All three National League divisions are filled with compelling storylines. The Braves, leading the NL East, have emerged as one of the biggest surprises in MLB, while two postseason hopefuls—the Mets and Phillies—stumbled out of the gate. In the NL Central, every team sits above .500, setting up what could be a fierce battle through October. Over in the NL West, the Dodgers remain on top, but a couple of teams are capable of keeping pace.
Here’s a closer look at some key teams and narratives in the National League:
1. The Mets have stabilized somewhat after a 12-game losing streak earlier this season. Is there still more reason for concern than hope?
As of Friday, the Mets are tied with the San Francisco Giants for the worst record in baseball at 14-23. So yes, there are plenty of reasons to worry about how they’ll compete against quality opponents. They just swept two road series, but those came against struggling teams like the Angels and Rockies. Given how dominant the Yankees have looked this year, next weekend’s Subway Series at Citi Field could easily turn into a one-sided affair.
Most of the Mets’ issues stem from their disappointing offense. The longer this trend continues, the harder it becomes for president of baseball operations David Stearns to blame underperformance. Six weeks into the season, the Mets have the worst slugging percentage in the majors (.351), the second-worst on-base percentage (.293), and the third-worst batting average (.229). They’ve scored the second-fewest runs in MLB (134).
Losing Francisco Lindor (left calf strain) to the injured list is a huge blow, and his unclear return timeline is ominous. It’s hard to see how the offense turns things around without him. It would help if Bo Bichette—who owns a .585 OPS—looked more like himself at the plate, and if Mark Vientos could find some consistency.
2. Arizona has stars in second baseman Ketel Marte and outfielder Corbin Carroll, but has allowed the second-most runs in the NL. Can the Diamondbacks keep up with the Dodgers and Padres?
They’re trending in the wrong direction, and I don’t think their pitching is strong enough to keep pace with the Dodgers. However, there’s reason to believe their offense can be good enough to contend with the Padres and push for a wild-card spot. It’s unlikely that 34-year-old Ildemaro Vargas will look like an MVP contender all year—we’re already seeing him slow down—but the overall offense should improve going forward.
I find it hard to believe that Ketel Marte (.615 OPS) will remain a significantly below-average hitter all season. We haven’t seen the best of Geraldo Perdomo (.743) or Gabriel Moreno (.694) yet. Also, Corbin Burnes is expected back at some point, and A.J. Puk and Justin Martinez could return to boost the bullpen in the second half. Those could be major X-factors down the stretch.
3. The Cardinals feature two of the best young players in J.J. Wetherholt and Jordan Walker. Does St. Louis have enough to sustain this run?
It’s been a joy to watch this Cardinals team play better than expected, showcasing the kind of tight team spirit and chemistry that some high-payroll clubs with household names can only dream about. St. Louis is getting it done without those stars, largely thanks to Walker’s breakout year, Alec Burleson’s team-leading 29 RBIs (tied with Aaron Judge for seventh-most in MLB), and, of course, Wetherholt’s excellent rookie start. But the impactful hitter who seems to be flying under the radar is Ivan Herrera. The Cardinals’ 25-year-old catcher/designated hitter has been a key contributor.