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National League East

Division of Major League Baseball


Division of Major League Baseball

FieldValue
titleNational League East
leagueNational League
sportMajor League Baseball
founded
teams5
championPhiladelphia Phillies
(2025; 13th title)
most_champsAtlanta Braves (18)

(2025; 13th title) | mark-coord1 = | label-pos1 = top | label-color1 = black | mark-coord2 = | label-pos2 = top | label-color2 = black | mark-coord3 = | label-pos3 = top | label-color3 = black | mark-coord4 = | label-pos4 = top | label-color4 = black | mark-coord5 = | label-pos5 = top | label-color5 = black The National League East is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions. Along with the American League Central, it is one of two divisions to have every current member team win at least one World Series title; it is also the only division whose current members have all won the championship while playing there.

After having internal, informal divisions for scheduling purposes during the pre-expansion era, the division was formally created when the National League (NL) (along with the American League) added two expansion teams and divided into two divisions, East and West, effective for the 1969 season. The National League's geographical alignment was rather peculiar as its geographic partitioning was less east–west than north–south. Two teams in the Eastern Time Zone, the Atlanta Braves and the Cincinnati Reds, were in the same division as teams on the Pacific coast. This was due to the demands of the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals, who refused to support expansion unless they were promised they would be kept together in the newly created East Division.

During the two-division era, from 1969 to 1993, the Philadelphia Phillies and the Pittsburgh Pirates together owned more than half of the division titles, having won a combined 15 of 25 championships during that span. They were also the only teams in the division to have won consecutive titles during that span.

When the National League realigned into three divisions in 1994, the Pittsburgh Pirates were originally supposed to stay in the East while the Braves were to be moved to the newly created National League Central. However, the Braves, wanting to form a natural rivalry with the expansion Florida Marlins, elected to be placed in the East. Despite the Marlins offering to go to the Central, the Pirates instead gave up their spot in the East to the Braves. Since then, the Pirates have tried several times unsuccessfully to be placed back in the East.

Division membership

Current members

  • Atlanta Braves – Joined in ; formerly of the NL West
  • Miami Marlins – Joined in as an expansion team (originally as the Florida Marlins)
  • New York Mets – Founding member
  • Philadelphia Phillies – Founding member
  • Washington Nationals – Founding member (originally as the Montreal Expos in 1969)

Former members

  • Chicago Cubs – Founding member, moved to the NL Central in 1994.
  • Pittsburgh Pirates – Founding member, moved to the NL Central in 1994.
  • St. Louis Cardinals – Founding member, moved to the NL Central in 1994.

Membership timeline

Place cursor over year for division champ or World Series team.

NL East DivisionYears6970717273747576777879808182838485868788899091929394959697NL East DivisionYears9899000102030405060708091011121314151617181920212223242526
Chicago Cubs
Montreal Expos
New York Mets
Philadelphia Phillies
Pittsburgh Pirates
St. Louis Cardinals
Florida Marlins
Atlanta Braves
Montreal ExposWashington Nationals
New York Mets
Philadelphia Phillies
Florida MarlinsMiami Marlins
Atlanta Braves
Team not in division Division Won World Series Division Won NL Championship

: The creation of the division with the expansion of the league – with the Expos added. : Florida Marlins added in the 1993 expansion : The Atlanta Braves moved in from the NL West, and the Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates, and St. Louis Cardinals moved into newly created National League Central : The Montreal Expos relocated to Washington, D.C., becoming the Washington Nationals : The Florida Marlins relocated from Miami Gardens, Florida to Miami and changed their name to the Miami Marlins

