Team Previews: NL East

NL East Team Previews

Editor's Note: Click on a team under Projected Final Standings to jump to that particular team's rundown.

Projected Final Standings

Washington Nationals: 92-70
New York Mets: 91-71
Miami Marlins: 75-87
Atlanta Braves: 68-94
Philadelphia Phillies: 59-103

Washington Nationals

State of the Franchise

No team had higher expectations coming into 2015 than the Nationals, and no team was considered a bigger disappointment when they failed to even make the postseason. A patchwork bullpen never came together and injuries hit the team hard, as Stephen Strasburg, Ryan Zimmerman, Anthony Rendon, Denard Span, Jayson Werth and Doug Fister all spent significant amounts of time on the DL, and while Bryce Harper finally blossomed into an MVP and Max Scherzer threw two no-hitters in a dazzling season, the rest of the roster just wasn't able to support their efforts. It was all the team could do to finish above .500 as they watched the upstart Mets take the NL East crown.

GM Mike Rizzo didn't exactly stand pat in the offseason, but despite big offers to many of the premium names on the free agent market he failed to bring in an impact player. Fister and Jordan Zimmermann were allowed to leave as free agents, creating two holes in the rotation that the club intends to fill from within, and Drew Storen was traded to Toronto for Span's replacement in center field and the leadoff spot, Ben Revere. The infield also got a mild re-shuffle, as Daniel Murphy replaces Yunel Escobar and allows Rendon to move back to third base on a permanent basis while giving the batting order better lefty-righty balance. A host of new and mostly veteran relievers join holdovers Jonathan Papelbon and Felipe Rivero in a revamped bullpen. The biggest move might be the hiring of Dusty Baker as manager to replace Matt Williams. Baker still has his detractors from his Cubs' days, but he seemed to learn some lessons about handling a pitching staff in his last stop with the Reds, and his reputation as a player's manager could help defuse a clubhouse that Williams lost control of as last season spiraled down the drain.

In many ways, the Nationals' organization is in an enviable spot. They have a competitive major league roster anchored by legitimate studs in Harper and Scherzer, with elite prospects like Lucas Giolito and Trea Turner on the cusp of making the leap to the bigs, and the pieces would seem to be in place for a long run of success. However, expectations remain high, and another year without at least a postseason appearance could result in a big shakeup, from the front office on down.

Pitcher To Watch

Jonathan Papelbon – No player's reputation may affect his fantasy price tag more than Papelbon. On paper, he's as solid a second-tier closer as you'll find, racking up five straight seasons with a sub-3.00 ERA and averaging 32 saves with a 2.49 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 9.8 K/9 in 325.2 innings over that stretch. Even with declining fastball velocity, he's still managed to put up solid numbers and get the job done in the ninth inning into his mid-30s. However, the image of his September dugout altercation with Bryce Harper is still burned into everyone's memory, and the fact that the Nationals couldn't find a taker for him in the offseason, instead dealing Drew Storen, makes it seem like he's damaged goods. Regardless of his perception as a choke artist (ahem), Papelbon's still got no real challengers for the closing gig in Washington and a team around him that should produce plenty of leads to protect. One more tantrum could always get him kicked out the door, of course, but barring career self-sabotage he should produce good numbers in the final year of his current contract.

Hitter To Watch

Anthony Rendon – Rendon's 2015 campaign got derailed before it even began, as a seemingly minor spring knee injury instead became the first of a series of woes that limited him to just 80 games. Considering his checkered injury history in college, he now once again wears a scarlet 'DL' on his chest, but it's easy to forget that a year ago he was burning up the ADP charts as one of the more impressive young hitters in the game, showcasing five-category production with a solid OBP base. Rendon has all the talent in the world at the plate, and with Dusty Baker now in the dugout he'll get plenty of base-stealing opportunities if his lower body cooperates. Given his spot in the lineup and his array of offensive tools, a 20-20 season with 200 combined runs and RBI and a plus batting average is well within reach for Rendon if he can stay healthy, and the uncertainty over how big an 'if' that actually is could make him a great value.

Projected Lineup

vs. RHP

1. Ben Revere, CF
2. Anthony Rendon, 3B
3. Bryce Harper, RF
4. Ryan Zimmerman, 1B
5. Daniel Murphy, 2B
6. Jayson Werth, LF
7. Wilson Ramos, C
8. Danny Espinosa, SS

vs. LHP

1. Michael Taylor, CF
2. Anthony Rendon, 3B
3. Bryce Harper, RF
4. Ryan Zimmerman, 1B
5. Jayson Werth, LF
6. Daniel Murphy, 2B
7. Wilson Ramos, C
8. Danny Espinosa, SS

There are a lot of players with long injury histories here, but if the lineup stays mostly intact it can produce a lot of offense with Harper as its engine. The leadoff spot could also be up for grabs if and when Trea Turner bumps Espinosa aside at shortstop. Interleague DH at-bats could go to veterans like Werth and Zimmerman to try and keep them healthy, with Taylor, Stephen Drew and Clint Robinson filling in defensively as needed.

