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How Atlanta Braves stack up against rest of National League

By Jake Mastroianni

ATLANTA, GA - SEP 20: Ronald Acuna Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates at the conclusion of an MLB game against the San Francisco Giants in which they clinched the NL East at SunTrust Park on September 20, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - SEP 20: Ronald Acuna Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates at the conclusion of an MLB game against the San Francisco Giants in which they clinched the NL East at SunTrust Park on September 20, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /
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Manager Dave  Roberts of the Los Angeles Dodgers. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Manager Dave  Roberts of the Los Angeles Dodgers. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

NL Contenders

Let’s start by really quickly eliminating teams in the NL who we know won’t be contenders going into 2020. That list includes the Miami Marlins, Pittsburgh Pirates, Colorado Rockies, and San Francisco Giants.

The Rockies could potentially make some noise depending on what they do with Nolan Arenado and Jon Gray.

Washington is the defending World Series champion but for whatever reason, I don’t really fear them in 2020. Losing Anthony Rendon in that lineup is a big loss.

And how Dave Martinez used his aces in the playoffs was brilliant and paid off, but you have to wonder if they’ll have some lingering effects this season.

I really don’t see where the Mets have gotten significantly better. Their rotation is very deep though, and as always it will be about them staying healthy.

Philadelphia’s back-end of the rotation is still pretty weak, but their lineup should be really good.

The Reds have been really busy this offseason and I love what they’ve done. In my opinion, they are the favorites in the NL Central going into 2020.

St. Louis and Chicago haven’t really done anything this offseason.

The Padres are a young team that should make a push for a Wild Card spot in 2020, but they’re still not a serious NL contender at this point.

Arizona is a team that really surprised me with their moves this offseason signing Madison Bumgarner and Kole Calhoun. I don’t know how much good that will do them, but I expect them to be in the Wild Card mix.

And even though the Dodgers haven’t done anything this offseason, they’re still the likely favorites in the NL. Cody Bellinger, Justin Turner, and Max Muncy form a pretty powerful top of the lineup.

Walker Buehler is the new ace of the team, and people act like Clayton Kershaw isn’t great anymore even though he posted a 3.03 ERA in 2019.

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