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2016 MLB season: NL East Preview

By Josh Barnhill

Mar 18, 2016; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets left fielder Yoenis Cespedes (52) connects for an RBI double during a spring training game against the Washington Nationals at Tradition Field. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 18, 2016; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets left fielder Yoenis Cespedes (52) connects for an RBI double during a spring training game against the Washington Nationals at Tradition Field. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 26, 2016; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Matt Harvey (33) talks with Mets catcher Johnny Monell (19) during spring training work out drills at Tradition Field. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 26, 2016; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Matt Harvey (33) talks with Mets catcher Johnny Monell (19) during spring training work out drills at Tradition Field. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

New York Mets

The Mets were a bit of an upstart team in 2015, so can they continue it this year?

Projected Lineup

RF Curtis Granderson
3B David Wright
CF Yoenis Cespedes
1B Lucas Duda
2B Neil Walker
C Travis d’Arnaud
LF Michael Conforto
SS Asdrubal Cabrera

The starting pitching is what sets this team apart from others, and that’s great news. Good pitching beats good hitting, and it’s what kept the Braves on the throne of this division for so many consecutive years in the 90s and 00s.

Projected Rotation

RHP Matt Harvey
RHP Jacob deGrom
RHP Noah Syndergaard
LHP Steven Matz
RHP Bartolo Colon

Not much has changed from last year’s World Series team. The pitching staff still boasts Jacob deGrom, Matt Harvey, Noah Snydergaard and Steven Matz. That’s as formidable of a group as you’ll find, then add veteran Bartolo Colon as the fifth starter.

The offense will lose second baseman Daniel Murphy but they were able to retain CF Yoenis Cespedes. David Wright is still around and has plenty of ammo if he can stay healthy. The Mets can score runs but this side of the team isn’t quite what the pitching is for sure.

There’s no doubt the Mets can and will contend for the national league title once again. They are a really good team in a division with two teams (Braves and Phillies) who are in rebuild mode. Racking up wins against them may prove to be enough to get a wild card berth for whoever doesn’t win the NL East.

Next: Washington Nationals

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