Projected Rotation

Max Scherzer
Stephen Strasburg
Gio Gonzalez
Joe Ross
Tanner Roark

Jordan Zimmermann and Doug Fister are gone, but depending on Strasburg's health this is still a deep and talented rotation, if not quite as electric as their division rivals in New York. Veteran Bronson Arroyo could mount a challenge to Roark's spot in the spring, and uber-prospect Lucas Giolito could be one good month in the high minors away from a promotion.

Bullpen Hierarchy

Closer: Jonathan Papelbon
Setup: Felipe Rivero, Shawn Kelley, Trevor Gott
Middle and Long Relief: Oliver Perez, Yusmeiro Petit, Blake Treinen

Papelbon has little competition for the closer's role, but the Nats do have enough left-handed depth to give exciting youngster Rivero a look if needed. Gott has a big, heavy fastball, but is probably better suited for a setup role than ninth-inning duties.

Riser

Joe Ross, P – Acquired as part of the Nationals' end of the Wil Myers-Steven Souza deal last offseason, Ross started the season in Double-A but seized his opportunity when injuries opened a spot on the major league staff, posting excellent numbers through his first seven starts with Washington before stumbling a bit in August and September. He's far from a finished product, as his changeup still needs to improve to give him a weapon against lefties, but like his older brother Tyson, Ross' slider is his bread and butter. He threw it more than one-third of the time with an eye-popping 25.8% swinging-strike rate and combined it with a strong sinker, giving him that magical combination of groundballs, strikeouts, and few walks. If his changeup becomes even average and he can hold lefties to something more reasonable than last year's .277/.351/.453 line, Ross could establish himself as one of the pillars of the Nats' rotation.

Faller

Jayson Werth, OF – When he's healthy, Werth is still capable of supplying some offense, as his seven September home runs in 2015 demonstrated. Unfortunately, those periods of good health are becoming rarer and rarer for the veteran, who turns 37 in May. He's played more than 130 games just once in the last four seasons, missing over 50 games a year on average over that stretch, and last year's .384 SLG was his worst mark since he was a rookie. His strikeouts are trending up and his hard contact rate is trending down, ominous signs for a player clearly in the twilight of his career. It would be easy to talk yourself into paying for a dead cat bounce kind of season for Werth, but it's just as likely that 2014 was his dead cat bounce campaign. If his price is reasonable you can take the risk, but have plenty of backup options available on your reserve list if you do.

Sleeper

Trea Turner – The other big prize (along with Ross) from last offseason's deal with the Padres and Rays, Turner tore up the upper minors last year, hitting a combined .322/.370/.458 between three stops at Double-A and Triple-A with 29 steals before getting his first taste of the majors in September. He's got a good glove at shortstop, premium wheels and a potentially plus hit tool, and while his power is more of the gap variety, he should still be an asset as a three-category player once he matures and settles into the Nationals' lineup. When that happens is the real question. The organization has enough warm bodies on the 25-man roster, in the form of Danny Espinosa and Stephen Drew, to leave Turner back at Triple-A and postpone the start of his arbitration clock, but they will also likely be in a dogfight with the Mets for the NL East crown and a playoff spot. If Turner is hitting well in April, and the big league lineup needs a spark, don't be surprised if long-term financial concerns get thrown out the window and he gets the call.

Supersleeper

Ryan Zimmerman, 1B – It seems weird to call a player with Zimmerman's track record and pedigree any kind of sleeper, but that's how far his stock has fallen after injuries have torpedoed his career. Now restricted to first base duties due to shoulder woes and coming off a bout of plantar fasciitis, he's become little more than a late-round dart after playing just 156 games over the last two seasons combined, currently sitting 27th among first base qualifiers in NFBC ADP rankings. When Zimmerman's healthy, though, he can still produce, as his .311/.372/.652 second half slash line shows (albeit in just 135 at-bats), and that kind of upside in a late-round dart is hard to find. If he does manage to stay in one piece this year he'll be hitting behind Anthony Rendon and Bryce Harper, giving him all the RBI opportunities he could ask for, and he's just two seasons removed from back-to-back 25-homer campaigns. It's easier said than done, but all he needs to do is stay on the field to return surprising value.

New York Mets

State of the Franchise

The future arrived a little ahead of schedule for the Mets, as the organization's young pitching seized the reins and led the team to a surprising NL East title and a run to the World Series. Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz all pitched well when given the chance despite none being over 27 years old, and with Jeurys Familia also stepping up as the team's young closer, the Mets needed just a bare modicum of offense to generate wins. The trade deadline acquisition of Yoenis Cespedes gave them a lot more than that, though, as the outfielder got hot in New York and became an instant fan favorite.

The offseason brought more optimism, as despite the club's financial difficulties, GM Sandy Alderson was able to bring Cespedes back on a three-year deal (that might only be for one year if Cespedes exercises his opt-out), preventing the Nationals from signing him in the process. Zack Wheeler is also expected to return from Tommy John surgery midseason, giving the Mets the deepest young rotation in the league. Neil Walker also replaces playoff hero Daniel Murphy in a lateral move at second base, while Asdrubal Cabrera provides some stability at shortstop.

Expectations are now sky-high, as a fan base starved for success is now anticipating the end of a 30-year championship drought. The Nationals remain a large obstacle in the NL East, but the Mets' outstanding collection of young arms should keep them competitive in every game and every series, and make them a strong contender for another postseason berth.

