With spring training starting this week, there is optimism abounding in 30 Major League cities. Now, legit or not, every fanbase needs reasons to be excited at the start of the baseball season. Some teams are easier to come up with reasons than others, but we are going to come up with at least one totally sincere reason for each team to be excited heading into the 2026 MLB season. This is … hope springs eternal … National League East edition.
Reasons for Optimism: NL East
Atlanta Braves: Better Health
The Atlanta Braves were not healthy in 2025 when they finished 76-86. Ronald Acuna Jr., Sean Murphy, and Austin Riley all played in 102 games or fewer. When healthy, all of those guys are top-five players at their position. On the mound, out of their top three starters, Chris Sale, Spencer Strider, and Spencer Schwellenbach, none of them made more than 23 starts. Both Acuna and Strider were also recovering from major injuries from the previous year, so their production almost has to improve. The nucleus of the ultra-talented Braves teams that won a World Series and six consecutive NL East crowns is alive and well. Yes, the National League East is very top-heavy, but if Atlanta is even fractionally healthier than last year, Braves fans have a reason for optimism.
Miami Marlins: A Trade is Looming
I know Miami Marlins fans don’t want to hear about another potential star being traded, but that is a reason for them to be excited in 2026. Former Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara, who had a down year in 2025, his first off of Tommy John Surgery, went at least seven innings in 7 of his last 12 starts and showed glimpses of his former Cy Young self. Still on a team-friendly deal, if Sandy has a good first half, he will be the big fish, pun intended, that many contenders would like to catch. And … he would bring back a major haul to an up-and-coming Marlins team to pair with young talents Xavier Edwards, Otto Lopez, and Kyle Stowers. That could significantly expedite the perpetual rebuild in Miami, and that is a reason for optimism for Miami fans.
New York Mets: Major Overhauls
Last year, the payroll-heavy New York Mets collapsed and missed the playoffs after a hot first few months. The brass decided to make some big moves. Pete Alonso, Edwin Diaz, Brandon Nimmo, and Jeff McNeil are gone. Bo Bichette, Freddy Peralta, Luis Robert, Marcus Semien, and Devin Williams are now in the Big Apple. Will this make the Mets a more viable threat in the NL East? Many pundits seem to think so. At the very least, the Mets executives looked at last year’s colossal disappointment and made some significant changes. These major overhauls offer optimism for New York fans.
Philadelphia Phillies: A Fortified Bullpen
Unlike their Northern rival, the Philadelphia Phillies didn’t make any major roster overhauls, even though their team has won consecutive NL East titles. Fans and Philadelphia sports talk pontificators have been bemoaning this all off-season. However, one area where the Fightins are undoubtedly better is their bullpen. They will have a full season of lights-out closer Jhoan Duran, a presumably healthy and drug-free Jose Alvarado, free-agent righty Brad Keller, and underrated lefty Tanner Banks. It is very ironic that if Jose Alvarado hadn’t been suspended last year, the Phils most likely wouldn’t have ever traded for Duran. Now, the two of them create a very formidable back end to supplement a starting rotation that is one of MLB’s best. Philadelphians love to air their grievances, but a fortified bullpen is a reason for optimism for Phils fans.
Washington Nationals: Their Franchise Guy
The Washington Nationals are in a rebuild mode, but they already have a foundational franchise player: James Wood. Part of the Juan Soto deal in 2022, this tall and slender lefty bat had an All-Star season in 2025: 31 homers, 94 ribbies, 38 doubles, and an .825 OPS. Yes, he has to cut down on those league-leading 221 strikeouts, but he is only 23 years old. If CJ Abrams, Dylan Crews, and a manager who has trouble getting into rated-R movies can grow with Wood, the Nationals have a bright future. Most importantly, the Nationals have found their guy to build around, and that is a reason for optimism for Washington fans.
Main Photo Credits: Eric Canha-Imagn Images
