Now that teams are roughly 14 percent through a 162-game regular season, certain truths are evident:
The Pittsburgh Pirates and Colorado Rockies stink, the NL West may be Major League Baseball’s best division and the Chicago Cubs are better than advertised.
But are the Cubbies good enough to win the division?
As they look forward to a summer of baseball, Yardbarker MLB writers offer knee-jerk reactions for all National League teams. (Records and statistics are through Monday.)
NL East
ATLANTA BRAVES (9-13) |
A major shake-up is needed | Atlanta should never be counted out, but at 9-13 and tied for last place in the NL East, something must change. These don’t look like the same Braves of seasons past, and perhaps a firing or minor league promotion would send a message to the rest of the roster that recently lost pitcher Spencer Strider to the IL again.
MIAMI MARLINS (10-12) | RHP Max Meyer is an ace | Max Meyer delivered a career pitching performance vs. the Cincinnati Reds, who had scored 24 runs in their previous matchup vs. the Orioles, on Monday. The 26-year-old struck out a career-high 14 batters, allowing five hits and no runs across six innings.
NEW YORK METS (16-7) | First place is theirs to lose | Right now, the Mets look like the best team in the NL East. With a 5-4 win over the Phillies on Monday, they are three games ahead of the reigning division champions. The starting rotation and lineup are beginning to click, so when Juan Soto truly gets going…watch out.
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (13-10) | 2B Bryson Stott has found his role | A factor that may have played into the Phillies’ offensive struggles the last few seasons is the batting order. However, they may have found the correct spot for Bryson Stott, who’s slashing .308/.349/.487 with a home run, eight RBI, three stolen bases and three walks in nine games out of the leadoff spot.
WASHINGTON NATIONALS (9-13) | LF James Wood should consider Home Run Derby | Is it too early to talk about All-Star Game festivities? With seven home runs in 22 games, 22-year-old James Wood should put the rest of the league on notice by participating in the Home Run Derby in July. — Lauren Amour
NL West
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (13-9) | Unknown is getting to Zac Gallen | The 29-year-old right-hander has been a stalwart of the Arizona rotation since his arrival through a franchise-changing trade in 2019. However, with Gallen due to be a free agent next season and talk about his future running rampant in the desert, his 5.60 ERA and 4.3 walks per nine innings are well above his career-highs, indicating the uncertainty that lies ahead may be impacting him now.
COLORADO ROCKIES (4-17) | Expect a record… and not a good one | The Chicago White Sox set an MLB record last season for the most losses in a season with 121. Through their first 21 games this season, the Rockies are 4-17, struggling once again with strikeouts (leading MLB with 234) and on pace to top Chicago’s head-shaking futility from last year and set a new record for most defeats.
LOS ANGELES DODGERS (16-7) | Shohei Ohtani will flex his dad strength | Just when you thought arguably the best player in baseball couldn’t get any better, Shohei Ohtani has returned to the Dodgers’ lineup after the birth of his first child. Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts is already teasing that Ohtani could now have “dad strength,” meaning he may hit the ball even harder and farther than before, a stunning thought when discussing the three-time Most Valuable Player.
SAN DIEGO PADRES (16-7) | Petco Park is the ultimate home-field advantage | After San Diego’s loss in Detroit on Monday night, the Padres are looking very human away from the 619, posting a 4-6 road record. However, at 12-1 inside Petco Park, the Padres and their MLB-best record at home are already showing that coming to San Diego is going to be a tough task for any team.
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (15-8) | Most underrated team in MLB | Very few expected the Giants to be keeping pace in the NL West through their first 22 games of the season. However, at 14-8 and with Jung Hoo Lee returning from a season-ending injury to hit .325 in his first 83 at-bats this season, San Francisco is a surprise entrant into the conversation of which MLB team could be the most improved in 2025. — Kevin Henry
NL Central
CHICAGO CUBS (14-10)| Crown them division champs | Off to a good start, the Cubs hold first in the NL Central. Most notable about their start is that 21 of their 24 games have come against teams with a winning record (Dodgers, Diamondbacks, Padres and Rangers), showing they aren’t just winning, they’re beating the best.
CINCINNATI REDS (11-12) | Strong pitching isn’t enough | The Reds have one of MLB’s top pitching staffs, ranking second in WHIP (1.09) and BAA (.207) and fifth in ERA (3.45). However, their middling offense has limited them to an 11-12 record.
MILWAUKEE BREWERS (12-11) | Trading Devin Williams was a good decision | Although the Brewers’ decision to trade two-time NL Reliever of the Year Devin Williams was met with skepticism in December, his struggles with the Yankees — posting a 9.00 ERA in nine outings — suggest it may have been the right move. In exchange, Milwaukee acquired Nestor Cortes, who has faced his own challenges, but also Caleb Durbin, who made an impressive MLB debut with two hits on Friday and his first Brewers home run on Monday.
PITTSBURGH PIRATES (8-15) | Sell the team | Off to an 8-15 start, the Pirates sit last in the NL Central and are on pace for a 56-106 finish, which would be their worst record by winning percentage since 1954. Frustration is mounting as GM Ben Cherington refuses to spend to improve the team, with many fans calling for his removal and a change in ownership.
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS (9-14) | Opposites don’t attract | The Cardinals hold the second-best batting average in MLB (.264) but struggle with a 4.38 ERA, ranking 24th in MLB, creating a stark contrast in performance. This imbalance has left them fourth in the NL Central. — Taylor Bretl