Pitcher To Watch

Matt Harvey – Big things were expected from Harvey in his return from Tommy John surgery last season and he didn't disappoint, posting excellent numbers across the board. Despite the big comeback, however, there may still be room for him to improve. He was on a very public and very contentious regular season innings restriction, and with that no longer an issue he should be able to top 200 innings for the first time in his brief career. In addition, his BB/9 rate trended up slightly and his K/9 rate dropped below 9.0 as he had trouble at times regaining the feel for his changeup. Assuming the pitch is as sharp as it was before his surgery and regains full separation from his 95 mph fastball, Harvey's dynamic arsenal should allow him to fully blossom into one of the NL's elite hurlers. With a playoff-caliber team supporting him and World Series experience under his belt, he'll head into the season as a Cy Young favorite and one of the few pitchers with a semi-realistic shot at 300 strikeouts.

Hitter To Watch

Curtis Granderson, OF – Granderson rebounded nicely from an underwhelming first year with the Mets, as he changed his approach at the plate to better suit his new role in the leadoff spot without completely losing his power stroke. The result was his highest OBP, and best overall offensive season, since 2011. It's fair to wonder whether he'll be able to repeat, however. Granderson will turn 35 before Opening Day, and at this stage of his career an increase in 'old man skills' like walk rate can be as much an indication of reduced bat speed as it is a better batting eye. He also underwent thumb surgery in the offseason, and while reports on his recovery have been positive, it could slow him down in spring training. The Mets don't have any better options for the top of the order, so he should at least see plenty of plate appearances, but if he can't come close to replicating last year's .364 OBP it could not only hurt Granderson's fantasy value but also impact the production of the players hitting behind him.

Projected Lineup

vs. RHP

1. Curtis Granderson, RF
2. Neil Walker, 2B
3. David Wright, 3B
4. Yoenis Cespedes, CF
5. Lucas Duda, 1B
6. Michael Conforto, LF
7. Travis d'Arnaud, C
8. Asdrubal Cabrera, SS

vs. LHP

1. Curtis Granderson, RF
2. David Wright, 3B
3. Yoenis Cespedes, LF
4. Lucas Duda, 1B
5. Travis d'Arnaud, C
6. Wilmer Flores, 2B
7. Asdrubal Cabrera, SS
8. Juan Lagares, CF

Aside from a new middle infield, this is much the same lineup that the Mets rode in October thanks to the return of Cespedes. Wright's back, d'Arnaud's brittleness and Duda's slumps will be major storylines, but this is still a lineup capable of scoring some runs. The team's main bench bats, Marc Krauss and Alejandro de Aza, both hit left-handed, so there could be an opportunity for someone like Eric Campbell or Dilson Herrera to see interleague at-bats when the team wants an extra righty in the lineup.

Projected Rotation

Jacob deGrom
Matt Harvey
Noah Syndergaard
Steven Matz
Bartolo Colon

The rich will get richer over the summer when Zack Wheeler makes his return from Tommy John surgery, giving the Mets a stacked, young, devastatingly talented rotation that runs five deep. Should injuries require additional depth, Logan Verrett would be next in line after providing some solid innings in 2015.

Bullpen Hierarchy

Closer: Jeurys Familia
Setup: Addison Reed, Antonio Bastardo
Middle and Long Relief: Sean Gilmartin, Hansel Robles, Erik Goeddel

Familia firmly seized the closer job with his huge 2015, and while Reed has some experience in the role, he's no real threat to Familia. Robles will miss the first few games of the season due to a suspension, but has the big fastball and K-rate to quickly work his way into a key role if he gets the chance.

Riser

Michael Conforto, OF – Conforto made the jump from Double-A last season and didn't look out of place, showing more power in the majors than he had in the Eastern League while still displaying the solid contact skills and plate discipline that made him a first round pick in 2014. He's expected to form a rough platoon with Juan Lagares to begin the year, limiting his exposure to same-handed pitching, but Conforto's approach could allow him to win a full-time spot if he shows steady development. He has the potential to be a four-category contributor, and if David Wright's back issues cost him significant time again, the second-year outfielder could see plenty of time hitting in the two-hole.

Faller

Bartolo Colon, P – We all love watching the seemingly ageless Colon baffle hitters with junk (and a belly) that wouldn't look out of place in a weekend beer league, but his time as a regular member of the Mets' rotation appears to be drawing to a close. Young studs Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz proved last season they can handle the big leagues, and Zack Wheeler will return from Tommy John surgery sometime before the All-Star break. That leaves Colon as the odd man out, and a candidate for long relief or a trade to another team that might have a less forgiving home ballpark. Colon's 4.53 road ERA in 2015 follows up a 4.44 mark the year before, and without Citi Field to swallow his flyballs, the soon-to-be 43-year-old would lose what utility he has in deeper fantasy formats.

Sleeper

Zack Wheeler, P – Given the glittering array of young studs in the Mets' rotation, it's easy to forget about Wheeler as he prepares to return from Tommy John surgery. His control issues arguably make him the least valuable, or at least the most volatile, of the organization's Fab Five, but Wheeler still posted a 9.1 K/9 rate as a 24-year-old in 2014 and his 95 mph fastball and four-pitch arsenal still has significant upside. If your league format allows you to stash him on a reserve list, he could pay big dividends in the second half.

