The powerful rotation of the Philadelphia Phillies, the seemingly ubiquitous excellence of the Atlanta Braves, the deeper-than-deep everything of the Washington Nationals, and (shudders) the Mets.
If the Miami Marlins hope to contend in this division, the swim will be mostly upstream. Each of the other four teams are projected to finish the season with a winning record, and many expect as many as three clubs to represent the N.L. East in the postseason. Nobody has the Miami Marlins amongst those expected to contend.
Without a doubt, the strength of the Miami Marlins going into Opening Day is their surprising rotation.