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67 BAY AREA NEWS GROUP PLAY BALL THE LEAGUE RatingtheN.L.East Rating the N.L. Central 1.WashingtonNationals Lastyear:95-67,firstplace(losttoLos Angeles Dodgers in NLDS) Keylosses:RHP Mark Melancon, C Wilson Ramos, SS Danny Espinosa Keynewcomers:OF Adam Eaton,C Derek Norris, C Matt Wieters Best-casescenario:Bryce Harper is back to his 2015 MVP form, Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg headline a fearsome pitching rotation, and the Nats finally live up to their hype as an annual World Series favorite. Worst-casescenario:Injuries continue to plague Harper, Strasburg, Jayson Werth and others, and Washington continues its pattern of making the playoffs only every other year by missing out in '17. Hotprospect:OF Victor Robles is a 19-year-old who doesn't have a ton of power yet with the bat, but he's an otherwise well-rounded player and one of the game's top OF prospects. 2.NewYorkMets Lastyear:87-75, second place (lost to Giants in Wild Card game) Keylosses:RHP Bartolo Colon,1B James Loney Keynewcomers: None Best-casescenario:The pitching staff that lost Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom and Steven Matz to injuries returns to form, plus finally gets Zach Wheeler back from Tommy John surgery and rides that back to the postseason. Worst-casescenario:Last year's injury-plagued season is duplicated (several of them are chronic ailments), and the Mets finish well behind the Nationals and are le struggling to return to the Wild Card game. Hotprospect:SS Amed Rosario,who hit .341 in 54 games at Double-A last year, is an outstanding defender who could be ready to debut sometime this season. 3.MiamiMarlins Lastyear:79-82, third place Keylosses:RHP Jose Fernandez, RHP Andrew Cashner, RHP Fernando Rodney Keynewcomers:RHP Edinson Volquez, LHP Jeff Locke, RHP Brad Ziegler, RHP Dan Straily Best-casescenario:A young, talented outfield trio of Giancarlo Stanton, Christian Yelich and Marcell Ozuna provide some exciting moments for a franchise still reeling from the September death of Fernandez, the team's ace pitcher, in a Miami Beach boating accident. Worst-casescenario:Without a true ace, the Marlins don't have the pitching to be competitive in a mediocre division, and fall behind the rebuilding Phillies and Braves. Hotprospect:LHP Braxton Garrett, the seventh overall pick in 2016, has added some velocity to touch the mid-90s but remains a couple of years away. 4.AtlantaBraves Lastyear:68-93, fi h place Keylosses:C A.J. Pierzynski, RHP John Gant Keynewcomers:2B Brandon Phillips, RHP Bartolo Colon, RHP R.A. Dickey, LHP Jaime Garcia Best-casescenario:The veteran pitchers buy time for the Braves to season some talented youngsters, and they begin to show some promise in their first season playing in SunTrust Park in the Atlanta suburbs. Worst-casescenario:The move to Cobb County — the team's second new home in 20 years and MLB's first new park since 2012 — isn't greeted well by a fan base who will have to wait at least another year or two for the Braves to return to contention. Hotprospect:2B Ozzie Albies is the likely future double play partner of Rookie of the Year favorite Dansby Swanson. Albies had 293 games of minor-league ball under his belt before turning 20 in January. 