Bold Predictions for the 2015 Season (NL Edition)

The National League is generally regarded as the "easier" of the two leagues, but there are many teams that are primed to make a big splash this upcoming season. Several of these teams may have an impact on the Mets' playoff chances. With that in mind, I am going to list 5 bold predictions for each team in the National League.

NL East

Washington Nationals

(1) Anthony Rendon will end the season as a top five 3B in the MLB

(2) Ian Desmond will be dealt by mid-season.

(3) Jordan Zimmermann and/or Doug Fister will be dealt to an AL club by July.

(4) Bryce Harper will finish the season with at least 25 home runs.

(5) Ryan Zimmerman will play more than 130 games.

Atlanta Braves

(1) Julio Teheran will finish in the top ten for the Cy Young.

(2) Chris Johnson will hit under .260

(3) B.J. Upton will be released by July

(4) Atlanta will go out and acquire a big time 2B

(5) Alex Wood will a sub-3 ERA at season's end

New York Mets

(1) Curtis Granderson will hit at least 30 HR

(2) Daniel Murphy will be traded by July

(3) Michael Cuddyer will play more than 120 games

(4) Zack Wheeler will have a better ERA than Jacob deGrom

(5) Travis d'Arnaud will end up with 20 or more HR

Miami Marlins

(1) Steve Cishek will end up with more than 45 saves

(2) Giancarlo Stanton will hit 48 HR

(3) Henderson Alvarez will finish the season with more than 15 wins

(4) Jarrod Saltalamacchia will hit below .240 and play less than 100 games

(5) Mat Latos will finish the season with an ERA higher than 3.50

Philadelphia Phillies

(1) Dominic Brown will not be on the 25 man roster by June

(2) Ryan Howard will reach a buyout agreement with Philly by August (or traded)

(3) Cole Hamels is dealt within the first two months of the season

(4) Ben Revere will steal more than 60 bases

(5) Jonathan Papelbon will get traded by July 31st (Trade Deadline)

NL Central

St. Louis Cardinals

(1) Jason Heyward will sign a contract extension by mid-season

(2) Yadier Molina will hit north of .325

(3) Matt Adams will slug at least 25 HR

(4) Jaime Garcia won't crack the starting rotation

(5) Michael Wacha will make the All Star team

Pittsburgh Pirates

(1) The Pirates will acquire another catcher by May

(2) Pedro Alvarez will hit at least 20 HR, but with an average lower than .210

(3) Josh Harrison will not regress from his 2014 breakout season

(4) Starling Marte will finish with 20 HR and 55 SB

(5) Francisco Liriano ends up with an ERA north of 4.00

Milwaukee Brewers

(1) Ryan Braun hits at least 35 HR

(2) Jonathan Lucroy finishes in the top 10 for the MVP

(3) Jonathon Broxton gets injured, Milwaukee acquires a closer by mid-season

(4) Gerardo Parra is the first player to be dealt.

(5) Jean Segura's OBP falls below .300, again. 

Cincinnati Reds

(1) Joey Votto has a comeback season, OBP north of .450

(2) Billy Hamilton ends up with over 85 SB, but hits just .240

(3) Jay Bruce hits over 30 HR

(4) Homer Bailey has an ERA over 4.00

(5) The Reds trade Zack Cozart in July (regardless of being in contention or not)

Chicago Cubs

(1) Jorge Soler hits over 25 HR

(2) Javier Baez is demoted to Triple-A by May

(3) Anthony Rizzo hits over 40 HR

(4) Kris Bryant gets called up by late-April

(5) Dexter Fowler hits 10 HR and attains 20 SB, but has a mere .250 average.

NL West

Los Angeles Dodgers

(1) Yasmani Grandal plays more than 110 games

(2) Adrian Gonzalez hits .320/.400/.490 with over 30 HR

(3) Clayton Kershaw flirts with 25 wins

(4) Joc Pederson initially struggles, but finishes with a .275 average with over 15 HR

(5) LAD ends up with the strongest rotation in the MLB

San Francisco Giants

(1) Brandon Crawford wins a Gold Glove

(2) The Giants win less than 85 games

(3) Brandon Belt has a true breakout season, slugs 25 HR with 85-95 RBI

(4) Matt Cain has a comeback season, finishes with an ERA around 3.10

(5) Santiago Casilla attains less than 25 saves on the season.

San Diego Padres

(1) The double-play tandem of Amarista-Gyorko gets ugly

(2) Middlebrooks and Alonso combine to hit less than 20 HR

(3) Derek Norris hits less than .250 but with over 20 HR

(4) Andrew Cashner wins more than 15 games

(5) Matt Kemp plays less than 100 games, hits under .260

Colorado Rockies

(1) Carlos Gonzalez hits over .320, but in a limited span (less than 120 games)

(2) Nolan Arenado wins his 2nd straight Gold Glove

(3) Nick Hundley hits over 15 HR

(4) Jorge De La Rosa finishes with a 2.90 ERA, less than 12 wins

(5) Charlie Blackmon does not hit over 15 HR

Arizona Diamondbacks

(1) A.J. Pollock will hit 15 HR with over 20 SB

(2) Josh Collmenter will be traded by July

(3) Trevor Cahill will be released (or DFA'd) within the first two months

(4) Yasmani Tomas will hit over 25 HR, come close to winning the ROY

(5) Mark Trumbo has slight comeback season, hits over 20 HR