2024 Miami Marlins season preview: The 3 NL division winners and Wild Cards

If a couple of things go right, the Miami Marlins can dream on making the playoffs for the second consecutive year. Better health could make all of the difference and "anything can happen in the playoffs" as they say... I consulted MLB.com projected team rosters for this.

The Miami Marlins will try to return to the playoffs for the second season in a row...for the first time.

NL EAST

The Miami Marlins have a deep rotation even with all of the injuries, and when everyone is healthy it could be one of the best rotations in the game. Jesus Luzardo, Eury Perez, Braxton Garrett... the staff looks very good. The bullpen has one of the best closers in the game in Tanner Scott. Tanner had the highest WAR of all closers in 2023. The lineup will determine how The Fish do. If CF Jazz Chisholm Jr. finally stays healthy and if any the bats take steps forward.... this is a playoff team.

The Philadelphia Phillies have a loaded lineup headed by 1B Bryce Harper, DH Kyle Schwarber and SS Trea Turner. The rotation is solid and the bullpen looks good too, though it's the team's most volatile area. It's hard to see a scenario where they don't give Atlanta a run for the division.

The Atlanta Braves have a loaded lineup too, headed by RF Ronald Acuna Jr., 1B Matt Olson, 3B Austin Riley and 2B Ozzie Albies among others. The rotation might be a bit shaky, with Max Fried missing most of last season, Charlie Morton's age and Chris Sale's recent injury history. The bullpen looks solid.

The Washington Nationals are a clear last place team with a weak roster all-around. I don't see a point of even breaking down the obvious.

The New York Mets have a weak rotation and a shaky bullpen (minus closer Edwin Diaz of course.) Their lineup looks good however, led by 1B Pete Alonso and S Francisco Lindor.

Projected finish:

1. ATLANTA BRAVES

2. PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES

3. MIAMI MARLINS

4. NEW YORK METS

5. WASHINGTON NATIONALS

NEXT: THE WORST DIVISION IN THE LEAGUE

NL CENTRAL

The Chicago Cubs have a solid rotation fronted by 2023 NL Cy Young contender Justin Steele, and featuring the likes of Kyle Hendricks and Shota Imanaga, The lineup has good defense, but lacks certainty, as does the bullpen.

The St. Louis Cardinals may be the most complete team in the division, featuring a solid inning-eating rotation, a solid bullpen and a promising lineup. 1B Paul Goldschmidt having a big contract year and/or RF Jordan Walker or DH Nolan Gorman taking steps forward will most likely win them the division.

I'm not high on the Cincinnati Reds, whose pitching is a lot of upside mixed with a ton of uncetainty. This also stretches into their lineup, filled with more promise than experience. They overachieved last season and will come back down to earth this season.

The Milwaukee Brewers have a better lineup, but still not as good as Chicago's o St. Louis's. They have a strong bullpen but will miss injured CP Devin Williams. The rotation got worse as well. They should be in contention for the division, but the lineup didn't improve enough and the rotation declined too much.

I'm not sure what to say about the Pittsburgh Pirates, other than that they're the worse version of their rivals in Cincinnati.

Projected finish:

1. ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

2. CHICAGO CUBS

3. MILWAUKEE BREWERS

4. CINCINNATI REDS

5. PITTSBURGH PIRATES

NEXT: THE FINAL DIVISION