Ok Phillies’ fans, brace yourself.

For what it’s worth, I am predicting the Mets to win the National League East (Fellow staffers Rich Strack and Sam Matta are with me ... see below).

Yes, the Mets are predicted to win anywhere from 89 to 92 games by most media outlets with the Phillies and Braves in the same range.

Plenty of media outlets see the NL East as being one of the tightest races in years.

Let’s take a look at it, as well as some other races and transactions as baseball’s 150th season will begin with the Yankees-Giants in San Francisco Wednesday night, and the Phillies hosting the Rangers Thursday as part of its earliest opening day.

The Tiger Fills The Tank ... One of the main reasons I see the Mets winning the division will be their acquisition of Tigers’ ace and presumed 2027 free agent Tarik Skubal.

Since mid-winter, there has been plenty of chatter about it, and a reliable Mets source is convinced they will pull the trigger.

Skubal will make $32 million this season, and is seeking in the neighborhood of $400 million in a multi-year pact. The Mets have the pieces highlighted by pitching prospect Jonah Tong and infielder Mark Vientos.

The Votes Are In ... In a recent Times News Sports Facebook poll, the question was posed on what factor will decide what team wins the National League East. Was it the Phillies bullpen, the Phillies starters, the Mets starters, the Mets Bo Bichette, the Braves resurgence, or another factor?

Well, 50 percent believed the Phillies bullpen will be the difference with the Mets starters taking 20 percent. The Phillies starters, Bo Bichette, and the other categories all garnered 10 percent.

A New Bo For A Date ... The main reasons I see the Mets winning the NL East is a slight edge over the Phillies starters (depending on Zack Wheeler’s status) and Bichette.

The Mets are banking on Bichette returning to his 2021 and 2022 form when he arguably had the best years of his seven-year career. In 2021, Bichette led the league in hits with 191 and added 29 homers, 102 RBIs, and a .298 average. The following season, Bichette also was the hits leader with 189, hitting 24 homers with 93 ribbies.

Injuries slowed him in 2024, but he bounced back with an 18-homer, 94-RBI, .311 season last year.

Paying him $43 million was a stretch and Bichette can opt out after this season. But hopefully Phils’ president Dave Dombrowski won’t regret taking the extra step to get Bichette, and Alec Bohm can have a banner season in his walk year.

Take Some Off The Top ... The Mets will open the season with a five-man staff led by Freddy Peralta followed by David Peterson, Nolan McLean, Clay Holmes, and Kodai Senga. Peralta and Senga were impressive in the spring, and McLean looked good in the WBC. Peralta and McLean are the keys to their overall success, and they have the potential to be one the game’s most dynamic duos.

Sean Manaea will pitch from out of the bullpen for added depth, while Tong will start the season in Triple-A.

Paint The Picture ... There’s plenty of excitement around the Phillies staff, with top prospect Andrew Painter heading north. Painter was impressive in Florida with a 2.31 ERA over 11.2 innings in four starts with eight strikeouts and a 0.77 WHIP. However, you can’t always rely on spring stats. Painter likely will get his first start at home against Washington on March 31.

Cristopher Sanchez will be the opening-day starter and should have a solid season. The keys will be Aaron Nola’s presumed bounce-back season, and whether Jesus Luzardo can keep his pace.

Taijuan Walker is an insurance policy.

No Bull Here ... If the Phillies are to win the division, their difference could come from their bullpen.

Brad Keller was a quiet offseason signing, but could be a real game changer. Keller is coming off his best bullpen season, going 4-2 with a 2.07 ERA over 69 innings in 68 games. He also has the ability to start, logging 114 starts over six seasons with the Royals.

Besides Keller, the pen is solid with closer Jhoan Duran, along with Jose Alvarado back joined by Tanner Banks, Jonathan Bowlan, Zach Pop, Kyle Backhus and Tim Mayza. Orion Kerkering will open on the disabled list.

Don’t Sleep On Them ... If they can stay healthy, the Braves will be in the hunt. Ronald Acuna Jr. looked good in the World Baseball Classic, and Austin Riley, Matt Olson and Michael Harris II will need to also bounce back.

Like the Mets and Phillies, pitching is their calling card. Chris Sale is 37, and Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep won’t be back until June or July.

However, the Braves always manage to plug in some young prospects to stay in the hunt.

Yankeeland ... The biggest surprise in Tampa was Jasson Dominguez’s demotion after he hit .333 with three homers and 13 RBIs in favor of veteran Randal Grichuk.