Supersleeper

Dilson Herrera, 2B – The acquisition of Neil Walker blocked Herrera's path to regular playing time this year, and his weak results at the plate so far in 51 major league games mask his potential, but this is still a kid with a bright future. Herrera will turn just 22 at the beginning of spring training, and his combination of power, speed and plate discipline could allow him to make a splash if at some point he gets the consistent at-bats he'd need to acclimate to the majors. He's a better keeper play with an eye on 2017, but if he finds his way into a starting job sooner than that, he has the tools to make a fantasy impact.

Miami Marlins

State of the Franchise

It's been 12 years and counting since the Marlins won their second improbable World Series, but the team doesn't appear to be any closer to a return to October baseball than they were when Miguel Cabrera was a fresh-faced shortstop. Despite having two excellent anchors for the offense and pitching staff in Giancarlo Stanton and Jose Fernandez, the supporting cast remains extremely weak, and it's been five seasons since the team even topped .500. The front office dysfunction that has been the hallmark of Jeffrey Loria's time as the owner may have reached its peak in 2015, when GM Dan Jennings named himself as the replacement for manager Mike Redmond despite a lack of any managerial experience outside of high school ball. Needless to say, the move didn't exactly spark the club to new heights, and Jennings got cut loose from both jobs by Loria after the season.

New general manager Michael Hill, who was the old general manager before Jennings, didn't make a lot of splashy moves in the offseason, signing Wei-Yin Chen to bolster the rotation, bring in Chris Johnson for infield depth and hiring manager Don Mattingly to try and supply a steadier hand at the tiller. The biggest move of the winter may have been the decision to bring in and lower the fences in center field and right-center in Marlins Park, in an attempt to have the stadium play closer to neutral rather being a pitcher's park. Instead of a makeover, the Marlins will give youngsters such as Christian Yelich, Marcell Ozuna and Justin Nicolino at least one more chance to develop into a supporting cast worthy of Stanton and Fernandez. Given the trade rumors that have surrounded Fernandez, however, another purge and another ground-up rebuild that conveniently keeps team payroll low (outside of Stanton's mammoth deal) may not be far off.

In a division that seems to feature two dominant franchises in the Mets and Nationals and three clubs in various stages of rebuilding, the Marlins could easily sneak in another third place finish in 2016, and big improvement from some of the young hitters could even push them into the fringes of the wild card chase. The future, however, looks much dimmer, and it may not be long before Miami finds themselves back in the NL East basement as the Braves and Phillies produce talent from their farm systems that the Marlins just can't match.

Pitcher To Watch

Carter Capps – Capps exploded onto fantasy radars last year with an absurd 16.8 K/9 rate, as his 98 mph fastball proved to be almost unhittable when combined with a jump-step delivery similar to Jordan Walden's. His BB/9 rate was also an impressive 2.0, and the Marlins have declared that he'll be in an open competition with incumbent A.J. Ramos this spring for the closer's job. Were it not for an elbow injury that cut short his season, Capps would be heading into 2016 as one of the most sought-after relievers at the draft table. However, that elbow issue is just one of the red flags on Capps' resume. His control was noticeably shakier prior to 2015, and a 31-inning sample isn't enough to prove he's learned to fully command his unorthodox delivery. Walden's own career arc isn't encouraging, as he lasted as a closer for just one season in Anaheim due to his volatile performances, and he's currently trying to make a comeback from labrum and rotator cuff injuries. As high-K relievers go, Capps' upside is as great as anyone in the Royals' or Yankees' bullpens, but the potential downside can't be ignored either.

Hitter To Watch

Marcell Ozuna – After a 23-homer season in 2014, a lot was expected from Ozuna, but instead he couldn't put things together at the plate to the point that the Marlins actually sent him back to Triple-A for a month. He'll head into the spring still penciled in as the starting center fielder, but another power drought could punch his ticket out of town for good. That said, it's not like Ozuna's 2015 was a complete disaster. His 22.3% strikeout rate was a marked improvement, and he maintained a strong BABIP thanks to a batted ball profile that sees him spray the ball to all fields. It's Ozuna, more so than Giancarlo Stanton, who stands to benefit the most offensively from the club's decision to bring in and lower the fences in center and right-center at Marlins Park, and it certainly won't hurt his defensive numbers either as he's somewhat miscast as a center fielder anyway. A return to the 20-homer plateau would cement his spot as a complementary piece for Miami going forward, and could also see him climb up into the heart of the batting order behind Stanton.

Projected Lineup

vs. RHP

1. Dee Gordon, 2B
2. Christian Yelich, CF
3. Giancarlo Stanton, RF
4. Justin Bour, 1B
5. Martin Prado, 3B
6. Marcell Ozuna, LF
7. J.T. Realmuto, C
8. Adeiny Hechavarria, SS

vs. LHP

1. Dee Gordon, 2B
2. Christian Yelich, CF
3. Giancarlo Stanton, RF
4. Chris Johnson, 1B
5. Martin Prado, 3B
6. Marcell Ozuna, LF
7. J.T. Realmuto, C
8. Adeiny Hechavarria, SS

For a team that didn't make much noise last season, this is a remarkably stable lineup, with Johnson as Bour's platoon partner being the only major addition. The Marlins will rely on the development of their young players, and better health from Stanton, for any offensive improvement. Bench options like Derek Dietrich and Cole Gillespie would likely see most of the interleague DH at-bats, but don't be surprised if Ichiro Suzuki also gets steady work in his quest for his 3,000th MLB hit.

