NEW YORK — Still powered by Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber, the Philadelphia Phillies are bringing back mostly the same team that won the franchise’s second consecutive National League East Division title last season on the way to a fourth straight appearance in the MLB playoffs.
Now it’s time to take yet another run at that elusive World Series championship.
Meanwhile, the New York Mets are counting on a major makeover to produce results come October. And the banged-up Atlanta Braves believe they can rebound quickly, too ± if only they could keep all their key players on the field.
In a division that features two new managers and a host of established stars such as Ronald Acuña Jr., Juan Soto and Trea Turner, the young Miami Marlins and the rebuilding Washington Nationals remain two of baseball’s biggest mysteries.
Here’s a look at all five teams in the division in order of predicted finish for 2026.
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
Two-time NL MVP Harper and the Phillies remain in win-now mode while chasing the franchise’s first World Series crown since 2008 and third overall, with the first coming in 1980. They won the NL East by 13 games last season only to get eliminated in the divisional round of the playoffs for the second year in a row — after losing the NL Championship Series in 2023 and the World Series the year before that in their first playoff appearance since 2011.
Philadelphia essentially brought back the same core, as designated hitter Schwarber and catcher J.T. Realmuto — each a three-time MLB All-Star — returned in free agency with new contracts. Left-handed pitcher Ranger Suárez left for a $130 million, five-year deal with the American League’s Boston Red Sox, but 2025 NL Cy Young Award runner-up Cristopher Sánchez, Jesús Luzardo and Aaron Nola return from a strong rotation that hopes to include a healthy Zack Wheeler again soon. Touted prospect Andrew Painter has the No. 5 spot for now.
Another top prospect, Justin Crawford, could get an opportunity in center field, and García takes over for Nick Castellanos in right. Hard-throwing closer Jhoan Duran and new setup man Brad Keller anchor the bullpen.
As for Harper, plenty of eyes will be on the 33-year-old with eight MLB All-Star selections (his most recent in 2024) after Dave Dombrowski, the team’s president of baseball operations, publicly questioned whether the slugging first baseman can still perform at an elite level. Harper’s .844 on-base plus slugging percentage in 2025 was his lowest since 2016; his .261 batting average was his worst since 2019 (his first season with the Phillies after spending his first seven in the majors with the Nationals).
And so Dombrowski openly wondered last October if the two-time NL MVP will return to peak form with six seasons left on his $330 million, 13-year contract. His comments were still being discussed in spring training, where Harper said, “It’s kind of wild to me still,” despite efforts by Dombrowksi to rein in the perceived slight.
NEW YORK METS
The free-spending Mets faded badly in the second half last year, finished a distant second to Philadelphia, and missed the playoffs for the second time in six seasons. Convinced significant changes were necessary, president of baseball operations David Stearns ended up overhauling the roster.
Several fan favorites are gone, including first baseman Pete Alonso (to the Baltimore Orioles), closer Edwin Díaz (Los Angeles Dodgers), outfielder Brandon Nimmo (Texas Rangers) and versatile veteran Jeff McNeil (Athletics). New to the team are first baseman Jorge Polanco, second baseman Marcus Semien, third baseman Bo Bichette, center fielder Luis Robert Jr. and closer Devin Williams.
However, the biggest move Stearns made might have been trading two top prospects to the Milwaukee Brewers for Freddy Peralta, which gave New York a much-needed No. 1 starter. The rotation could be a real strength (unlike last year), with Peralta joined by impressive rookie Nolan McLean, right-hander Kodai Senga, left-handers Sean Manaea and David Peterson, and converted reliever Clay Holmes. (There are also a couple of prized prospects waiting in the wings at Triple-A.) Luke Weaver was signed to boost a suspect bullpen with potential.
Soto shifts from right field to left, and the overall defense remains a big question mark, though star shortstop Francisco Lindor is expected to be ready for opening day after undergoing left hand surgery on Feb. 11. New York is seeking its first World Series championship in 40 years (the only other MLB title came in 1969, seven years after the franchise’s first season) and its first division title since 2015, but overtaking the rival Phillies won’t be easy.
