Are the Nationals or the Braves the Best Team in the NL East?
Before the season, the Nationals were everyones favorite to not only win their division, but the World Series. They have a stacked pitching rotation, a deep bullpen and loud bats. They won the NL East last year. Almost every guy on their team is young and ready to do damage for a long time, guys including Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper. The Nationals also had the best record in baseball last year, finishing at 98-64. The last time Nationals coach Davey Johnson finished a season with 98 wins was with the Mets in 1985, and the following year went on to win the World Series. The Nationals first swept the Miami Marlins to begin the year, then lost an ugly series in Cincinnati against the Reds. They then swept the White Sox. The Nats are certainly the favorites, with good reason.
Will we see this flag flying again after 2013, or
will this years flag host a Braves logo?
Jason Heyward
However, the Nats are 6-2 to start out 2013, and the Atlanta Braves are on an epic hot streak, with their record standing at 8-1. The Braves have swept the Marlins and the Cubs thus far, and won another series against the Phillies two games to one. Like the Nationals, the Braves have a great set of bats penciled in their lineup, with names such as Jason Heyward, Justin Upton, BJ Upton, Dan Uggla and more. But the real thing that is clicking in Atlanta this year is their pitching. Tim Hudson and Kris Medlen rule the rotation, while Eric O'Flaherty and Luis Avilan are a couple of their better bullpen guys and Craig Kimbrel coming out to close games in the ninth in epic fashion. This whole pitching staff has been clicking to begin the year. But are they better than the Nats???
Ryan Zimmerman
Nationals vs. Braves Comparison
Washington Nationals
Lineup
Jayson Werth
CF Denard Span
RF Jayson Werth
LF Bryce Harper
3B Ryan Zimmerman
1B Adam LaRoche
SS Ian Desmond
2B Danny Espinosa
C Wilson Ramos
P Stephen Strasburg
Starting Pitching Rotation
RHP Stephen Strasburg
LHP Gio Gonzalez
RHP Jordan Zimmermann
RHP Dan Haren
LHP Ross Detwiler
Bullpen
RHP Rafael Soriano
RHP Drew Storen
RHP Tyler Clippard
LHP Zach Duke
RHP Craig Stammen
RHP Ryan Mattheus
RHP Henry Rodriguez
Manager
Davey Johnson
Davey Johnson
Atlanta Braves
Justin Upton
Lineup
CF BJ Upton
RF Jason Heyward
LF Justin Upton
1B Freddie Freeman
2B Dan Uggla
C Brian McCann
SS Andrelton Simmons
3B Juan Francisco
P Tim Hudson
Starting Pitching Rotation
RHP Tim Hudson
RHP Kris Medlen
LHP Paul Maholm
LHP Mike Minor
RHP Julio Teheran
Craig Kimbrel
Bullpen
RHP Craig Kimbrel
LHP Eric O'Flaherty
LHP Luis Avilan
RHP Jordan Walden
RHP Cory Gearrin
RHP Luis Ayala
RHP Anthony Varvaro
Manager
Fredi Gonzalez
Fredi Gonzalez
BJ Upton
Bryce Harper
The Nationals and the Braves are currently playing a three game series. Freddie Freeman and Brian McCann are both on the Disabled List. In game one yesterday, the Nats jumped out to an early 4-0 lead, and held that lead until the 8th inning, when Tyler Clippard loaded the bases and walked in a run, then Drew Storen came in and gave up a few runs before ending the inning. By the time the Nationals were coming off the field after the top of the 8th, the score was tied 4-4. The Nationals bats did nothing in their half of the eighth, and in the top of the 9th, Ramiro Pena hit a two-run homer off of Craig Stammen to make the score 4-6 Braves, and Craig Kimbrel came in and shut the Nationals down to get the win. The Braves won game two today, as well. We will have to see what happens tomorrow, when the Nats try to avoid getting swept. Game one of this series was a really bad outing for the Nationals bullpen. The starter Ross Detwiler pitched a gem of a game, but the relievers came in and it just fell apart. That game really shed light on one thing the Nationals do lack; lefties in their bullpen. Aside from Zach Duke, the Nationals have no left-handed pitchers in their bullpen. In my opinion, the only reason Zach Duke is playing for the Nats rather than their AAA affiliate Syracuse Chiefs is because the Nats would not have a single left-handed relief pitcher without him. But even though he is very useful to the Nationals bullpen because of the arm he throws with, he is definitely not one of the better relievers in that bullpen. But the lack of any good left-handed relievers really hampers the Nats. Another lefty or two in that bullpen would be a huge benefit. If the Nats would have had just that in game one of this Braves series, that could have been the difference.
