Nevada sports book predicts the 2015 New York Mets will win 81 games

On Friday, the Atlantis sports book in Reno, Nevada, issued their 2015 MLB projections.

The New York Mets are projected to win 81 games this upcoming season. That would give them their first .500 record since the 2008 season. In 2014, the Mets just missed posting a .500 mark by 2 victories.

Sep 25, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos (40) scores as New York Mets starting pitcher Zack Wheeler (45) covers the plate after a passed ball in game two of a baseball doubleheader at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: H.Darr Beiser-USA TODAY Sports

Two of their division rivals will serve as MLB bookends. The Washington Nationals are predicted to win the most games in baseball with 93 victories. In Philadelphia, where GM Ruben Amaro Jr. is beset with numerous immovable contracts, the Phillies are projected to record an MLB worst 67 victories.

The Miami Marlins are projected to be a 1/2 game better than the Mets, while the Atlanta Braves are expected to take a considerable step backwards as they retool their roster.

N.L. East Projection

Nationals 93
Marlins 81.5
Mets 81
Braves 73.5
Phillies 67

The Los Angeles Dodgers are the only other MLB team predicted to top 90 victories this upcoming season.

Last season, three N.L. teams achieved 90 victories: Nationals, Dodgers, and St. Louis Cardinals.

In the American League, the Anaheim Angels are expected to lead the circuit with only 87.5 victories, while the Minnesota Twins are projected to finish last with 68.5 victories.

Three American League teams achieved 90 victories in 2014: Angels, Baltimore Orioles, and Detroit Tigers.

The Angels led all of baseball last season with 98 victories.

Thoughts:

The 81 victories projected for the Mets fall short of Sandy Alderson’s belief in an 89 win season. The Mets finished 2014 tied for 2nd place with a 79-83 record, 17 games behind the Nationals, whom posted a 96-66 mark.

The San Francisco Giants and Pittsburgh Pirates each qualified for the Wild Card last season with 88 victories respectively.

On the local front, the New York Yankees are being projected to win one less game than the Mets.