NL East Power Rankings before the Mets take on the Braves

We are almost three weeks into the MLB Season and it is safe to say that the New York Mets are not where they want to be right now as they sit at 3-6 nine games in. The Mets knew it was not going to be an easy season by any means as key injuries and just how dominant the NL East is, there were going to be challenges for sure.

The next big challenge for New York will be taking on Atlanta Braves at Truist Park who had their number in 2023 as the Braves went 10-3 in matchups. But before these two rivals meet in this four-game series set, where do the Braves, the Mets and the other four teams in the NL East stand in the division power rankings?

1. Atlanta Braves

The Braves quite simply look unstoppable right now. Whenever you feel like they will lose and get blown out, they respond. From being down by 6-0 to the Arizona Diamondbacks this past Saturday and coming from behind to win, the Braves look like the clear favorites to win the division for a seventh straight season. While their starting pitching is certainly a concern with ace Spencer Strider on the injured list followed by fellow ace Max Fried having a rough first two starts of the season. When you have Ronald Acuna Jr and Matt Olson in your lineup, the Braves should never be counted out.

2. Philadelphia Phillies

It won't be a surprise if the Phillies compete with the Braves for the NL East crown. Despite only sitting at 4-4 to begin the season, the Phillies have a lot of talent on their roster with Zack Wheeler having two solid starts to his season and the offense which is led by Bryce Harper who is already off to a fast start to his year hitting three home runs. The Braves will be a challenge for the Mets in 2024, but the Phillies could also give them a hard time.

3. New York Mets

It has been a shaky start to the season for the Mets under first-year manager Carlos Mendoza, but nobody should hit the panic button yet as the Mets get ready to play the Braves beginning on Monday. Despite sitting at 3-6, their starting pitching which we thought would be the team's weakness has one of the best ERA's in the national league and the bullpen has been good too as Edwin Diaz's return is certainly a boost. Plus, after a slow offensive start at home for the Mets, they seem to have found their groove this past weekend against the Cincinnati Reds.

4. Washington Nationals

Expectations weren't really high this season for the Washington Nationals as they closed out this past weekend dropping two out of three to the Phillies to sit at 3-6 nine games in. This team does have some highly touted players from CJ Abrams, Joey Meneses and pitchers Josiah Gray and MacKenzie Gore. Still after their first nine games, it does not seem like the Nationals will make much noise in the division this season. They quite simply don't have the same talent and depth as their fellow NL East rivals.

5. Miami Marlins

Hooray, the Miami Marlins after ten games finally won a game! Despite their offense finally coming alive today in their series finale against the St. Louis Cardinals, this team still has a lot of issues. Aside from their 10-run outburst against the Cardinals on Sunday, the Marlins offense has been awful to start the season and their pitching which has been decimated by injuries always seems to implode at the wrong time. From a team that was a playoff team a year ago, the Marlins will be hanging out in the basement of the division in 2024.