Projected Rotation

Jose Fernandez
Wei-Yin Chen
Tom Koehler
Justin Nicolino
Jarred Cosart

A full season from Fernandez would give the Marlins a bona fide ace, but after that the rotation gets sketchy in a hurry. Chen should enjoy escaping the AL East but has never thrown 200 innings in a season, in North America or Japan, Nicolino and Cosart have yet to live up to their billing as prospects, and Koehler might be the most perfectly fungible pitcher in the league. Adam Conley represents the best chance for immediate reinforcements in the upper minors after his respectable 2015 major league debut, and Edwin Jackson is also a desperation option.

Bullpen Hierarchy

Closer: A.J. Ramos
Setup: Carter Capps, Bryan Morris, Mike Dunn
Middle and Long Relief: Brian Ellington, Kyle Barraclough, Edwin Jackson

Ramos is the incumbent closer but will get a spring challenge from Capps, and either one could find themselves on the trade block at a moment's notice whether they win or lose that battle. Control issues plague the rule for the rest of the bullpen, with veteran lefty Dunn coming off one of his worst season and Morris and Ellington both possessing plus arsenals that they can't quite harness.

Riser

Christian Yelich, OF – Back troubles limited Yelich early, but a .342/.392/.473 second half not only salvaged his season but gave him his first .300 campaign. He hits too many groundballs to have big power numbers, but if he can avoid the DL, 2015 could prove to be the first of many seasons in which Yelich leads the Marlins in batting average. His speed and spot in the batting order give him strong four-category potential, and even if he never becomes a double-digit home run threat he should still have value. He's just 24, however, and there's still time for him to tweak his approach to add just a little more loft to his swing, especially with right-center field no longer being where flyballs go to die in Marlins Park. Even if he doesn't, though, in a run environment where hitting for a high batting average is becoming something of a lost art, Yelich's floor and ceiling are both higher than they might appear at first glance.

Faller

Tom Koehler, P – From a fantasy standpoint, there's already not much to like about Koehler. He doesn't get many strikeouts, doesn't have great raw stuff, doesn't do a good job of keeping the ball in the park, and doesn't even have a team around him that can get him many wins. What he did have going for him was a stable rotation spot and a home park that masked his weaknesses, giving him a little utility in deep NL-only formats. The Marlins' decision to move in the fences at Marlins Park, however, takes away Koehler's one saving grace. Over the last three seasons, his HR/9 at home was 0.62, leading to a home ERA of 3.51. On the road, those numbers were 1.14 and 4.58. If his home numbers start looking more like his road numbers, he no longer even becomes a streaming option, and his spot in the rotation becomes very precarious. At the end of drafts and auctions in deep leagues, pitchers who can get you 30 starts in a season without completely torching your ratios start to look appealing, just for depth and insurance purposes. Don't assume Koehler will remain one of those guys.

Sleeper

J.T. Realmuto – Realmuto's first full season as the Marlins' starting catcher was a mixed bag, as he had a slow start out of the gate but put together an entirely decent second half, hitting .273/.308/.439 with six home runs and six steals. Those steals are the real key to his fantasy value, as catcher-eligible players with the potential for double digits in that category are few and far between. In fact, his eight total steals led all major league catchers in 2015. There's a little more upside to him than just a handful of SBs, however. Realmuto showed strong walk rates in the minors, and his batted ball profile suggests that his second-half batting average is more in line with what he's capable of than his weak first half. The wear and tear of being an everyday catcher will take it's toll, so his development at the plate probably won't be smooth, but he's also far more athletic than the typical backstop and might be better suited to handle that wear and tear as a result. You have to hop into the Wayback Machine to find decent comps for his skill set, and most of them (B.J. Surhoff, for instance) eventually moved out from behind the plate when their team decided their offensive contributions were more important than their defense at catcher. Realmuto could eventually follow the same path, but in the short term he's a catcher available outside the top 12 with top-10 upside, and that makes him worth taking the plunge.

Supersleeper

Adam Conley – A second round pick in 2011, Conley has been brought along slowly, as the former college closer transitions to being a professional starter, and his development has had a setback or two. He appeared to turn a corner last season, though, posting strong numbers for Triple-A New Orleans and not looking out of place in 11 starts with the big club. He doesn't have overpowering stuff, but his slider and changeup are above average and allow the left-hander to be effective against right-handed hitters, and his minor league home run rates were markedly better than his 0.94 HR/9 rate for the Marlins. On a team with only a couple of true locks for the rotation, Conley could well parlay a big spring into fantasy value, and even if he begins the season back in Triple-A, he'll be the first pitcher called up when the Marlins need help.

Atlanta Braves

State of the Franchise

As recently as 2013, the Braves were winning 96 games and coming off three playoff appearances in four seasons, but those days seem long ago and far away after the club committed itself to a full-on youth movement. The roster was torn down to its foundations, with only Freddie Freeman remaining as a key player from that 96-win team, and in the place of stars like Jason Heyward, Justin Upton and Craig Kimbrel is booty acquired from multiple raids on the farm systems of the NL West. The organizational depth charts are now full of former Diamondback and Padre prospects, including 2015 first overall pick Dansby Swanson, and it may not be long before the team is piling up multiple postseason berths once again.