Champions by year

  • Team names link to the season in which each team played
YearWinnerRecord%Playoff Results
1969New York Mets1}}"New York Mets (1)100–62.617Won NLCS (Braves) 3–0
Won World Series (Orioles) 4–1
1970Pittsburgh Pirates1}}" Pittsburgh Pirates (1)89–73.549Lost NLCS (Reds) 3–0
1971Pittsburgh Pirates1}}" Pittsburgh Pirates (2)97–65.599Won NLCS (Giants) 3–1
Won World Series (Orioles) 4–3
1972Pittsburgh Pirates1}}" Pittsburgh Pirates (3)96–59.619Lost NLCS (Reds) 3–2
1973New York Mets1}}"New York Mets (2)82–79.509Won NLCS (Reds) 3–2
Lost World Series (Athletics) 4–3
1974Pittsburgh Pirates1}}" Pittsburgh Pirates (4)88–74.543Lost NLCS (Dodgers) 3–1
1975Pittsburgh Pirates1}}" Pittsburgh Pirates (5)92–69.571Lost NLCS (Reds) 3–0
1976Philadelphia Phillies 1975thru19911}}"Philadelphia Phillies (1)101–61.623Lost NLCS (Reds) 3–0
1977Philadelphia Phillies 1975thru19911}}"Philadelphia Phillies (2)101–61.623Lost NLCS (Dodgers) 3–1
1978Philadelphia Phillies 1975thru19911}}"Philadelphia Phillies (3)90–72.556Lost NLCS (Dodgers) 3–1
1979Pittsburgh Pirates1}}" Pittsburgh Pirates (6)98–64.605Won NLCS (Reds) 3–0
Won World Series (Orioles) 4–3
1980Philadelphia Phillies 1975thru19911}}"Philadelphia Phillies (4)91–71.562Won NLCS (Astros) 3–2
Won World Series (Royals) 4–2
1981Montreal Expos1}}"Montreal Expos (1)†60–48.556Won NLDS (Phillies) 3–2
Lost NLCS (Dodgers) 3–2
1982St. Louis Cardinals1}}"St. Louis Cardinals (1)92–70.570Won NLCS (Braves) 3–0
Won World Series (Brewers) 4–3
1983Philadelphia Phillies 1975thru19911}}"Philadelphia Phillies (5)90–72.556Won NLCS (Dodgers) 3–1
Lost World Series (Orioles) 4–1
1984Chicago Cubs1}}" Chicago Cubs (1)96–65.596Lost NLCS (Padres) 3–2
1985St. Louis Cardinals1}}"St. Louis Cardinals (2)101–61.623Won NLCS (Dodgers) 4–2
Lost World Series (Royals) 4–3
1986New York Mets1}}"New York Mets (3)108–54.667Won NLCS (Astros) 4–2
Won World Series (Red Sox) 4–3
1987St. Louis Cardinals1}}"St. Louis Cardinals (3)95–67.586Won NLCS (Giants) 4–3
Lost World Series (Twins) 4–3
1988New York Mets1}}"New York Mets (4)100–60.625Lost NLCS (Dodgers) 4–3
1989Chicago Cubs1}}" Chicago Cubs (2)93–69.574Lost NLCS (Giants) 4–1
1990Pittsburgh Pirates1}}" Pittsburgh Pirates (7)95–67.586Lost NLCS (Reds) 4–2
1991Pittsburgh Pirates1}}" Pittsburgh Pirates (8)98–64.605Lost NLCS (Braves) 4–3
1992Pittsburgh Pirates1}}" Pittsburgh Pirates (9)96–66.593Lost NLCS (Braves) 4–3
1993Philadelphia Phillies1}}"Philadelphia Phillies (6)97–65.599Won NLCS (Braves) 4–2
Lost World Series (Blue Jays) 4–2
§No playoffs due to 1994–95 Major League Baseball strike
1995Atlanta Braves1}}"Atlanta Braves (1)90–54.625Won NLDS (Rockies) 3–1
Won NLCS (Reds) 4–0
Won World Series (Indians) 4–2
1996Atlanta Braves1}}"Atlanta Braves (2)96–66.593Won NLDS (Dodgers) 3–0
