2023 NATIONAL LEAGUE PREVIEW

The National League is loaded with stacked teams. The Braves, Mets, Phillies, Padres, and Dodgers represent the last 3 NL Champions and 2 squads who have spent millions of dollars. The NL Central is home to 3 legit playoff contenders with eyes on a crown. The Marlins are stuck in a very difficult division, but they do posses the 2022 NL Cy Young Winner (Sandy Alcantara). The NL also contains a few teams looking to be perennial contenders in San Francisco and Arizona. The balanced schedule will help the Marlins, Giants, and Diamondbacks, but could hurt the NL Central hopes for 2 playoff teams.

The biggest difference between the NL and AL is the elite pitching. The Senior Circuit is home to Alcantara, Scherzer, Verlander, Burnes, Woodruff, Urias, Darvish, Fried, Wheeler, Nola, Webb, Wainwright and Kershaw and others. These Aces are a large reason why offense can descend into a slump at the sight of their presence.

Let’s take a journey through the National League and cap it off with some predictions.

NEW FACES IN NEW PLACES:

• TREA TURNER SIGNED AN 11 YEAR CONTRACT WITH THE PHILLIES
• XANDER BOGAERTS SIGNED A MONSTER DEAL WITH THE SAN DIEGO PADRES
• JUSTIN VERLANDER SIGNED A DEAL WITH THE NEW YORK METS.
• DANSBY SWANSON, ERIC HOSMER, CODY BELLINGER, TREY MANCINI & JAMESON TALLION ALL SIGNED WITH THE CHICAGO CUBS.
• THE CARDINALS SIGNED WILSON CONTRERAS TO REPLACE ALL WORLD CATCHER YADIER MOLINA.
• THE BRAVES TRADED FOR CATCHER SEAN MURPHY
• THE BREWERS TRADED FOR CATCHER WILLIAM CONTRERAS
• THE MARLINS SIGNED JEAN SEGURA & JOHNNY CUETO, THEN TRADED FOR AL BATTING CHAMPION LUIS ARRAEZ.

TOP 5 BALLPARKS IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE:

1.). BUSCH STADIUM

2.). AMERICAN FAMILY FIELD

3. TRUIST PARK

4.). PETCO PARK

5.). WRIGLEY FIELD

TOP 20 PLAYERS IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE:

1.). MOOKIE BETTS

2.). MANNY MACHADO

3.). PAUL GOLDSCHMIDT

4.). JUAN SOTO

5.). NOLAN ARENADO

6.). FREDDIE FREEMAN

7.). TREA TURNER

8.). BRYCE HARPER

9.). RONALD ACUNA JR.

10.). XANDER BOGAERTS

11.). SANDY ALCANTARA

12.). CORBIN BURNES

13.). JUSTIN VERLANDER

14.). MAX SCHERZER

15.). YU DARVISH

16.). FRANCISCO LINDOR

17.). PETE ALONSO

18.). WILSON CONTRERAS

19.). AUSTIN RILEY

20.). WILL SMITH (CATCHER)

3 BOLD PREDICTIONS FOR THE 2023 SEASON:

• TREA TURNER WILL STEAL 60 BASES
• PETE ALONSO WILL HIT 60 HOME RUNS
• RONALD ACUNA JR WILL PRODUCE A 40 HOME RUN / 40 STOLEN BASE SEASON

TOP STORYLINES IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE:

• CAN THE METS AND PADRES LIVE UP TO LOFTY EXPECTATIONS?
• HAS THE DODGERS WINDOW OF DOMINANCE CLOSED?
• CAN SANDY ALCANTARA WIN BACK TO BACK CY YOUNG AWARDS?
• CAN THE NL CENTRAL PRODUCE MULTIPLE PLAYOFF TEAMS?
• HOW WILL FERNANDO TATIS JE PERFORM UPON HIS RETURN FROM INJURY AND PED SUSPENSION?

NATIONAL LEAGUE STANDINGS PREDICTION:

NL EAST:

1.). NEW YORK METS

2.). PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES

3.). ATLANTA BRAVES

4.). MIAMI MARLINS

5.). WASHINGTON NATIONALS

NL CENTRAL:

1.). ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

2.). CHICAGO CUBS

3.). MILWAUKEE BREWERS

4.). PITTSBURGH PIRATES

5.). CINCINNATI REDS

NL WEST:

1.). SAN DIEGO PADRES

2.). LOS ANGELES DODGERS

3.). ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

4.). SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

5.). COLORADO ROCKIES

WILD CARD TEAMS:

• PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
• LOS ANGELES DODGERS
• ATLANTA BRAVES

NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPION: NEW YORK METS

NATIONAL LEAGUE MVP: RONALD ACUNA JR. (BRAVES)

NATIONAL LEAGUE CY YOUNG: MAX SCHERZER. (METS)

NATIONAL LEAGUE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: CORBIN CARROLL. (DIAMONDBACKS)

The National League is loaded on a team and individual level. I think the NL East will be a battle for all 162 games and the 3rd place team will finish within 4 games of 1st. The Cubs have been building and they will make a big jump if they can get more consistent pitching. If you’re looking for a preview of the AL or a deep dive into the new rules, check out Spinnable Sports.