NL East preview

1. Atlanta Braves

Even with starters Mike Minor, Gavin Floyd and Kris Medlan on the shelf, this team has it all. Julio Teheran, Ervin Santana and Alex Wood can handle the load, as can its loaded lineup featuring Freddie Freeman, the Upton brothers and Jason Heyward. The best closer in the game, Craig Kimbrel, will be finishing off plenty of Atlanta victories. However, they'll probably battle Washington for the division crown until the end.

2. Washington Nationals

Bryce Harper and Stephen Strasburg are the cornerstones of the lineup and rotation, respectively, and their growth alone makes this team better than the 86-win Nats of 2013. Toss talented hitters (Ryan Zimmerman, Jayson Werth) and stud pitchers (Gio Gonzalez, Jordan Zimmermann) into the mix and this is a terrific ballclub that can make a run at the pennant.

3. Mets

Sandy Alderson said he thinks this team can win 90 games. Don't be fooled, Mets faithful. This is an improved team, but only slightly better than a year ago. Starting pitching will be expected to carry them even without Matt Harvey, and it will do a passable job without working miracles.

4. Philadelphia Phillies

This once-mighty group is a shell of its former self with Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley aging. Although Domonic Brown provide a powerful bat, it will be up to Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels to pitch the Phils to victory most nights at a hitter-friendly home ballpark.

5. Miami Marlins

They won't lose 100 games again . . . probably. But this is still a work in progress. Young Jose Fernandez will challenge for the Cy Young Award again, and he might win it this time. But too much youth makes this another year simply of getting the kids some big-league experience.