2019 MLB National League preview

The fireworks are set for an exciting 2019 MLB Season in the National League, as all three divisions are filled with talent who could chase a run at the World Series.

This comes after a second straight trip by the Los Angeles Dodgers came up short in bringing home the National League with a World Series title. During the 2018 MLB Season, nine of the 15 clubs in the division finished with a record above the .500 mark while five of those clubs finished with at least 90 wins.

At the top of the standings sat a surprising team in the National Central Division after the Milwaukee Brewers finished with a 96-67 record, including a win over the Chicago Cubs in a game to determine the division. Along with the Brewers, the Atlanta Braves were another surprise team that finished atop the National League East with a 90-72 record. While the excitement was there, the 2019 MLB Season should deliver more for fans around the game. Here is a quick look at the 2019 MLB National League divisions.

National League East Division

Champ – Philadelphia Phillies

The National League East might be the toughest of all the divisions entering the 2019 MLB season, with four of the five clubs filled with talented rosters. This includes the Atlanta Braves, who have one of the games brightest young stars in Ronald Acuna. While the Braves were impressive in 2018, it will be hard for them to repeat in a division that saw the Washington Nationals add Patrick Corbin to their rotation, while the Philadelphia Phillies added talented weapons in J.T. Realmuto, Andrew McCutchen and Jean Segura to their lineup. There is also a strong possibility the team will add Bryce Harper. With one of the game’s top lineups, the Phillies will be hard to beat.

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Just behind the Phillies in 2019 will be the Nationals, who will have one of the stronger rotations in all of baseball with Max Scherzer and Corbin leading the charge. Along with their rotation, Juan Soto will look to lead the Nationals’ offense. Meanwhile, in New York, the Mets were very active this offseason, adding Robinson Cano, Jed Lowrie and Edwin Diaz to their team. Add those weapons to a rotation that includes Jacob deGrom, Zack Wheeler and Noah Syndergaard and the Mets could make a run in 2019.

Despite the talent at the top, the Miami Marlins will be the odd team out of the division who will have the potential to lose 100 plus games as they continue to rebuild.

National Central Division

Champ – St. Louis Cardinals

After coming in third during the 2018 MLB Season, the St Louis Cardinals enter the MLB offseason with eyes set on moving to the top of the NL Central. The team managed to pull off a trade to acquire All-Star first baseman Paul Goldschmidt to solidify their lineup. A lineup that will include Yadier Molina, Matt Carpenter and Marcell Ozuna while Harrison Bader will look to take a step forward. The team also added Andrew Miller to their bullpen. The extra moves should make the Cardinals the team to beat entering the 2019 MLB Season.

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As the Cardinals look to take home the top spot, both the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs have the talent to compete while also fighting for the NL wild card positions. The Brewers who were all in at the 2018 MLB trade deadline resigned Mike Moustakas and added Yasmani Grandal through free agency. The big question mark with the Brewers will be how well with their inconsistent starting rotation perform during the regular season.

Then you have the Cubs who are filled with stars including Kris Bryant, Javier Baez and Kyle Schwarber. The team also added Jose Quintana and Yu Darvish to round out their rotation. While the rotation on paper looks as good as any teams in the National League, the big concern will come with the health of their roster as multiple players dealt with key injuries last season.

At the bottom of the division will be the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds as both clubs continue to rebuild for the future.

National West Division

Champ – Los Angeles Dodgers

The National League West will be a two-team race in 2019 after the Arizona Diamondbacks elected to begin a complete rebuild, the San Francisco Giants failed to add any talent in free agency and the San Diego Padres came out on the losing end at this point on both Manny Machado and Bryce Harper. The two teams that will continue to fight in 2019 will be the Los Angeles Dodgers and Colorado Rockies. In the end, the Dodgers have the deeper of the lineups and rotation that will lead them over the hump.

After electing to trade Yasiel Puig, the Dodgers turned to A.J. Pollock to take over the duties in center field while adding veteran catcher Russell Martin. Those additions will join the likes of Cody Bellinger, Corey Seager, Justin Turner and Joc Pederson on a talented roster. Meanwhile, the front end of the Dodgers rotation is as good as any team in the Majors led by Clayton Kershaw. Along with the veterans, the Dodgers have a good wave of young talent who could make a splash in 2019 including Julio Urias and Alex Verdugo.

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Meanwhile, in Colorado, the Rockies added Daniel Murphy to their talented infield that includes Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story. While their offense is as good as any, the big question mark with the Rockies will be their pitching staff after an impressive year in 2018 MLB.