Won NLCS (Cardinals) 4–3
Lost World Series (Yankees) 4–2
1997Atlanta Braves1}}"Atlanta Braves (3)101–61.623Won NLDS (Astros) 3–0
Lost NLCS (Marlins) 4–2
1998Atlanta Braves1}}"Atlanta Braves (4)106–56.654Won NLDS (Cubs) 3–0
Lost NLCS (Padres) 4–2
1999Atlanta Braves1}}"Atlanta Braves (5)103–59.636Won NLDS (Astros) 3–1
Won NLCS (Mets) 4–2
Lost World Series (Yankees) 4–0
2000Atlanta Braves1}}"Atlanta Braves (6)95–67.586Lost NLDS (Cardinals) 3–0
2001Atlanta Braves1}}"Atlanta Braves (7)88–74.543Won NLDS (Astros) 3–0
Lost NLCS (Diamondbacks) 4–1
2002Atlanta Braves1}}"Atlanta Braves (8)101–59.631Lost NLDS (Giants) 3–2
2003Atlanta Braves1}}"Atlanta Braves (9)101–61.623Lost NLDS (Cubs) 3–2
2004Atlanta Braves1}}"Atlanta Braves (10)96–66.593Lost NLDS (Astros) 3–2
2005Atlanta Braves1}}"Atlanta Braves (11)90–72.556Lost NLDS (Astros) 3–1
2006New York Mets1}}"New York Mets (5)97–65.599Won NLDS (Dodgers) 3–0
Lost NLCS (Cardinals) 4–3
2007Philadelphia Phillies1}}"Philadelphia Phillies (7)89–73.549Lost NLDS (Rockies) 3–0
2008Philadelphia Phillies1}}"Philadelphia Phillies (8)92–70.568Won NLDS (Brewers) 3–1
Won NLCS (Dodgers) 4–1
Won World Series (Rays) 4–1
2009Philadelphia Phillies1}}"Philadelphia Phillies (9)93–69.574Won NLDS (Rockies) 3–1
Won NLCS (Dodgers) 4–1
Lost World Series (Yankees) 4–2
2010Philadelphia Phillies1}}"Philadelphia Phillies (10)97–65.599Won NLDS (Reds) 3–0
Lost NLCS (Giants) 4–2
2011Philadelphia Phillies1}}"Philadelphia Phillies (11)102–60.630Lost NLDS (Cardinals) 3–2
2012Washington Nationals1}}"Washington Nationals (2)98–64.605Lost NLDS (Cardinals) 3–2
2013Atlanta Braves1}}"Atlanta Braves (12)96–66.593Lost NLDS (Dodgers) 3–1
2014Washington Nationals1}}"Washington Nationals (3)96–66.593Lost NLDS (Giants) 3–1
2015New York Mets1}}"New York Mets (6)90–72.556Won NLDS (Dodgers) 3–2
Won NLCS (Cubs) 4–0
Lost World Series (Royals) 4–1
2016Washington Nationals1}}"Washington Nationals (4)95–67.586Lost NLDS (Dodgers) 3–2
2017Washington Nationals1}}"Washington Nationals (5)97–65.599Lost NLDS (Cubs) 3–2
2018Atlanta Braves1}}"Atlanta Braves (13)90–72.556Lost NLDS (Dodgers) 3–1
2019Atlanta Braves1}}"Atlanta Braves (14)97–65.599Lost NLDS (Cardinals) 3–2
2020††Atlanta Braves1}}"Atlanta Braves (15)35–25.583Won NLWC (Reds) 2–0
Won NLDS (Marlins) 3–0
Lost NLCS (Dodgers) 4–3
2021Atlanta Braves1}}"Atlanta Braves (16)88–73.547Won NLDS (Brewers) 3–1
Won NLCS (Dodgers) 4–2
Won World Series (Astros) 4–2
2022Atlanta Braves1}}"Atlanta Braves (17)†††101–61.623Lost NLDS (Phillies) 3–1
2023Atlanta Braves1}}"Atlanta Braves (18)104–58.642Lost NLDS (Phillies) 3–1
2024Philadelphia Phillies1}}"Philadelphia Phillies (12)95–67Lost NLDS (Mets) 3–1
2025Philadelphia Phillies1}}"Philadelphia Phillies (13)96–66Lost NLDS (Dodgers) 3–1

