A realistic dream scenario for every National League team

With roughly 40 percent of the Major League Baseball regular season completed, teams know where they stand. (Sorry, Pittsburgh Pirates and Colorado Rockies.) But let's provide even the dregs with hope.

Ahead of the dog days of the season, Yardbarker MLB writers offer a realistic dream scenario for every team in the National League. (Records and statistics are through Wednesday's play.)

NL East

ATLANTA BRAVES (29-38) | OF Ronald Acuna leads a surge | The return of the 2023 NL MVP from injury was already a dream come true. If Acuna (.353 BA) can somehow will the Braves to the playoffs as a wild card, that would be ideal.

MIAMI MARLINS (25-41) | Who's a keeper and who's not? | The expectations are low in Miami, so simply identifying what pieces it can build around would be a dream scenario. Selling at the deadline and adding more young talent would be their best bet at fielding a solid team sooner than later.

NEW YORK METS (44-24) | Keep rolling, Juan Soto | Atop the NL East, the Amazins are on a roll, and that has been without OF Soto at his best for most of the season. Once he truly gets going offensively — Soto has four homers and eight RBI in June — New York is sure to achieve its goal of making an even deeper playoff run than last October.

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (39-29) | Rock the trade deadline | It's clear the Phillies must pursue bullpen help (and perhaps a bat) by the July 31 trade deadline. For the team to keep its championship aspirations alive with this core, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski must have a near-perfect deadline.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS (30-37) | Finish third | It's clear the Nationals could be a force in the next few years with all of the impressive young players on their roster. Continuing to let them develop and finishing third in the NL East would be an incredible accomplishment and a sign of good things to come. — Lauren Amour

NL West

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (34-34) | Excel at leapfrog | The fourth-place Diamondbacks have underwhelmed. If Arizona doesn’t become a seller and somehow leapfrogs its division rivals to earn a wild-card spot, it would put a bow on a frustrating, injury-filled campaign.

COLORADO ROCKIES (12-55) | Avoid setting loss record | Even in a dream scenario, the Rockies seem destined to lose 100 games for the third consecutive season. However, if Colorado can avoid MLB’s modern record for losses in a season (121 by the 2024 White Sox) and get big contributions from rookies such as starting pitcher Chase Dollander and closer Zach Agnos, among others, it would form a foundation to build upon for 2026.

LOS ANGELES DODGERS (41-28) | World Series or bust | Nothing but another World Series title is going to make this feel like a successful season for the Dodgers. If Los Angeles overcomes its pitching injuries and makes the right decisions at the trade deadline, another Fall Classic win seems possible.

SAN DIEGO PADRES (38-29) | Win the West, stick it to Dodgers | Roughly 130 miles separate Petco Park from Dodger Stadium, adding another level of intensity to arguably the best rivalry in MLB. If San Diego wins the National League West and knocks the Dodgers out of the postseason as well, it would be the dreamiest of all scenarios in the 619. 

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (40-28) | Postseason appearance | The Giants have already exceeded expectations, so keeping the momentum going and getting into the postseason would be amazing. San Francisco had a 34.1 percent chance (per FanGraphs) to make the playoffs when the season began, so getting a postseason spot over one of its division rivals would be celebrated by Giants fans. — Kevin Henry

NL Central

CHICAGO CUBS (41-27)  | Keep the 'mo going | The Cubs haven’t won the division in a full season since 2017, and their last 90-win season came in 2018. Now leading the NL Central and on track for 97 wins, the Cubs' best scenario is to maintain their momentum. 

CINCINNATI REDS (35-34) | Keep rotation intact | Cincinnati is developing multiple young, high-caliber starting pitchers — highlighted by Hunter Greene (4-3, 2.72 ERA) and Andrew Abbott (6-1, 1.87 ERA) — who are crucial to keep in Cincinnati. With their last full-season postseason appearance coming in 2013, the Reds should be locking down their starting rotation.

MILWAUKEE BREWERS (36-33) | Add a big hitter | Their pitching staff is performing up to expectations, but the Brewers still lack the offensive firepower to compete with the Cubs for the division. Milwaukee’s 31-7 record when scoring four or more runs in a game this season emphasizes the importance of adding a bat to the lineup.

PITTSBURGH PIRATES (28-41) | Lots and lots of bats | Aiming to rebuild (again), Pittsburgh must focus on adding bats to support its up-and-coming starting rotation, especially while Paul Skenes is still with the team. Skenes has a 1.88 ERA — the second best in the NL — but is only 4-6 because of a lack of offense.

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS (36-32) | Strike a delicate balance | St. Louis was expected to offload key players by July to focus on a rebuild, but it is 2.5 games out of a playoff spot. The Cardinals will need to balance being competitive while finding trade partners for players at the July 31 trade deadline. — Taylor Bretl