1 prediction for each NL team in 2023

Prognosticating what will happen during an MLB season that's always filled with twists and turns is a tough assignment. However, the following predictions for each National League club have a good chance of coming to fruition this year.

Check out our AL predictions 👈

Diamondbacks: Carroll goes 20-20, wins Gold Glove

The D-Backs entered the offseason with ample outfield depth and traded away Daulton Varsho for a top prospect in Gabriel Moreno. It's quite a coup for a rebuilding team, and yet, the loss of Varsho - arguably the best defensive center fielder - might not even be felt. Corbin Carroll is an elite defender in his own right, recording five outs above average in limited playing time with only 48 attempts. By contrast, Varsho posted 18 in 295 attempts. If Carroll was given that many attempts and maintained his pacing, he would've recorded a staggering 30 outs above average. And that's not even saying anything about his bat and incredible sprint speed, which make him a borderline five-tool threat. There are some issues he needs to work on as a pretty raw talent - particularly with swing and miss - but he can hit, run, and field.

Braves: Fried gets new contract

Every other team's New Year's resolution should've been to extend homegrown talent as well as Alex Anthopoulos and the Braves. It remains a bit of a mystery why Atlanta hasn't shelled out for Max Fried, who is inching closer to free agency. Heading into his age-29 campaign, this is also his second-last year of arbitration eligibility, so time is running out. Over the past four seasons, only Max Scherzer, Shane Bieber, and Gerrit Cole have thrown more innings and posted a lower ERA than the left-hander. It makes too much sense for the Braves to finally get a deal done for their ace.

Cubs: Bellinger wins Comeback Player of the Year

There's never really been a case like Cody Bellinger's, going from MVP to borderline unplayable. And while he may never hit 47 homers again, there's ample reason to believe he can bounce back. First, regardless of how poorly he's hitting, he's a very good defensive center fielder. Second, the Cubs present a great opportunity as a team that will give Bellinger a ton of plate appearances while also being somewhat competitive or perhaps even better. And third, the new shift restrictions will benefit left-handed hitters, as stationing three infielders between second and first base is now impossible. Shifts have always hurt lefties more, and if Bellinger can make a concerted effort to tweak his game just a bit - strike out less, shorten his swing, and put more balls in play - his elite speed will make him an impact player.

Reds: Lodolo blooms into ace

Nick Lodolo was the first pitcher off the board in the 2019 MLB Draft, going seventh overall in what was widely considered a weak year for arms. However, the lefty proved last year that, while the class can be underwhelming, it certainly doesn't mean everyone is a bust. Over 103 1/3 innings last year in his first taste of the majors, Lodolo struck out 131 hitters and surrendered 13 homers while playing his home games in the smallest ballpark in the majors. Among pitchers with at least 100 innings, he ranked 14th by strikeout rate and a very respectable 18th by strikeout-minus-walk rate. If he can improve his command slightly, he's a frontline starter worth building around for Cincinnati.

Rockies: Bryant finishes top 20 in NL WAR

Be honest. You forgot Kris Bryant played for the Rockies, didn't you? Well, he does, and while the first season of his seven-year, $182-million contract was derailed by injuries, you also may have missed how promising he looked in his limited playing time. Over 42 games, the four-time All-Star went 49-for-160, hitting five homers and working 17 walks while only striking out 27 times. If he's actually going to make more contact and can stay healthy, he may really ruin that Bellinger Comeback Player of the Year prediction above.

Dodgers: Betts becomes 1st since Frank Robinson with MVPs in both leagues

It's amazing that over all these years, no one has won an MVP in both leagues since Robinson with his NL honor in 1961 and AL nod in 1966. It's time to change that, as Mookie Betts will now be relied upon as the biggest star in the Dodgers' lineup. Betts was always a star - it's why he secured a 12-year, $365-million extension upon getting acquired by L.A. - but he had a robust complementary cast with Trea Turner, Justin Turner, and Bellinger, among others. Now, while Freddie Freeman is still around and certainly great, the spotlight is mostly on Betts to rise to the occasion. If the Dodgers are able to reset the luxury tax and remain elite, it'll be thanks to Betts, and he should be rewarded for that effort when awards season rolls around.

Marlins: Chisholm goes 30-30

In his limited time in the majors, Jazz Chisholm Jr. has already proven that he's a special talent and the type of player MLB needs - hilariously fast, flashy, and with some decent pop. Last year, before his injury, all the tools seemed to come together in a way fans hadn't yet seen on the field, as the 24-year-old hit 14 homers and swiped 12 bases in merely 60 games. Prorated over a full season's workload, that's 38 dingers and 32 steals. If he keeps progressing, he might even be threatening for 40-40 seasons in the near future.

Brewers: Undergo midseason fire sale

It might hurt to hear but, frankly, this team isn't good enough to threaten for a championship anymore. David Stearns has already begun his exit process and the teardown started last year with the Josh Hader deal that really hurt their postseason chances. The NL Central isn't especially competitive, so maybe the Brewers can stay in the conversation for a playoff spot. However, if they falter, bank on the trade rumors for Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff (both of whom can test free agency after the 2024 season) to begin surfacing fast and furious along with perhaps Freddy Peralta or even Willy Adames.

