MLB Storylines Halfway Through the Season || PART 4 || NL East || Icee's Corner

Edition #116

Intro:

The MLB is just fascinating. As simple as that. Just when you think you know what's going to happen, well, things go wrong. The one team that exhibits that the most? The Arizona Diamondbacks. Heck, even the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Long story short, the Diamondbacks were supposed to be #2 in the NL West chasing down the Dodgers after reaching the World Series. That hasn’t happened.

I’m starting a new series, reviewing every team in every single division. We’re going to continue this with the NL East. This time, it’s me, Icee, doing it.

Let’s.

Get.

It.

NL East

Philadelphia Phillies

At the beginning of the season, the Phillies were favorites and they could become a team to beat the Dodgers! This team had the most all-stars at the Midsummer Classic this season and can do more damage to teams playing them. I believe they’ll get the 1st Wild Card bye.

This team has a winning record at everything, except playing games that go into extras.

They even have a BETTER record than the Dodgers playing teams that are over .500! They just have to sweep the Dodgers again and they’ll get the NL #1 Seed

ONE THING TO NOTE: The Phillies hold the best record in baseball.

Atlanta Braves

This is a very team with superstars, but their players keep getting hurt. They have Acuna out and Spencer Strider out for the season. But by surprise, they hold the top Wild Card spot.

This team is bad against opponents in the West, but they are 33-27 against teams that are over .500.

They’ll probably play some decent baseball in the 2nd half, as they’ll look to make a run out of it. They’re doing good without their 2 key players (Acuna, Strider).

This team has a +65 run differential, but the Phillies scored 70 more runs than them.

ONE THING TO NOTE: This team has the 3rd easiest schedule in the 2nd half.

New York Mets

They are currently gripping the last NL Wild Card spot, but they probably won’t make it far in the playoffs, as they have a losing record against teams over .500. Alonso is the star so far, as he currently eying his 20th HR of the season.

The team is .500 at home and has a losing record away, so this can impact things if the Mets were to make the postseason. However, being 4 games back against a wounded Braves team could be a good thing. If they could make a run, they can try for the top NL Wild Card spot.

They just have to improve playing day games. They stand 20-23 so far in these type of games. They also like to win 1-run games so, if teams are trailing by 1 run in the 9th against the Mets, they’re pretty much doomed.

ONE THING TO NOTE: This team is not good against AL teams.

Washington Nationals

This team won’t make it. They are 6 games back of the last NL Wild Card spot and have the 11th hardest schedule in the second half, so no.

They have losing records in both home and away games, day and night games, and struggles mainly of teams in the West.

Last year, in this date, the Nationals are 38-57. They are in pace to have a better record than 2023. But they finished 2023 as last in the NL East, unlike the Tigers, the AL Central was just bad last year that they made a comeback to finish 2nd in their division. The NL East is tougher, so they won’t move up the ranks before the season ends.

They’re lucky the Marlins are bad right now, that’s why they’re 4th in the NL East.

ONE THING TO NOTE: They play better against lefties.

Miami Marlins

Miami was just an NL Wild Card team last year. Guess what? Soler went to San Fran, so now, you guys have nothing. You’re the worst in the NL. You won’t be a postseason contender for a while.

There’s nothing to talk about for this team, I can gurantee that they won’t make the postseason this season. Let’s hope that they can rebuild and be stronger next season.

ONE THING TO NOTE: They don’t have the worst run differential in the league even if the team stands last in the NL. That’s owned by the Colorado Rockies.