We are back with round 2 of our over/under performing teams. This edition focuses on the National League. These teams made my life much easier than the AL.
NL East:
Thank you to the Miami Marlins for making my job easy here. Everyone in the universe would have predicted the Braves/Phils/Mets as 1, 2, and 3 in the division. The Marlins at two easily slides them in as the division over performer.
What could go wrong: The Marlins are young and there is still a lot of baseball left. The ability to work through a 162 game season is a marathon and the question is whether or not the Marlins can hang.
The Braves ARE number 1 in the division and wow do they look good, which means I am torn between the Phillies and Mets as the biggest underperformers. On one hand we have the reigning NL pennant winners in the Phillies, while on the other hand we have the lavish offseason spending Mets. Yes, the Phillies did sign Trea Turner for $300 million, but that was a drop in the Mets’ bucket. The Mets entered the season +135 to win the division while the Phillies were +300. With all of that said, any true baseball fan knew the Mets would be the Mets. For that reason, the Phillies are my biggest underperformer.
So, what seems to be the issue? Pitching has been the largest culprit. No starter has an ERA under 3.6. The bats seem alive, but a larger distribution of power would certainly help.
What needs to change: More quality starts from the starters mixed with Trea Turner’s bat. There is a reason he cost $300 million.
NL Central:
Go Buccos! Playing out of their mind in Pittsburgh, the Pirates are leading the NL Central! Their young talent is truly playing well and all of this without Oneil Cruz, the electrifying young SS.
What could go wrong: The starting pitching for the Pirates hasn’t been the best, but the bullpen has played well, and bats have come alive at the right time. Obviously, baseball is a volume game. Over 162 games those days of great hitting matching poor pitching become fewer. Once that luck runs out, we could see some struggles.
HOWEVER, literally every other team in this division outside of the Reds is underperforming. St. Louis is the clear under performer though. I didn’t think in my lifetime I would see a Cardinals team below .500. Mind you this is a Cardinals team with Goldschmidt AND Arenado. Once again, we just see a lack of good starting pitching. The lowest ERA is 3.88 and all relievers with any substernal IP is over 3.0.
What needs to change: There is a lot of young talent surrounding PG and NA. An increase in young production could turn this team around and turn the close losses into wins.
NL West:
Another two teams making my job easy. It is pretty obvious the Dbacks are overachieving. I can’t stop watching Corbin Carroll highlights. He just plays the game hard, every AB. Additionally, while I hated the use of him in the WBC, Merrill Kelly has shut me up to start this year. Looking at the Dback stats top to bottom, they are solid. The names are not sexy, but their numbers are.
What could go wrong: Scheduling. The Dbacks have a brutal remaining schedule
The Padres are the New York Mets of the West! That is not a good title (see NL East). They have spent way too much money to be NINE games back. This is a team built around star power and the stars are just not performing. Machado is at 6 HR and batting .244. I am glad I am not writing his check each game. The pitching has also declined this tear between Musgrove, Snell, and Darvish. As it turns out money does not buy happiness!
What needs to change: Maybe it is the locker room? It is difficult to see these big money names perform so poorly. Maybe a message needs sent. Maybe Bob Melvin should not be the guy sending the message. I know if I saw Tatis dancing in the outfield while my team was below .500 he would be walking home.