1 prediction for each NL team in 2020

With less than two months before pitchers and catchers report to spring training for the first season of the new decade, theScore's MLB editors make one prediction for each National League team for 2020. Predictions for AL teams were published Thursday

Braves: Soroka finishes top 3 in NL Cy Young

Canadian right-hander Mike Soroka was sensational in his rookie season. At just 21 years old, he made the All-Star team and finished runner-up for Rookie of the Year and sixth in NL Cy Young voting. Soroka does a great job of keeping the ball in the park, as he allowed fewer than one homer per nine innings in 2019. The former first-rounder could be the Atlanta Braves' workhorse this year and will be recognized accordingly.

Brewers: Tie modern record for most starting pitchers used in single season

The Milwaukee Brewers head into the 2020 campaign with Brandon Woodruff as their ace, and, while the right-hander has shown flashes of brilliance, he's yet to throw more than 155 innings in a single season - including during his minor-league career. The rotation also features swingman Adrian Houser, oft-injured Brett Anderson, Eric Lauer, and reigning KBO MVP - and virtual unknown - Josh Lindblom. It might be a long shot for the Brewers to tie the modern-day record set by the 1967 New York Mets with 20 different starters, but teams have come close recently (the Seattle Mariners used 17 in 2017) and Milwaukee seems destined to rely on its depth.

Cardinals: Reyes forms impressive 1-2 punch with Flaherty

The title of staff ace on the St. Louis Cardinals unequivocally belongs to Jack Flaherty. However, if Alex Reyes actualizes his incredible potential, the Cardinals will become a two-ace club. Reyes was constantly hobbled by freak injuries last year - including a fractured finger from punching a wall - and got shelled during his limited innings. However, he was one of the top pitching prospects in all of baseball prior to 2018 and hasn't lost his acute ability to rack up strikeouts. In 67 1/3 innings across the minors and majors since undergoing elbow surgery, Reyes has struck out 96 batters.

Cubs: Bryant wins MVP ... for a different team

The Chicago Cubs seem hell-bent on cutting payroll. In fact, a recent report suggested the club was unwilling to invest enough to sign even Cesar Hernandez, who landed a one-year, $6-million deal with the famously frugal Cleveland Indians. It feels almost inevitable now that the Cubs will jettison Kris Bryant in a blockbuster trade that will come back to haunt them. The return will likely be better than the one the Oakland Athletics received for Josh Donaldson, but expect the end result to be the same: an MVP award for Bryant's mantle.

Diamondbacks: MadBum leads majors in innings pitched

From 2011 to 2016, San Francisco Giants fans knew they'd get an absurd number of innings from Madison Bumgarner each year. Only Clayton Kershaw, James Shields, and David Price logged more frames during that period. However, despite his durability, Bumgarner has never led the majors in innings pitched. Coming off his first season since 2016 with at least 200 innings, Bumgarner is poised to anchor the Arizona Diamondbacks' rotation.

Dodgers: Urias finally lives up to potential

Julio Urias' big-league debut in 2016 was an event fit for Hollywood, but injuries have thus far prevented him from fulfilling his teenage phenom status. That will change in 2020 when Urias finally makes the leap the Los Angeles Dodgers have been waiting for. He threw only 79 2/3 innings last year, but Urias' .267 expected wOBA was among the best in the league - only a point higher than Kenley Jansen's and Stephen Strasburg's. He also posted a sparkling 38.7% ground-ball rate, which would have been the 12th-lowest mark in baseball had he qualified. The Dodgers babied Urias through the minors, and this will be the year it pays off in the form of down-ballot Cy Young votes.

Giants: Samardzija, Cueto pitch well enough to get traded

The Giants' rebuild will receive an unexpected boost when they're able to trade both Jeff Samardzija and Johnny Cueto for future pieces and some salary relief after each puts together a solid start to the 2020 season. Samardzija was quietly very good in 2019, posting a 3.52 ERA and 1.11 WHIP over 181 1/3 innings, and enters the coming campaign on the final year of his contract. Cueto, meanwhile, is fully recovered from Tommy John surgery, and while he's not the star pitcher he once was, he should still be able to help a contender down the stretch. He does, however, have two years and roughly $47 million remaining on his deal, so the Giants won't receive much of a return and will have to eat some of the money owed, but getting rid of a portion of his salary helps the team in the future.

