Trent Reinsmith
Of the three 2021 National League Divisional champs, the Atlanta Braves had the worst record and lowest winning percentage. The Braves finished at the top of the NL East with a 88-73 record and a .547 winning percentage. Despite having the fifth-best winning percentage in the National League, Atlanta won the NL pennant and the 2021 World Series.
The finishing order of the NL East in 2021 was Atlanta (88-73), Philadelphia Phillies (82-80), New York Mets (77-85), Miami Marlins (67-95) and Washington Nationals (65-97).
The Braves are almost a lock to finish the 2022 MLB season with a better record than they had in 2021. However, the New York Mets (79-45) have already surpassed their win total from last season and sport the best record in the NL East and the second best win-loss total in the majors, where they only trail the Los Angeles Dodgers (84-37).
Before we look at how the National League East will play out in 2022, check out our guide on World Series Betting, as well as the best sites for betting on MLB in 2022.
2022 National League East picks
| To Win 2022 National League East |  |  |  |  |
| New York Mets | -800 | -550 | -751 | -549 |
| Atlanta Braves | +450 | +400 | +430 | +360 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | +15000 | +25000 | +10000 | +20000 |
New York Mets
The New York Mets opening day payroll in 2022 was close to $100 million higher than the team’s opening day expenditures in 2021. With the bump in salaries, the Mets started 2022 second to the Los Angeles Dodgers in spending. The team added big contracts for Max Scherzer, Starling Marte, Mark Canha and Eduardo Escobar to hit that number. The spending has paid enormous dividends for the club.
New York is 84-37 as of this writing, which gives the team a three-game lead over the second place Atlanta Braves. The lead was once more than double that number of games. By no means are the Mets are 100 percent lock to win the NL East. However, the team is playing well. They have not lost more than two games in a row since they dropped three straight in late June. That stretch happens to be the team’s only three-game losing skid of the entire season.
In short, the Mets consistency should allow them to stay in the NL East lead until the end of the season.
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves have been chipping away at the NL East lead of the New York Mets. In early June, the Braves were eight games behind the Mets. Today, with a 76-48 record, Atlanta is a mere three games back.
The Mets and Braves faced off in a five-game series in early August. New York handled Atlanta in that series, going 4-1 and outscoring their divisional foes 31-22. Since that series, the Braves have put together a 12-2 run. With upcoming games with the Pirates, Rockies, Marlins and Athletics on the schedule, Atlanta could make up some additional ground on the first-place Mets.
Philadelphia Phillies
The fact that most oddsmakers are only listing the Mets, Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL East, tells you everything you need to know about the Miami Marlins and Washington Nationals — those teams don’t have a chance to catch New York.
Technically, the 67-55 Phillies are still in the running for the NL East title, but the Philadelphia club, who is 4-6 in its past 10 outings, is going to need a lot to go right if it hopes to win the NL East in 2022.
Our pick
If the New York Mets can stay healthy and keep avoiding losing skids, the team should be able to stay at the top of the NL East standings for the rest of the 2022 MLB Season.
Pick: New York Mets to win 2022 National League East.
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