ATLANTA BRAVES
After missing the playoffs last year for the first time since 2017 — they won seven straight division titles, then snagged a wild card in 2024 — the Braves were looking for a return to form and good health in 2026.
Instead, first-year manager Walt Weiss (the team’s longtime bench coach and former shortstop takes over for the retired Brian Snitker) is adjusting to a jarring series of setbacks.
Designated hitter and outfielder Jurickson Profar’s suspension for the season after his second positive test for a performance-enhancing drug was the most devastating blow; he missed 80 games last year before returning in July, but this time he must sit out for all 162 regular-season games plus the playoffs.
Atlanta also lost left-handed pitcher Joey Wentz to a season-ending knee injury in spring training, while starting pitchers Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep went on the 60-day injured list last month after elbow surgery. Spencer Strider, another key member of the rotation, will begin the season on the 15-day IL.
Mauricio Dubón will begin the season at shortstop while Ha-Seong Kim recovers from a finger injury, and Atlanta also will open without catcher Sean Murphy, who had season-ending hip surgery in September. When healthy, Murphy will share time behind the plate with 2025 NL rookie of the year Drake Baldwin in a rotation that also will provide options at designated hitter.
Despite all that, the Braves still have left-handed starter Chris Sale — the NL Cy Young Award winner in 2024 and an MLB All-Star for the ninth time last year — atop their rotation to complement a dangerous lineup that includes Acuña in right field, Matt Olson at first base, Austin Riley at third and Ozzie Albies at second.
Still, big things remain possible for a franchise that won the World Series in 2021 for its first such title since 1995, second since moving to Atlanta ahead of the 1966 season and fourth overall (the 1914 championship came when the club was in Boston, while the 1957 crown was won during its Milwaukee days).
After slipping to fourth place in the NL East at 76-86 last year, the Braves did not sit still. They re-signed closer Raisel Iglesias to a $16 million, one-year contract, and they landed free agent reliever Robert Suarez with a $45 million, three-year deal. Another key offseason addition was left fielder Mike Yastrzemski, who signed for $23 million over two years.
MIAMI MARLINS
The surprising Marlins finished third in the division last year at 79-83 under rookie manager Clayton McCullough, a 17-win improvement over 2024, and led by president of baseball operations Peter Bendix, they’re trying different things — such as calling pitches from the dugout.
Miami might be short on household names, but there are talented arms and promising young players on the roster like 2025 MLB All-Star outfielder Kyle Stowers, center fielder Jakob Marsee, shortstop Otto López, second baseman Xavier Edwards and slugging catcher Agustín Ramírez. Christopher Morel was signed to play first base, a new position for him, and new closer Pete Fairbanks got a $13 million, one-year contract as a free agent.
The rotation could be capable, headlined by 2022 NL Cy Young Award winner Sandy Alcantara and 6-foot-8 Eury Pérez along with newcomer Chris Paddack. The frugal Marlins always seem to be a team in transition, though, and they traded quality starter Edward Cabrera to the Chicago Cubs in January for a three-player package highlighted by 23-year-old outfielder Owen Caissie.
Proven commodities Alcantara and Fairbanks could be the next ones on the move at midseason.
WASHINGTON NATIONALS
It’s been a slow reconstruction for the Nationals, who went 66-96 in 2025 for their sixth straight losing season since winning the 2019 World Series.
The youth movement now includes 36-year-old president of baseball operations Paul Toboni, 33-year-old rookie manager Blake Butera and 32-year-old general manager Ani Kilambi.
Left-handed pitcher MacKenzie Gore, an MLB All-Star for the first time last year, was traded to the Rangers in January for a package of five minor league prospects. Washington still hopes young slugger James Wood and shortstop CJ Abrams can ultimately revitalize the franchise, but outfielder Dylan Crews — the No. 2 pick of the 2023 MLB draft — was optioned to Triple-A after struggling at the plate in spring training this year (and hitting worse than .220 the past two regular seasons).
The Nationals are counting on 2020 first-round draft pick and expected opening day starter Cade Cavalli to lead the rotation.