Welcome to The Opener, where every weekday morning you’ll get a fresh, topical column to start your day from one of SI.com’s MLB writers.
The National League East entered this season as a balanced division that could be won by any of four teams—the three-time defending division champion Braves, the offseason champion Mets, the 2019 World Series champion Nationals or the Bryce Harper-led Phillies. Even the Marlins had reasons for optimism after finishing in second place and winning a wild-card series in 2020.
Fast forward to August, and looking at the NL East standings is like seeing a funhouse mirror version of the preseason projections.