That future is still at least a year or two away, however. In the here and now, Freeman finds himself surrounded by a less than exciting supporting cast, with slap hitting center fielder Ender Inciarte being arguably the second-best position player on the 25-man roster. The pitching staff isn't in any better shape, especially given Julio Teheran's worrying decline last year, and while young hurlers Matt Wisler and Aaron Blair offer a bit of hope, this is still a team hoping to get consistent innings from someone like Bud Norris, who posted a 6.72 ERA last year. Any veteran who shows a glimmer of ability for the Braves in 2016 is likely to find himself traded for someone who might help them in 2019.

With the Nationals and Mets currently ruling the roost in the NL East, the Braves seem content to bide their time and keep their prospect powder dry. The present could feature another couple of fourth and fifth place finishes, but given the talent they've been able to stockpile, a return to the top of the division could come sooner than you might expect.

Pitcher To Watch

Matt Wisler – Acquired from the Padres as the centerpiece of the Craig Kimbrel deal last offseason, Wisler didn't exactly set the world on fire as a rookie. Most of the damage against him came in a seven-start stretch from the beginning of August to the beginning of September, when he gave up 32 of his 57 total earned runs, but he closed out the season well and didn't seem to suffer any loss of confidence from the shellackings. Wisler features a near-elite slider along with a 93 mph fastball and occasional changeup, and if he can improve his command to the point that he's not leaving pitches over the heart of the plate and surrendering loud contact, his numbers could make a leap into more than just deep league utility. It's a matter of inches, but those inches are the difference between carrying unusable ratios and being a strong mid-rotation fantasy option. Whether it takes Wisler two months, two years or two changes of scenery to put it all together, however, remains to be seen.

Hitter To Watch

Hector Olivera – Olivera isn't exactly a prospect in the traditional sense, as the Cuban will turn 31 just after Opening Day, but after bouncing between five levels and seven teams over the course of his first season stateside, it's understandable that he didn't make an immediate splash. The Braves are confident that his bat will play in the majors, however, and he'll head into spring training penciled in as the starting left fielder. It's a bit of a strange gamble for a team in the throes of a rebuild, but Olivera's career .323/.407/.505 slash line back home in Cuba gives some indication of the kind of hitter he could be once he adjusts to MLB pitching. The Braves lack impact bats in their lineup aside from Freddie Freeman, so expect them to give Olivera every chance to become a consistent producer, but the range of plausible outcomes he could deliver makes him one of the most volatile fantasy picks on the market this year.

Projected Lineup

vs. RHP

1. Ender Inciarte, CF
2. Erick Aybar, SS
3. Nick Markakis, RF
4. Freddie Freeman, 1B
5. Hector Olivera, LF
6. Adonis Garcia. 3B
7. A.J. Pierzynski, C
8. Jace Peterson, 2B

vs. LHP

1. Ender Inciarte, CF
2. Erick Aybar, SS
3. Nick Markakis, RF
4. Freddie Freeman, 1B
5. Hector Olivera, LF
6. Adonis Garcia. 3B
7. Tyler Flowers, C
8. Kelly Johnson, 2B

The Braves re-made the top of their batting order in the offseason, bringing in Inciarte and Aybar, which should hopefully give Freeman a few more RBI opportunities. There's very little in the way of established production outside of the first baseman, however, so it could be another long year for Atlanta's offense. Interleague DH at-bats should mainly be absorbed by Nick Swisher and Kelly Johnson.

Projected Rotation

Julio Teheran
Matt Wisler
Williams Perez
Bud Norris
Kyle Kendrick

There's some upside here with Wisler and a potential rebound from Teheran, but after that the rotation features arms that function more as place-holders for the next wave of prospects than sources of dependable innings. That wave of prospects could arrive as soon as the second half, however, with offseason acquisitions Aaron Blair and Sean Newcomb at the forefront.

Bullpen Hierarchy

Closer: Jason Grilli
Setup: Arodys Vizcaino, Andrew McKirahan
Middle and Long Relief: Matt Marksberry, Jim Johnson, Danny Burawa, Ian Krol, Ryan Weber

Grilli's recovery from a torn Achilles could cloud the closer picture, but if the club wants to showcase him for a trade, a return to the closer role to start the season would make sense. The rest of the bullpen is filled with reclamation projects and low profile prospects, with Weber a possibility for the rotation if injuries or poor performances hit before the priority prospects are ready.

Riser

Ender Inciarte, OF – Part of the Shelby Miller haul this offseason, Inciarte built nicely on his 2014 campaign last year, hitting .300 and stealing 20 bases for the first time in the majors. There's reason to believe he can do better, however. He doesn't have much power, but his speed and contact ability should ensure an excellent floor in batting average, and a regular spot atop even a weak Braves lineup could allow him to top last season's 73 runs. The real improvement could come on the basepaths, though. Inciarte was a disappointing 21-of-31 in stolen base attempts in 2015, well below his minor league success rates, and a midseason hamstring injury seems the most likely cause. If he avoids more lower body issues, 31 attempts should result in something more like 25 steals at the 82.3 success rate he managed across all levels between 2012 and 2014, and manager Fredi Gonzalez hasn't been particularly shy about giving true speedsters a green light. The last time Gonzalez had a player with Inciarte's wheels at the top of his batting order, Michael Bourn swiped 42 bags in 2012.

