Who is on top of the East come October?
As of August 18, 2022:
Team | W-L | GB |
Mets | 76-42 | -- |
Braves | 72-47 | 4.5 |
Phillies | 65-52 | 10.5 |
As of August 18, The New York Mets have a 4.5 game lead in the NL East over the Atlanta Braves. Coming into the 2022 season, the Braves were the favorites to win the division, as they hoped to claim a division title for a fifth straight year, dating back to 2018. Atlanta won the World Series in 2021 after winning the NL East with just 88 wins, the fewest number of wins by any playoff team that season. New York is looking to win their first division title since 2015. A year many Mets fans will remember ended in disappointment, losing in the World Series in 5 games to the Kansas City Royals.
Now, halfway through August, these two teams are neck and neck as the race towards October draws closer and closer. Let’s dive into the race for the NL East crown.
Last winter, New York Mets owner, Steve Cohen, made moves that show his commitment to making the team contenders not just for this season, but for seasons to come. He went out and signed Starling Marte to a four-year, $78 million deal. This provided a much-needed star outfielder who can play a gold glove center field or right field and a bat who consistently hits right around the .300 mark. Cohen also spent big and signed future hall of famer, Max Scherzer to a three-year, $130 million deal. When healthy, the one-two punch of Scherzer and DeGrom is probably the most dominate top of the rotation in all of baseball.
The Mets are in the midst of an 11-game stretch of playing NL East opponents. New York took two out of three from the Phillies and are looking to split a four-game series with the Braves if they can win tonight. The Mets are tied for the second-best record in baseball and have been one of the hottest teams in the league. After a disappointing first season with the Mets, Francisco Lindor has bounced back and then some. He is having his best season since 2019 when he was an All Star and finished 15th in MVP voting. He also has a 4.8 WAR (wins above replacement) which is tied for ninth best in the league.
Their success has been thanks in part to dominate starting pitching. Max Scherzer (9-2) is having another great season. It feels as though every time he goes, it’s expected that he is going to give the Mets a chance to win. Jacob DeGrom has recently returned off the IL after just over a year since making his last appearance. DeGrom (2-0) has pitched to a 1.62 ERA in three starts since his return to the show. Edwin Diaz has been electric to say the least this season as the Mets’ closer. He's been an All Star closer with 27 saves, not to mention his incredible walkout song.
The Braves have been dominate this season, averaging 4.88 runs per game which is the third most in all of baseball. They have also have the second highest team OPS this season only behind the LA Dodgers.
They have two rookies, Michael Harris and Spencer Strider, who both will compete for NL Rookie of the Year votes. Strider (7-4) has pitched to a 3.04 ERA in 14 starts this season. Both out of the bullpen and starting, Strider has racked up 142 strikeouts in just 94.2 innings. Michael Harris is having a very solid rookie campaign, mashing 12 homeruns, 40 RBIs, and batting .288 on the season. The team opened up their checkbook a couple of days ago to the 21-year-old, signing Harris to an eight-year $72 million contract.
Atlanta is surging, going 9-1 in their last 10 games as they close out their 8-game NL East stint this evening. They head into tonight aiming to beat the Mets in a 4-game set and winning with Max Fried on the mound. This would draw them within 3.5 games of the division. However, tonight is the last time these two teams will face off in the regular season. Meaning the Braves will have to continue on their hot streak to catch the even hotter Mets.
The Mets have lost two straight, and even so, I still believe they are the favorites to take the East. With a deep roster and the momentum they’ve built during the dog days of summer it is hard to pick against them.
As October nears closer and closer, one thing about the Mets has become apparent. Although their offense can produce runs, their postseason run will last only as long as their starting pitching will allow. Both DeGrom and Scherzer will give the Mets a more than likely chance to win the first two games of any series should their offense show up even just a bit. They may not be my pick to come out of the National League, but they sure will give anyone in the NL a run for their money.
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