5.PhiladelphiaPhillies Lastyear: 71-91, fourth place Keylosses:1B Ryan Howard, RHP Charlie Morton, 1B Darin Ruf, C A.J. Ellis Keynewcomers: OF Michael Saunders, RHP Clay Buchholz, OF Howie Kendrick, RHP Pat Neshek, RHP Joaquin Benoit Best-casescenario:Finally unburdened from the contract of Howard, the Phillies have completed their demolition and are ready to start building again — and win a few games in the process. Worst-casescenario:With four straight losing seasons and a fi h almost guaranteed, there really aren't any worst- case scenarios for a team simply biding its time and rebuilding its farm system. Hotprospect:OF Mickey Moniak was the No. 1 overall pick in 2016 and is a solid all-around hitter who batted .284 in 46 games of rookie ball last year. 1.ChicagoCubs Lastyear:103-58, first place (beat Cleveland Indians in World Series) Keylosses:LHP Aroldis Chapman, OF Dexter Fowler, OF Jorge Soler, C David Ross, RHP Jason Hammel Keynewcomers:RHP Wade Davis, RHP Koji Uehara, OF Jon Jay Best-casescenario:The best roster in baseball celebrates its first title in 108 years by launching talk of a dynasty in rolling its way to a second straight World Series championship behind a potent lineup and dominant pitching. Worst-casescenario:The stacked roster somehow underperforms and misses the playoffs to begin another 108-year titleless streak. Hotprospect:OF Eloy Jimenez, a top international signing in 2013 out of the Dominican Republic, can hit for power and average and is starting to really develop. 2. St.LouisCardinals Lastyear:86-76, second place Keylosses:LHP Jaime Garcia, OF Matt Holliday, 1B Brandon Moss Keynewcomers:OF Dexter Fowler, LHP Brett Cecil Best-casescenario:Fowler provides a spark, the pitching is healthier and sharper, and the Cardinals, with 12 playoff appearances since 2000, get back to the postseason a er a year out. Worst-casescenario:Pitchers Adam Wainwright, Michael Wacha and Lance Lynn continue to have injury concerns and the depth isn't there to make up for it. With the juggernaut Cubs ahead of them, it's a tough fight for a Wild Card. Hotprospect:RHP Luke Weaver is not the prospect that Alex Reyes (who will miss '17 with Tommy John surgery) is, but he has the potential to be a reliable starter. 3. PittsburghPirates Lastyear:78-83, third place Keylosses:LHP Jeff Locke, RHP Ne ali Feliz, RHP Ryan Vogelsong, 1B Sean Rodriguez Keynewcomers:RHP Daniel Hudson, LHP Tyler Webb Best-casescenario:New right fielder Andrew McCutchen shakes off his lackluster season and ace Gerrit Cole is back healthy to lead a good, young pitching staff that competes for a fourth playoff appearance in five seasons. Worst-casescenario:McCutchen's decline isn't just a one-year thing, and the Bucs move on from him in the last year of his deal and try to reload for another run. Hotprospect:OF Austin Meadows, the No. 6 prospect in MLB per Baseball America, could be ready to take over for McCutchen if his Pirates days are nearing their end. 4. MilwaukeeBrewers Lastyear:73-89, fourth place Keylosses:1B Chris Carter, RHP Tyler Thornburg, RHP Blaine Boyer, C Martin Maldonado Keynewcomers:RHP Ne ali Feliz, 3B Travis Shaw, 1B Eric Thames, C Jett Bandy Best-casescenario:Some of the young talent, such as 2B Jonathan Villar and OF Domingo Santana, continue to grow and, the Brewers can use Ryan Braun to net some pitching to brighten the future. Worst-casescenario:A nondescript pitching staff takes its lumps and it's another year of struggles for a team looking up at some tough competition in its division. Hotprospect:OF Lewis Brinson, acquired from Texas last season for Jonathan Lucroy, hit .382 with 4 HR and 20 RBI at Triple-A a er the trade. 5.CincinnatiReds Lastyear:68-94, fi h place Keylosses:2B Brandon Phillips, RHP Dan Straily Keynewcomers:RHP Scott Feldman, RHP Drew Storen Best-casescenario:They build off their 36-37 post-All-Star break record from a season ago and at least play some competitive ball while they attempt to rebuild. Worst-casescenario:A pitching staff that was horrible last year traded away its best starter (Straily) and continues to surrender HRs a er allowing a record 258 last year, and experiences just its second 100-loss season in franchise history. Hotprospect:3B Nick Senzel, the No. 2 overall pick in '16, could be ready for his big-league debut this season a er a strong stint in A-ball a er being dra ed.