Mets: Verlander, Scherzer combine for 35 wins

The Mets reunited Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer, and now Queens is in store for an epic game of Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better. It's possible both ace right-handers go on to win 20 each, but let's not get too crazy. Verlander will be 40 in a few weeks and Scherzer will be 39 before the season ends. Neither guy is the workhorse he once was; the last time either surpassed the 180-inning threshold was 2019. However, while they may miss some time, they make up for it in still being unbelievably great every single time they take the bump. It's going to be a competition all year between these two, and the real winners every time Verlander and Scherzer go out there will be the Mets.

Phillies: Turner steals 50 bases

This might seem like madness but, really, it's a confluence of many things that will make Trea Turner set a career high in stolen bases and the first to steal 50 since 2017. First - the most important factor - is Turner's speed. Some might point out his advancing age and that his stolen base totals have waned in recent years. However, he's still 99th percentile in sprint speed, according to Savant, and it's not like 30 is over the hill. Furthermore, he'll likely want to justify his 11-year, $300-million contract early on - this Phillies offense is pretty special but lacks almost any speed - so Turner might try to show off his most unique weapon with his new club. And, finally, the new rules! MLB is going to make it easier for guys like Turner to wreak havoc on the basepath by limiting pickoff attempts, adding a pitch clock, and making the bases bigger. Expect Turner to take advantage of that and 50 might even be low.

Pirates: Cruz leads all shortstops in HRs

Considering the fact that Oneil Cruz, as a rookie, was one of only seven shortstops with at least 100 plate appearances to post a .450 SLG or greater, this really isn't that outlandish. He managed to hit 17 in 87 games last year, and if we prorate that pace over the same amount of games as Corey Seager - last year's league leader among shortstops - Cruz would've hit 30 and come merely three short. He's a fascinating player any way you slice it. He strikes out way too much and walks too infrequently, but the fans pay to see dingers, and Cruz is going to hit a lot of them.

Padres: Snell finishes as NL Cy Young finalist

It's safe to say that, over his first two seasons with the Padres, Blake Snell has been a bit of a disappointment. He's shown flashes of brilliance, but he certainly hasn't been the pitcher that won the 2018 AL Cy Young Award ... until the midway point of last year when everything aligned and he turned a corner. Down the stretch, only Zac Gallen was worth more WAR than Snell, according to FanGraphs. The lefty's 33.8% strikeout rate and 27.3% strikeout-minus-walk rate both ranked second after the All-Star break. He also sat fifth with a 2.19 ERA and third with a 2.23 FIP. Sometimes it takes players time to adjust in their new environment, and Snell seems to have found his groove. If he carries it over into the upcoming campaign, being a Cy Young finalist might just be the beginning.

Giants: Manaea bounces back with sub-4.00 ERA, FIP

The Giants have a habit of signing pitchers to prove-it deals with opt-outs in order to have them flourish and then bounce to a different team on a multi-year deal. It happened with Kevin Gausman. It happened with Carlos Rodon. And, while Sean Manaea doesn't have the ceiling of those two, it could also happen for him. The lefty is coming off his worst season by far, authoring a 4.96 ERA and 4.53 FIP thanks in part to a bloated 1.53 HR/9. Oracle Park might be able to help with the homers, but it's not a lock since last year was spent in the pitcher-friendly Petco Park. Although he's not going to suddenly start striking guys out with impunity, a hopeful yet modest projection of 160 innings with a 3.90 ERA and 3.90 FIP - not unlike his final and arguably best season with the Oakland Athletics - seems doable.

Cardinals: Lead all teams in wRC+

The Cardinals might suddenly boast the deepest lineup in baseball. From top to bottom it has MVP contenders and tough outs, and it's as good as any other in the league. The Dodgers lost key bats this winter and still have Betts and Freeman to rely on, but do they have the depth? The Phillies are definitely an interesting candidate, but they finished with a lower wRC+ than the Cardinals last year and St. Louis added Willson Contreras. The Mets, Yankees, Blue Jays, and Astros will also provide stiff competition. But Arenado, Paul Goldschmidt, and Contreras are a top three that can go against any team, while Lars Nootbaar, Brendan Donovan, Tyler O'Neill, Tommy Edman, and Dylan Carlson can continue to progress into key middle-of-the-order bats.

Nationals: Gore leads staff in strikeouts

MacKenzie Gore's first full season - and first action at all with his new team - will certainly be met with fanfare after he was arguably the top player coming over in the Juan Soto trade. Whether he's fully healthy and stays that way for the entire campaign is impossible to say, but it also might not be necessary in order for the young lefty to lead the staff in strikeouts. Patrick Corbin and Josiah Gray are his biggest competition, and while they'll likely throw more innings than Gore, the sophomore's ability to generate whiffs is unmatched. Through his first 10 games with the Padres, the southpaw notched 60 Ks in 50 1/3 innings. Perhaps 170 strikeouts in 130 frames is a lofty though realistic projection?