Four bold predictions for the National League's 2nd half

The MLB season has met its halfway point and some things have gone as expected. The Cubs were as good as expected, but now there is cause for panic. It's an even number year, so you can almost guarantee the Giants are going to win the World Series. The Nationals are off to a hot start as well, all because of a bearded man named Bryc... Daniel Murphy. What?? 

Yep, after the Cubs and Giants it's been a pretty weird season so far for the National League. The Nationals are leading the NL East over the Mets (who won the NL last year) and it's not because of last years MVP Bryce Harper. Dan Murphy has led the Nationals with an absurd batting average of .348 and batting in a team-high 66 RBI, picking up for Harper's lackluster first half. 

Manager Dusty Baker looks like the MLB's best hire during the offseason, despite not being the Nationals first choice. He has turned around a Nationals team that had the potential to win multiple division titles, but struggled in their first years together. Also, it doesn't hurt having two of the best pitchers in baseball. 

Staying in the NL East, the Marlins are surging towards a Wild Card spot and could be the team that benefits most from the Mets slump. Despite a terrible first two months from Giancarlo Stanton, the Marlins sit tied with the Mets for the last Wild Card spot. Stanton has began to hit his way out of the slump, and hopefully his monstrous performance in the Home Run Derby will help turn around his season so the Fish can party like its 1997.

In the NL Central, somehow the Cardinals are still good. Despite battling injuries all season, St. Louis is one game out of the Wild Card while closing the gap in the Central to 7 games. 

After a slow start and one of the leagues worst rotations, the Pirates have won 12 of their last 16 games to get back into the thick of the playoff race, and are only 1.5 games out of the Wild Card. 

The Dodgers currently lead the race for the Wild Card, and they might want to get comfortable there because they trail the Giants by 6.5 games with Clayton Kershaw on the DL. Once he returns, the Dodgers might have a chance to catch San Francisco but will need a lot of help from the rest of the rotation. 

Now that we are caught up to speed, let's make some bold predictions. Keep in mind, I don't know if all of these things will happen. But it is too easy to sit here and predict the Cubs will make the playoffs. There's no fun in that, so let's get weird. 

Bartolo Colon will probably be making this face at the end of the season

Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

4. The Mets will make a big trade, and will still miss the playoffs. 

I think very highly of the Mets young pitchers. They all have a bright future in the league, and the Mets will be good for a long time. 

However, this is not the year. Losing Daniel Murphy is hurting more than they expected. Not only because they miss his bat, but he crushing the ball against his former team. He is hitting 15-for-35 (.429) with one double, four homers, 11 RBI, two walks and six runs scored in nine games against the Mets this season. That's pretty good. 

On top of that, the Mets lost Matt Harvey for the rest of the season. Despite his struggles this season, Harvey is still great and his presence makes a difference. 

After making an unexpected World Series run, the Mets will feel added pressure to duplicate last seasons success. It's no secret they need help offensively, as they rank 28th in batting average and runs scored. New York will look to add a bat in their lineup, as they did last season with Yoenis Cespedes last season. This year, it will not matter. 

The team will add a bat, but it will not be enough for the Mets to overcome the Nationals in the division, and the final Wild Card spot will turn into a race between the NL Central and the Marlins. 

Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

3. The Cardinals will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2010

I understand this is not that bold of a prediction considering their position this year. They have to chase down a team that had one of the best starts in MLB history. But usually, the Cards figure out a way. This year they will not. 

I think this season making the postseason will be tough for them because they will face the challenge of holding off three other teams in pursuit of the Wild Card spot, while usually they are top of the division fighting off one or two teams.

 The Cardinals are battling too many injuries, and with Matt Carpenter possibly heading to the DL and their offense already struggling it will be much tougher for the Cardinals this year than in past years. 

That being said, the main reason I think the Cardinals will miss out on the playoffs is because I think it will be a race between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Miami Marlins for the final spot. Both teams have electric offenses, and will be tough to slow down come August. 

Now that I've made that prediction, St. Louis will probably win the World Series. 

2. The Pirates recent youth movement will lead them to a division title 

Tyler Glasnow could help the Pirates down the stretch

Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports

I told you these would be bold. While it seems crazy that a team that was once 34-39 can catch a team that was once 25-6, it is not unrealistic. The Buccos sit 7.5 games behind the Chicago Cubs in the division, with a significantly easier schedule than the Cubs for the rest of the season. After the all-star break, the Pirates open with a three-game series with the Nationals. Once that is finished, they don't play a team with a winning record until they meet the Dodgers on August 11th. And the teams they are playing aren't "average" teams. They are bad teams. Teams like the Padres, Reds, Phillies and the Brewers. 

In the same time period, the Cubs play series' with the Rangers, Mets, Marlins, and Angels. It won't be an easy climb for the Pirates, but the schedule is on their side. 

Something else that is on their side, is the youth movement that is going to help boost their rotation. It's no secret the Pirates rotation is not at its best. They rank 17th in the MLB in ERA, and the starters are struggling to work into the 5th innings as of late. 

But not to fear, help is on the way. When Gerrit Cole returns from his stint on the DL, he will hopefully also return to his previous dominant self. Throw in rookies Jameson Tallion and Tyler Glasnow, and this rotation could be deadly by October. If the Pirates can get consistency from Jeff Locke and they hit the ball at the level they have all season, there is no reason they cannot win the division. 

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

1. Clayton Kershaw will figure out how to pitch in the postseason, and the Dodgers will win the National League

He's the most dominant pitcher in baseball and posting he best K-BB ratio of all-time. Eventually, something has to break. Take a look at Kershaw's postseason stats compared to his regular season stats. 

MLB

National League

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holbrookbt

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