Overall, the Yanks have looked good, and Giancarlo Stanton is healthy and swinging well. When they are fully healthy with Garrit Cole, Carlos Rodon and Clarke Schmidt back in the fold, the Yanks will be a force.

By the way, NetFlix is televising Wednesday night’s opener.

Don’t Bank On It ... Members of our illustrious sports staff took their shots on what teams will be in the postseason. There certainly are some interesting and diverse choices. Here you go:

Sports editor Patrick Matsinko: Phillies, Reds, Padres joined by wildcards Braves, Cubs, and Dodgers. Orioles, Tigers, and Mariners tied with the Yankees, Rays, and Rangers. The Mariners beat the Phillies in six games to win it all.

Assistant sports editor Rod Heckman: Phillies, Cubs, Dodgers, with wildcard teams Mets, Braves and Brewers. Blue Jays, Tigers and Mariners win the divisions and Yankees, Red Sox and Royals have the wildcards. Dodgers will make it a three-peat.

Sports writer Rich Strack: Mets, Cubs, and Dodgers will be at the top, and Red Sox, Tigers and Mariners are the AL division winners. Wildcards are Phillies, Pirates, Padres, Yankees, Blue Jays, and Astros. Mets beat Red Sox in the Fall Classic.

Sports writer Sam Matta: Mets, Cubs, Dodgers, and Orioles, Tigers and Mariners will top the charts. Phillies, Diamondbacks, Braves, Yankees, Astros and Blue Jays will also be in the mix. Tigers beat the Mets for the title.

Sports writer Brock Heckman: Phillies, Cubs and Dodgers along with the Red Sox, Royals and Mariners take the top positions, and the Mets, Reds, Padres, Yankees, Blue Jays and Astros are the wildcards. Dodgers down the Mariners in the series.

Sports writer TJ Engle: Phillies, Cubs, Dodgers, along with wild card winners Braves, Brewers and Padres in the NL. AL Division winners are the Red Sox, Tigers and Mariners, along with wild card winners Yankees, Guardians and Astros. The Dodgers win another Series in five games against the Mariners.

Mine: Mets, Pirates, Dodgers, Yankees, Royals, and Mariners will take the top prizes with the Phillies, Braves, Padres, Orioles, Red Sox and Astros with the wildcards. Yankees edge Dodgers in a classic seven-game series.

Scrapbook: In each column, I will peel back the pages from our annals to review the career of a former standout.

Tom Figas was a former Weatherly star in the mid-80s, and also made his mark on the basketball floor for the Wreckers.

Figas led then head coach Dave Jemo’s Wreckers with a .353 batting average and an on-base percentage of .500. On the mound, Figas finished his high school career with a 2.83 ERA, and once struck out 20 in a 3-2 win over Marian in his junior year.

He went on to a successful career at East Stroudsburg University, where he helped the Warriors win the Eastern Division of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) and gain a berth for the first time ever in the NCAA Division 2 playoffs.

A member of the Weatherly Athletic Hall of Fame, Figas pitched three no-hitters and led Weatherly to two Valley Babe Ruth League championships and a remarkable 23-game home winning streak. His career Babe Ruth ERA was an eye-popping 1.89.

He was invited to a Pittsburgh Pirates tryout in 1984, although the Pirates did not draft him.

Weird Fact of the Week ... Who was the “Gravedigger?” Former Phillies first baseman Richie Hebner dug graves for his father’s business in the offseason for his entire 18-year career.

In his two Phillies’ season, Hebner hit. 284 overall with 35 homers and 133 RBIs.

Dugout Digest ... In each column, I will look back at the career of a former player, manager or situation from the diamond.

In 2001, Omar Daal was the Phillies’ opening day starter in Miami in a game the Phillies won, 6-5, in 13 innings. Daal went 5.1 innings, giving up four earned runs, striking out six and walking three. Amaury Telemaco picked up the win in relief. That year, Daal went 13-7 with a 4.46 ERA over 32 starts.

Daal came to the Phillies in July 2000 along with Nelson Figueroa, Vincente Padilla and Travis Lee for Curt Schilling. In his two years with the Phils, Daal went 15-16 with a 4.52 ERA in 44 games.

Daal filed for free agency in October 2002, and signed with Baltimore in January 2003.

What are your MLB picks? Let me know.

Send your comments and thoughts to tnsports@tnonline.com, and they will be published.