Marlins: Anderson hits 30 homers, makes All-Star team

Miami Marlins third baseman/outfielder Brian Anderson is poised to break out in 2020. The 26-year-old hit 20 homers and posted an .811 OPS last season in 126 games before a broken hand in August ended his sophomore campaign. Miami added veterans Jonathan Villar, Jesus Aguilar, and Corey Dickerson this offseason, so Anderson should have some protection around him.

Mets: Win division thanks to baseball's best pitching staff

The Mets' starting rotation and bullpen have the potential to be special. Jacob deGrom, the reigning two-time NL Cy Young winner, leads a group of starters with a ton of talent. Noah Syndergaard can take the group to another level if he remains healthy and fulfills his enormous potential. Following the starters, New York's relievers will be devastating if Edwin Diaz finds his 2018 form, Jeurys Familia bounces back, and Dellin Betances makes a successful return from an Achilles injury.

Nationals: Fail to make playoffs after winning World Series

The Washington Nationals made a choice to retain Stephen Strasburg over Anthony Rendon, and it will come back to bite the reigning World Series champs. Yes, the club's starting rotation will be excellent. However, the Nationals will struggle to score runs and Juan Soto will have no protection in the lineup without an MVP candidate hitting behind him.

Padres: Close gap in division, settle for wild-card spot

The San Diego Padres were one of four teams that failed to make the playoffs during the 2010s, but they'll start this decade on a positive note. San Diego will almost go from worst to first in 2020, though the team will just miss out on dethroning the Dodgers - who have captured the division crown in seven straight seasons - atop the NL West. Rookie manager Jayce Tingler will get the most out of his young pitching staff and lights-out bullpen, while a bounce-back season from $300-million man Manny Machado and continued growth from Fernando Tatis Jr. will be enough to pace the offense. There's a lot of pressure on the Padres to win after they signed Machado and Eric Hosmer during the last few offseasons, but those expectations will be met in 2020 when the brown and gold make a triumphant return to October.

Phillies: Wheeler leads team's pitchers in WAR

The Philadelphia Phillies' big offseason acquisition will be the club's best hurler this year. Wheeler accrued a combined 8.9 WAR in 2018 and 2019. The Phillies' No. 1 starter, Aaron Nola, was worth 8.8 WAR in that time. Wheeler's arm doesn't have a lot of mileage on it despite him being 29 years old, as he's made just 126 major-league starts since 2013. His average fastball velocity of 96.8 mph was second to only Syndergaard last season.

Pirates: Finish with worst record in NL

For the many rough seasons that the Pittsburgh Pirates have endured, the team has rarely dipped below the 100-loss plateau. However, that run ends in 2020. Pittsburgh has very little remaining on its active roster that can help the team win, and new general manager Ben Cherington - under the same cheap ownership group - seems determined to trade away anyone who might prevent the Pirates from finishing in the basement. The Marlins, Detroit Tigers, and Baltimore Orioles will have some competition for the first overall pick in the 2021 draft.

Reds: Win division for 1st time since 2012

The Cincinnati Reds were better at preventing runs during the first half of last season than any other NL squad was. Run creation, on the other hand, was an issue. The club addressed that this winter with the additions of Mike Moustakas and Shogo Akiyama. A full season of Aristides Aquino will help, as will a bounce-back year from Nick Senzel, though the latter is unlikely to be ready for Opening Day. Cincinnati will also benefit from a full year of Trevor Bauer, and its rotation got deeper with the addition of Wade Miley. There's no runaway winner in the NL Central, so the division is there for the Reds to take control of.

Rockies: Arenado's no-trade clause becomes obstacle, team deals Story instead

The problem with shopping Nolan Arenado - who agreed to an eight-year, $260-million contract extension with the Colorado Rockies last winter - is that the superstar third baseman has complete control of his own destiny thanks to a full no-trade clause. Arenado also has the ability to opt out following the 2021 season, which makes trading the seven-time Gold Glove winner a very difficult task. Colorado seems committed to selling assets, though, and could pivot to Trevor Story. The 27-year-old shortstop is a two-time All-Star and Silver Slugger and has two years of arbitration remaining before he's eligible for free agency. With the Rockies likely not wanting to invest in another extension similar to Arenado's, Story could find himself on the trade block.