Faller

Julio Teheran, P – Teheran took a big step back in 2015, as a changed release point left him with less vertical movement on his pitches, especially his once-scintillating curve, and more vulnerability to left-handed hitters. His BB/9 and HR/FB rates also regressed, and while the former could be due to some bad luck, the latter is worrisome given his control issues in the minors. All that said, last season still looks like a worst-case scenario for a healthy Teheran, but it's the 'healthy' part that's the real concern. Pitchers don't just change their arm angle for no reason, and the most likely culprit is shoulder pain. The Braves haven't given any indication that he's hurt, but he wouldn't be the first player to play through an issue without telling anyone. Last year, fantasy GMs drafted Teheran for 30 starts with an ERA in the low threes and instead got an ERA a full run higher. This year, they might draft him for 30 starts with an ERA in the high threes, and get only five starts instead. There's still definite upside here if he's not hurt and re-discovers his previous mechanics, but the downside seems far bleaker than is currently being priced into his ADP.

Sleeper

Aaron Blair, P – One of the many former Diamondbacks who will be littering spring training for Atlanta this year, Blair immediately slotted in as his new organization's best pitching prospect when he was traded in December. His numbers at Triple-A last season look good but not great until you factor in that he was pitching in one of the PCL's more extreme hitter's parks at Reno, at which point they become downright amazing. He worked on pitching to contact last year, an understandable development given that his sinker and changeup are ahead of his curveball right now, and while his lack of upside in strikeouts puts him as more of a mid-rotation pitcher than an ace, the Braves need all the rotation help they can get. Expect Blair to get called up as soon as the front office deems it fiscally prudent, with numbers as good as the infield defense behind him will allow.

Supersleeper

Nick Swisher, OF – The combined age of the Braves' current starting corner outfielders will be 63 on Opening Day, and based on their combined performance last season you'd be forgiven for guessing a couple of decades higher. Nick Markakis saw his power completely vanish, while Hector Olivera has yet to prove he can actually hit major league pitching. If either or both of them fail to deliver, the Braves will need to turn to their bench to fill in with no obvious prospects in the upper minors ready to step up, although probable future fourth outfielder Mallex Smith could get a look. If the reserves do get the call, Swisher might be best positioned to take advantage, with Kelly Johnson needed at second base and Michael Bourn losing the one dimension he had to his game. Swisher is no spring chicken himself and was a washout last year, but with another offseason to rest his aching knees, it's possible he'll be able to muster up one more power surge, something that is in very short supply on Atlanta's roster. Keep an eye on him in the spring. If Swisher has any kind of pep in his step, he could prove to be a very astute stash in NL-only formats.

Philadelphia Phillies

State of the Franchise

The 10 straight seasons of .500 or better ball managed between 2003 and 2012, and the five straight postseason appearances they had in the middle of that run, are well in the rear view mirror for the Phillies. Pillars of those teams such as Chase Utley and Cole Hamels are now in other uniforms as they close out their careers, and the only holdovers are Ryan Howard, reduced to a platoon role, and Carlos Ruiz, who will likely back up Cameron Rupp this year. The rebuilding effort is already bearing fruit, however, with Maikel Franco and Aaron Nola both making a quick impact after their promotion to the majors.

It could still be a while before their next postseason berth, however. The rotation remains a mess behind the talented but still unproven Nola, and veteran retreads Jeremy Hellickson and Charlie Morton were brought in this offseason to provide a bare minimum of stability to a staff that last year churned through pitchers who, to put it bluntly, didn't belong in the majors. The lineup also features a lot of holes, with former Angel and Cardinal outfielder Peter Bourjos providing a good glove but no bat in center field and low-ceiling, homegrown options like Freddy Galvis and Aaron Altherr also in starting roles. The young stars, both the ones who have already arrived and the ones about to like J.P. Crawford and Nick Williams, provide some hope, but depth figures to remain an issue for the time being.

Manager Pete Mackanin has a clear mission statement to develop the kids, so wins could be tough to come by even in a division that features two other clubs in the Braves and Marlins in the middle of their own youth movements. Phillies fans will need to be patient, but the pieces are slowly coming together for the team's next decade-long run of success, even if it doesn't begin for a few seasons yet.

Pitcher To Watch

Aaron Nola – A first-round pick in 2014, Nola went from top prospect to staff ace almost in the blink of an eye, as he cruised quickly through the system before making 13 solid starts for Philadelphia last year. That staff ace designation is far more a reflection of the rest of the Phillies' pitchers than it is of Nola's arsenal, however. The 22-year-old righty gets by on command and control rather than overpowering stuff, barely scraping 90 mph with his fastball and instead relying on his offspeed pitches to keep opposing hitters off balance. There could be some late-season fatigue hidden in that velocity, however, as minor league scouting reports had Nola a couple of ticks higher, and a little more oomph on his heater would go a long way towards making him a more reliable fantasy asset. If the radar readings in spring training show him popping 93 or 94 mph, the rest of his repertoire is good enough to make him more than an in-name-only ace.

