Whether the NL East is baseball's best division is debatable, but it is almost certainly the most watchable. The East overflows with stars, from Max Scherzer to his ex-teammate Bryce Harper to the reigning Cy Young Award winner, Jacob deGrom, and each of the four contending clubs possesses distinct strengths and looks, like the rival news teams in "Anchorman."
The Phillies have the most robust lineup, with sluggers Rhys Hoskins and Harper batting behind Andrew McCutchen and Jean Segura. The Nationals should be masters of run prevention, behind a significantly upgraded defense and an already strong rotation that has been augmented through the addition of Patrick Corbin. The Mets' poster guys are deGrom and Noah Syndergaard, their generation's version of Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling, backed by the best closer in baseball, Edwin Diaz.
Ronald Acuna Jr. and Freddie Freeman are the headliners for the team that won the division last year, the Braves. But what might turn out to be difference-making for them, in the end, is more subtle than a Harper hack, Syndergaard's hair or Scherzer's slider. Atlanta has an enormous wave of young pitchers on the rise, and the Braves' ability to defend its NL East title might well come down to what this group of arms contributes this year.
To the displeasure of a lot of Braves fans, the Atlanta front office has not responded, star-for-star, to the many moves made by the East's other contenders. The Braves signed former MVP Josh Donaldson to a one-year deal early in the winter, and re-signed right fielder Nick Markakis. Since then, the Mets have spent future resources for win-now players like Diaz and Robinson Cano; the Phillies have committed about $400 million to Harper and others; the Nationals spent the most money for the most coveted starting pitcher, Corbin, while improving their defense and roster depth.
The Braves could still add, theoretically, by targeting one of the prominent free-agent pitchers waiting to be signed -- Dallas Keuchel, Gio Gonzalez or former Atlanta closer Craig Kimbrel. But Atlanta seems more likely to wait for its young pitchers to evolve and ascend -- and no team has so many talented options who are all in their early to mid-20s.
• Kyle Wright, 23, who has "probably been the best pitcher in Florida this spring," in the eyes of one evaluator. After some mediocre results in a handful of outings for the Braves at the end of last season, Wright worked in the winter with fellow Vanderbilt product Walker Buehler and has shown dominant stuff in his exhibition appearances, with one walk and 11 strikeouts in eight innings. After throwing 138 innings in 2018, the former No. 1 pick might throw 160-180 inning range this year.
• Bryse Wilson, 21. Wilson, a fourth-round pick in 2016, also debuted in the big leagues for the Braves last season.
• Touki Toussaint, 22. He's got tremendous stuff, with command that needs to be improved. He walked 21 in his first 29 innings in the majors last summer.
• Max Fried, 25. The lefty sometimes struggles to maintain a consistent delivery and command.
• Kolby Allard, 21. He was the team's first-round pick in 2015, and while he reached the big leagues in 2018, he was hit around. He'll have an opportunity this year to learn from that experience.
• Ian Anderson, 20. His last four starts in 2018 were in Double-A, and it's possible he'll get his first taste of the big leagues this summer, just as Wright and Wilson did last season.
This is the group right behind the Braves' rotation of established holdovers -- Mike Foltynewicz, Kevin Gausman, Julio Teheran and Sean Newcomb. (By the way: Foltynewicz has been slowed by elbow soreness this spring, but he has been making progress in his side sessions, and Teheran's fastball velocity is much improved this spring after a winter of work.)
Barring a significant series of injuries, the sheer volume of options should enable the Braves to keep all of their starters well-rested, and provide more competitive flexibility to allow minor, nagging ailments more time for recovery. Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos worked in the Dodgers' front office before moving to Atlanta, and he seems to have carried over some of the L.A. philosophy on rest and recovery. Last year, 13 pitchers made starts for the Braves; 10 pitchers had three or more starts. Foltynewicz threw 183 innings, leading a staff that won the NL East handily.
That the Braves have amassed all of this talent is not enough. At least some of them will have to improve in order to lend help, and at least some of them will probably struggle for one reason or another. The White Sox know firsthand about the speed bumps that can suddenly appear in front of elite talents like Michael Kopech and Carlos Rodon.
But if Wright and one or two of the group of young pitchers become viable in the big leagues, Atlanta could have a marked advantage in its depth, more context for its market passivity.