NL East Weekly Preview : June 14 - June 20

Following weekend series of interleague play, that scheduling continues for the week ahead in the NL East. Here is a look at the current standings:

Team W - L - GB
Atlanta Braves - 37-27 - 0
New York Mets-35-28 - 1.5
Phil. Phillies -32-29 - 3.5
Florida Marlins -31-32 - 5.5
Wash. Nats -31-33 - 6.0

Atlanta Braves
The Braves are coming off an 11 game road trip where they went 6-5. Most recently, the beat the Twins, at Target field 2 out of 3. The Braves now head home to take on the 1st place Tampa Bay Rays (40-23) for 3 games and then take on the Royals (27-37) for 3 games.

New York Mets
The Mets are playing great baseball right now, and carried their good play at Citi Field on the road with them to Baltimore. They swept the O's this weekend and have won 4 in a row and 8 of their last 9. The Mets head to Cleveland next (25-37) for a 3 game set with the Indians. The Mets then head back to New York to play the Yankees (40-23) in the 2nd Subway Series of the year; This time for 3 games at Yankee Stadium.

Philadelphia Phillies
The Philles just don't seem right, right now. They have lost 4 of their last 6 and just lost 2 of 3 in a weekend series in Fenway vs. the Red Sox. The Phillies head to Yankees stadium tomorrow night to start a 3 game series with the Yankees. They'll then head home to start a 3 game set witht he Minnesota Twins (36-27).

Florida Marlins
The Marlins are still lurking in the NL East race (5.5 games out). They just took 2 of 3 in a weekend series in Tampa Bay against the Rays. They now head home for 3 vs. the Texas Rangers (35-28) and then welcome in the Rays for a 3 game weekend set.

Washington Nationals
The Nationals are on the road and just lost 2 of 3 to the Indians over the weekend. They next head to Motown for a 3 game set with the Detroit Tigers (33-29). Following their series in Detroit the Nats head home for a 3 game series with the Chicago White Sox (28-34).

Mets Outlook: The Mets look to stabalize their play on the road following their sweep of the Orioles. The mid-week series with the Indians should allow the Mets to gain more momentum before heading to Yankee Stadium this weekend. With the Braves and Phillies have tough series with the Rays and Yankees respectively, the Mets will have a chance to do some more damage in the standings (possibly even move into 1st?). But it all starts with their pitching: The Mets head into the series with the Indians sending Johan Santana, Jon Neise, and R.A. Dickey to the mound.

Hopefully next week's preview has the Mets at the top of the division....one can only hope! LETS GO METS!!!!