Hitter To Watch

Ryan Howard – Given the rebuilding effort going on around him, it's a testament to how awful his contract is that Howard is still a Phillie. He still managed to to hit 23 home runs for the second straight year, but his .277 OBP was a career worst, and he was once again completely helpless at the plate against same-side pitching. He will almost certainly be in a strict platoon at first base with Darin Ruf this year, which makes his .251/.315/.443 slash line against righties over the last three seasons a better baseline for his 2016 performance than last year's overall misery. Who knows? Maybe if he focuses exclusively on crushing RHP, Howard could make a run at another 30-homer campaign, or at least make himself tradable in the final year of his deal.

Projected Lineup

vs. RHP

1. Cesar Hernandez, 2B
2. Odubel Herrera, LF
3. Maikel Franco, 3B
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Aaron Altherr, RF
6. Cameron Rupp, C
7. Freddy Galvis, 2B
8. Peter Bourjos, CF

vs. LHP

1. Cesar Hernandez, 2B
2. Odubel Herrera, LF
3. Maikel Franco, 3B
4. Darin Ruf, 1B
5. Aaron Altherr, RF
6. Cameron Rupp, C
7. Freddy Galvis, 2B
8. Peter Bourjos, CF

Aside from the platoon at first base, the Phillies should feature regular starters at every position, although that's not necessarily a good thing. Franco is a bright spot, and Herrera showed some flashes last season as a Rule 5 pick, but otherwise there isn't a whole lot of upside here. Cody Asche could challenge Altherr for playing time in right field and see interleague DH at-bats, as could this year's Rule 5 find, Tyler Goeddel.

Projected Rotation

Aaron Nola
Jeremy Hellickson
Charlie Morton
Jerad Eickhoff
Vincent Velasquez

Hellickson and Morton were brought in to provide some innings for a rotation that was scrambling for warm bodies at times last year, but neither has a 200-inning season on their resume. Former Astros Velasquez and Brett Oberholtzer will compete in the spring for the fifth starter spot, but Velasquez is the one with real upside.

Bullpen Hierarchy

Closer: David Hernandez
Setup: Luis Garcia, Jeanmar Gomez
Middle and Long Relief: Elvis Araujo, Hector Neris, Dalier Hinojosa, Brett Oberholtzer

Hernandez is the expected closer almost by default, and a good performance in that role could see him traded, while Garcia has the biggest fastball among the remaining relievers and could be the upside play as his replacement if that happens. He, Neris, Araujo and Hinojosa will jostle for spots in the pecking order behind Hernandez.

Riser

David Hernandez, P – A high octane fastball and nerves of steel are all well and good, but the most important weapon in a closer's arsenal is opportunity. Hernandez, as the one pitcher in the Phillies' Opening Day bullpen with any kind of major league closing experience, should get the first crack at the job following the Ken Giles trade, and that opportunity makes him a worthy late-round pick despite his lackluster numbers over the last couple of seasons. There isn't a whole lot of upside here, but Hernandez could well wind up as this year's Santiago Casilla, a pitcher that everyone expects to lose the job sooner or later but who muddles through and winds up with decidedly useful numbers at season's end.

Faller

Jerad Eickhoff, P – Acquired as almost a throw-in to the Cole Hamels deal last year, Eickhoff emerged as a big surprise, putting up strong numbers in eight major league starts down the stretch. The driver of his success was a slider that graded out as the best slide-piece in the business in terms of swinging-strike rate, a level that seems impossible to maintain given the underwhelming scouting reports on it from the minors and the fact that he was mostly facing September lineups while wielding it. Even if the slider becomes merely very good instead of otherworldly, his flyball and hard-hit ball rates point to a big downturn in his ratios, and his home park won't do him any favors in that regard either. Eickhoff may well have changed something in his grip or approach that makes his slider one of the truly premiere pitches in the games, but any serious regression in that slider could have a catastrophic effect on his numbers.

Sleeper

Vincent Velasquez, P – The big prize in the Ken Giles deal, Velasquez already features two plus pitches in a 95 mph fastball and a tantalizing curve, and his changeup could someday be a plus pitch as well. What he needs now more than anything are reps. Various bumps and bruises have limited him to just 152.2 innings over the last two seasons, and the lack of polish shows in his elevated BB/9 rate. He's still the favorite to win the fifth starter job in the spring, and his strikeout potential gives him tremendous sleeper potential. Even if he wins a spot in the rotation, however, don't expect anything close to 200 innings from him. He could take a big step forward in 2016, but it might not be until 2017 that he fully seizes a spot near the top of the Phillies' rotation.

Supersleeper

Nick Williams – The former Rangers top prospect started to add some skills to his off-the-charts athleticism last season, and the result was a combined .303/.354/.491 slash line between the Texas and Philadelphia Double-A affiliates to go along with 17 home runs and 13 steals. Williams still has a lot of development left ahead of him, but a rising walk rate and declining strikeout rate both point to significant growth at the plate, and given that the Phillies are looking at using Peter Bourjos as their starting center fielder, the 22-year-old doesn't exactly have any serious obstacles between himself and a major league starting job if he takes another step forward at Triple-A to begin 2016. Just as Maikel Franco did last year, Williams could force the Phillies' hand and provide real fantasy value by midseason.