washington Nationals) — make Arizona a candidate for the NL West cellar. RHP Zack Greinke again will anchor the rotation, but Arizona needs a return to form from LHP Robbie Ray. RHP Greg Holland was chosen to be the closer despite a shaky spring.

X factor: The addition of CF Adam Jones will be a benefit, but it won’t be enough for Arizona to be a factor in the NL West.

Manager watch: Although Torey Lovullo signed an extension during the offseason, his future hinges on how well he can keep the club afloat this year.

COLORADO ROCKIES

How they look: Despite his struggles last season, the addition of 1B Daniel Murphy is a welcome addition to a lineup that finished sixth in the majors in hitting last season. 3BNolan Arenado, who signed an eight year, $260 million deal during the offseason, enjoyed a hot spring. CF Charlie Blackmon struggled this spring, but there are little worries about him delivering another solid season.

X factor: A reliable effort from RHP Jon Gray, LHP Tyler Anderson and the rest of rotation will be needed to compete with the Dodgers.

Manager watch: Bud Black, the only manager to lead the club to back-to-back playoff appearances, was rewarded with a three-year extension.

LOS ANGELES DODGERS

How they look: LHP Clayton Kershaw (shoulder) and LHP Rich Hill (left knee) will start the season on the injured list, meaning LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu will draw the opening-day start against the Diamondbacks. With Kershaw and Hill out, Los Angeles will field a rotation of Ryu, RHP Ross Stripling, RHP Kenta Maeda, RHP Walker Buehler and LHP Julio Urias. CF A.J. Pollock adds more punch to an outstanding lineup that features 3B Justin Turner , 1B Cody Bellinger , IF Max Muncy and SS Corey Seager , who missed most of last season because of elbow and hip injuries.

X factor: Austin Barnes is the main catcher with the departure of Yasmani Grandal to the Milwaukee Brewers.

Manager watch: Dave Roberts is secure, having received a four-year extension in December.

SAN DIEGO PADRES

How they look: An unsettled rotation and who — Austin Hedges or Francisco Mejia, take your pick — will start behind the plate are among the question marks. However, there is considerable buzz in San Diego with the addition of 3B Manny Machado, who signed a 10year, $300 million deal with the club last month. The outfield (Hunter Renfoe, Franchy Cordero and Manuel Margot) is one of the Padres’ strengths. Fernando Tatis Jr.  the Padres’ top prospect, is expected to begin the season at Class AAA El Paso.

X factor: The health of LF Wil Myers, limited to 83 games last season, is pivotal.

Manager watch: The future of Andy Green will be determined by how well the Padres improve on their disastrous 96loss season last year.

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

How they look: C Buster Posey, who had surgery in August to repair his right hip, is shooting for an opening-day return. Unlike last year, LHP Madison Bumgarner and RHP Jeff Samardzija, who looked sharp in spring training, start the season healthy. 1B Brandon Belt ’s sizzling spring was another positive development.

X factor: A stronger performance from 3BEvan Longoria is needed if the Giants expect to have any success.

Manager watch: This is the final season for beloved Bruce Bochy, who is retiring.