2026 NL East Division Preview: A Wide Range of Outcomes

NL East power shifts loom as Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, and New York Mets face uncertainty. Can Ronald Acuña Jr., Matt Olson, and Spencer Strider help the Braves reclaim the division, or will Bryce Harper, Zack Wheeler, and the Phillies' elite bullpen keep their edge? Mets shake up their roster—adding Bo Bichette, Luis Robert, and Marcus Semien—but will the new-look lineup overcome the loss of Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz? Jake Mastroianni delivers a sweeping NL East preview, spotlighting Fangraphs and PECOTA projections, bullpen strengths, top prospects like Andrew Painter and Nolan McClean, and the rising Marlins rotation led by Sandy Alcantara and Eury Perez. The Nationals' rebuild and player development woes pose key questions for their future. Plus, don't miss the update on Braves TV streaming, Spencer Strider's spring performance, and how health and surprises will shape the race. Will any team emerge ahead of the Dodgers, or is trouble brewing for all contenders?     Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub     Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! PlayStation This episode of is brought to you by MLB The Show 26. Visit https://mlbthe.show/lockedon and use code “LOCKEDON” to unlock a pack for use in Diamond Dynasty. Pre-Order now, Available March 17th on PlayStation 5, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. RATED E FOR EVERYONE.   Turbo Tax Intuit TurboTax now has in-person locations nationwide. You can meet face-to-face with a real tax expert, and your documents get uploaded straight to your TurboTax app on the spot.   Visit https://TurboTax.com/local to find a store near you and book your appointment today.   Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast   Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.   FanDuel FanDuel is giving you a way to turn that energy into even bigger potential wins with a College Basketball Parlay Profit Boost. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started — Play Your Game.   FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.