A Preview of the 2021 National League Baseball Season, Part 2

BY SAMMY JOHNSON

The 2021 baseball season is just around the corner. Here is a preview of what the upcoming National League season might look like.

National League East
1st place: Atlanta Braves
The Braves are one of the best teams in the league. There is a chance they’ll win a World Series at some point in the next few seasons. They will probably repeat as division champions, and this fan thinks they could do very big things.

2nd place: New York Mets
The Mets are having a good offseason, acquiring shortstop Francisco Lindor and pitcher Carlos Carrasco in a big trade. They also have one of the best pitchers in the league in Jacob Degrom, and Rookie of the Year Pete Alonso. They should be good.

3rd place: Miami Marlins
The Marlins dealt a defeat to the Cubs in the playoffs before getting knocked out. It was their first postseason appearance since 2003. This fan doesn't predict a division title for them, but 
does think more good stuff is yet to come for these guys.

4th place: Washington Nationals
Coming off a World Series win in 2019, the “Nats'' had a disappointing season, finishing out of the playoffs. The results of last season are sort of unreliable, but even so, this fan doesn't predict too much good coming to them.

Last: Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies did not have a good season last year, and this fan just doesn't see a reason for them to improve.

National League Central
1st place: The Cardinals
First of all I do not see this pick as a good reason to take me hostage. Second of all the Cardinals have traded for star player Nolan Arenado and they also have the core of their team intact, while the Cubs do not, so that is why I put them here. 

2nd place: The Cubs
Well, here’s an unpopular pick if there ever was one. The Cubbies, as you may know, won their division but were upset in the first round of the playoffs. As they traded their best pitcher and allowed one of their players to leave town, this fan doesn't think they’ll repeat. 

3rd place: Cincinnati Reds
The Reds made the playoffs last season, but they aren’t signing their ace pitcher. So this fan predicts a little decline.

4th place: The Brewers
The Brewers have one of the best position players in MLB (a guy called Christian Yelich)  and made the playoffs last year, but only by the skin of their teeth, and they traded one of their good pitchers. This fan thinks they should finish here.

Last: Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pirates are in total rebuilding mode.

National League West
1st place: Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers are the defending World Series Champions, and have actually upgraded, signing a star pitcher, Trevor Bauer. The San Diego Padres will probably overtake them in a year or two, but for now, the Dodgers are still on top.

2nd place: San Diego Padres
The Padres are a great young team and might be the third best team in the league, but they have the misfortune of playing in the same division as one of the top two. With making a big trade for a good pitcher, they are going to be a true force.

3rd place: San Francisco Giants
The Giants last year missed the playoffs by just one heartbreaking game, and they upgraded in the offseason. They could be good.

4th place: Arizona Diamondbacks
The D-Backs were last, last year, but this fan thinks they’ll move up a little bit.

5th place: Colorado Rockies
The Rockies were fourth last year, but they traded star player Nolan Arenado, and as they failed to offer a contract to David Dahl, this fan thinks they should regress somewhat.

2021 Playoff Predictions 

American League

• Wild card game, Twins over Rays.
• ALDS, Yankees over Twins, White Sox over A’s.
• ALCS, Yankees over White Sox.

National League

• Wild Card: Padres over Mets.
• NLDS, Braves over Padres, Dodgers over Cardinals.
• NLCS, Braves over Dodgers.
• World Series, Braves over Yankees.

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