Stephen Strasburg
Kris Medlen
Ian Desmond
So are the Braves the better team in the National League East? For starters, the Braves are playing great right now. They are on an 8-game winning streak, and Justin Upton is probably the hottest hitter in baseball right now, and that's without two of their top players in McCann and Freeman. They may have the best fielding in the Majors, hosting both Upton brothers, with BJ in center, Justin in left and Jason Heyward in right. On paper, the Braves don't look like they have a stellar rotation, but they are pitching like they are at the moment. The only guys in the Atlanta rotation I'd say are good are Kris Medlen, Tim Hudson, and maybe even Paul Maholm at times, but they are pitching as if they are flawless at the moment. Infielding is good in Atlanta, though third base isn't very stable after Chipper Jones retired after 2012. But Uggla is good, Simmons fields well, and Freeman plays a solid first base when he's healthy. McCann is a good catcher, and Gattis isn't bad either. It can be argued that Kimbrel is the best closer around, and the rest of the bullpen is probably on the better side of mediocre. But can they stack up to the Nats? Well, the Nationals are definitely not on a hot streak. They are actually in a slump right now, and losing two games in a row is a bad slump for the Nats, then they must be pretty good, right? On paper, the Nats are the better team, no doubt. Their outfield is probably just about equal to that of Atlanta, with 2012 NL Rookie of the Year Bryce Harper, who Sports Illustrated projected to win the NL MVP award this year, in left, Jayson Werth in right and Denard Span in center. The Nationals also have the best rotation in the Majors, in my opinion. If Ross Detwiler is their number five starter, and his ERA over his career is 3.63, and this year he's put up a 0.69 ERA so far, then their rotation has to be pretty good. Sure, Dan Haren has struggled in his first two starts this year, but perhaps traveling from Anaheim to DC took something out of him, or maybe age is starting to take it's toll on him. Whatever the case, he's a great pitcher who is aging and hasn't pitched good this year. Hopefully that will change. But the Nats rotation is amazing. Stephen Strasburg is their ace, followed by Gio Gonzalez, Jordan Zimmermann, Dan Haren and Ross Detwiler. Their infield can hit, no doubt, and they also have loads of fielding ability that they are not using, currently leading the league in errors. I just can't comprehend how one of the best looking infields in the fielding department can lead the league in errors. They need to get their heads on straight. The crew of catchers they have is having an epic year that nobody seen coming. Wilson Ramos is swinging a smoking hot bat, playing better than he has through his whole career after being kidnapped in Venezuela and injuring his knee so bad that it required three surgeries. Kurt Suzuki is also playing really well right now. The Nats bullpen looks good on paper, but they are not playing well at all this year. It's just not coming together for them out of the bullpen this year, and hopefully that changes very soon, as your bullpen is essential to a team's success. Their rotation may be good, but they can't throw nine innings every game without getting completely burned out. So who is the best team in the NL East? Is it the Nationals, the Braves, or someone else? The Braves are the hottest team in the NL East, but not the best. The Nationals have to be the best team in the NL East. There is no touching that rotation, it reminds me of the 2011 Phillies rotation when they had Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt, Cole Hamels and Joe Blanton. They are just that good. But not only is their rotation amazing, but so are their bats. Ryan Zimmerman, Bryce Harper, Adam LaRoche, Jayson Werth, Ian Desmond... need I say more? I hope not. If the Nationals can turn things around and show the Braves up a couple times this season, then they will do big things in October.
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