Oct 01, 2012; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals players Gio Gonzalez (center) and Bryce Harper (left) celebrate after clinching the National League east title at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

The National League East should be a very interesting division to watch in 2014. The Nationals took the title during their magical 2012 season, but the Braves came right back and ran away with it in 2013. Both teams are expected to battle it out till the very end in 2014, and both may very well end up playing in October.

Although Atlanta and Washington are the clear favorites, the division also has some intriguing teams in the Mets, Marlins and Phillies. While it’s unlikely that any of them will contend in 2014, they all had busy offseasons and for the most part, will have improved teams in 2014. Will they challenge the Braves and the Nationals? Probably not. But it’s baseball, and crazier things have happened.

The race for the division title starts right off the bat for the Nationals, as their first 15 games of the regular season will be against their division foes, with six of them being against Atlanta. It should be a hard fought battle throughout the season, and fortunately, that battle starts in just 36 days.

Here are some National League East links from around FanSided:

• Tomahawk Take: Jason Heyward 2014 Projection

• Tomahawk Take: Why These Contract Extensions Matter

• Marlin Maniac: Marlins Announce Upcoming Start For Jose Fernandez, Others

• Marlin Maniac: Hey Marlins! Go Trade for Nick Franklin Right Now

• Rising Apple: Even For The Mets, Hope Springs Eternal

• Rising Apple: Matt Harvey Tosses Twenty Times From Sixty Feet

• That Ball’s Outta Here: Philadelphia Phillies Prospect Countdown #8: Ethan Martin

• That Ball’s Outta Here: Spencer Bingol’s 2014 Philadelphia Phillies Roster Projections: Relief Pitchers

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