† – Due to the 1981 Major League Baseball strike, the season was split. Montreal won the second half and defeated first-half champion Philadelphia (59–48) in the postseason.

§ – Due to the 1994–95 Major League Baseball strike starting August 12, no official winner was awarded. Montreal was leading at the strike.

†† – Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the season was shortened to 60 games. By virtue of the eight-team postseason format used for that season, division runner-up Miami (30–29, .508) also qualified for the playoffs.

††† – The Braves and Mets finished tied for first place with identical records. The Braves were declared division winners, due to having won the season series against the Mets, and the Mets received the wild card berth.

Other postseason teams

YearWinnerRecord%GBPlayoff Results
1997Florida Marlins1}}"Florida Marlins92–70.5689Won NLDS (Giants) 3–0
Won NLCS (Braves) 4–2
Won World Series (Indians) 4–3
1999New York Mets1}}"New York Mets*97–66.5956.5Won NLDS (Diamondbacks) 3–1
Lost NLCS (Braves) 4–2
2000New York Mets1}}"New York Mets94–68.5801Won NLDS (Giants) 3–1
Won NLCS (Cardinals) 4–1
Lost World Series (Yankees) 4–1
2003Florida Marlins1}}"Florida Marlins91–71.56210Won NLDS (Giants) 3–1
Won NLCS (Cubs) 4–3
Won World Series (Yankees) 4–2
2010Atlanta Braves1}}"Atlanta Braves91–71.5626Lost NLDS (Giants) 3–1
2012Atlanta Braves1}}"[Atlanta Braves](2012-atlanta-braves-season)**94–68.5804Lost NLWC (Cardinals)
2016New York Mets1}}"[New York Mets](2016-new-york-mets-season)**87–75.5378Lost NLWC (Giants)
2019Washington Nationals1}}"[Washington Nationals](2019-washington-nationals-season)**93–69.5744Won NLWC (Brewers)
Won NLDS (Dodgers) 3–2
Won NLCS (Cardinals) 4–0
Won World Series (Astros) 4–3
2020Miami Marlins1}}"[Miami Marlins](2020-miami-marlins-season)**31–29.5174Won NLWC (Cubs) 2–0
Lost NLDS (Braves) 3–0
2022New York Mets1}}"[New York Mets†††](2022-new-york-mets-season)**101–61.6230Lost NLWC (Padres) 2–1
Philadelphia Phillies1}}"[Philadelphia Phillies](2022-philadelphia-phillies-season)**87–75.53714Won NLWC (Cardinals) 2–0
Won NLDS (Braves) 3–1
Won NLCS (Padres) 4–1
Lost World Series (Astros) 4–2
2023Philadelphia Phillies1}}"[Philadelphia Phillies](2023-philadelphia-phillies-season)**90–72.55614Won NLWC (Marlins) 2–0
Won NLDS (Braves) 3–1
Lost NLCS (Diamondbacks) 4–3
Miami Marlins1}}"[Miami Marlins](2023-miami-marlins-season)**84–78.51920Lost NLWC (Phillies) 2–0
2024Atlanta Braves1}}"[Atlanta Braves††††](2024-atlanta-braves-season)**89–73.5496Lost NLWC (Padres) 2–0
New York Mets1}}"[New York Mets††††](2024-new-york-mets-season)**89–73.5496Won NLWC (Brewers) 2–1
Won NLDS (Phillies) 3–1
Lost NLCS (Dodgers) 4–2
  • – Defeated the Cincinnati Reds in a one-game playoff for the Wild Card, 5–0.

** – From 2012 to 2019, and in 2021, the Wild Card was expanded to two teams. Those teams faced each other in the Wild Card Game to determine the final participant in the National League Division Series. In 2020 only, eight teams, including the three division winners, played in a best-of-three Wild Card Series, with the winners advancing to the Division Series. Starting in 2022, the Wild Card field was increased to three teams, and along with the lowest-ranked division winner, qualified for the best-of-three Wild Card Series to determine the remaining two slots in the Division Series.

††† – In 2022, the Braves and Mets finished tied for first place with identical 101–61 records. The Braves were declared division winners, due to having won the season series against the Mets, and the Mets received the wild card berth.

†††† – In 2024, the Braves and Mets finished tied for the second wild card berth with identical 89–73 records. The Braves won the second wild card berth, due to having won the season series against the Mets, and the Mets received the third wild card berth.

Season results

(#)Denotes team that qualified for the MLB postseason
Seasoncolspan="7"Team (record)1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th
N.Y. Mets (100–62)
Pittsburgh (89–73)
Pittsburgh (97–65)
Pittsburgh (96–59)
N.Y. Mets (82–79)
Pittsburgh (88–74)
Pittsburgh (92–69)
Philadelphia (101–61)
Philadelphia (101–61)
Philadelphia (90–72)
Pittsburgh (98–64)
Philadelphia (91–71)
St. Louis (59–43)
St. Louis (92–70)
Philadelphia (90–72)
Chicago Cubs (96–65)
St. Louis (101–61)
N.Y. Mets (108–54)
St. Louis (95–67)
N.Y. Mets (100–60)
Chicago Cubs (93–69)
Pittsburgh (95–67)
Pittsburgh (98–64)
Pittsburgh (96–66)
Philadelphia (97–65)
Montreal (74–40)
(1) Atlanta (90–54)
(1) Atlanta (96–66)
(1) Atlanta (101–61)
(1) Atlanta (106–56)
(1) Atlanta (103–59)
(3) Atlanta (95–67)
(3) Atlanta (88–74)
(1) Atlanta (101–59)
(1) Atlanta (101–61)
(2) Atlanta (96–66)
(2) Atlanta (90–72)
(1) N.Y. Mets (97–65)
(2) Philadelphia (89–73)
(2) Philadelphia (92–70)
(2) Philadelphia (93–69)
(1) Philadelphia (97–65)
(1) Philadelphia (102–60)
(1) Washington (98–64)
(2) Atlanta (96–66)
(1) Washington (96–66)
(3) N.Y. Mets (90–72)
(2) Washington (95–67)
(2) Washington (97–65)
(3) Atlanta (90–72)
(2) Atlanta (97–65)
(2) Atlanta (35–25)
(3) Atlanta (88–73)
(2) Atlanta (101–61)
(1) Atlanta (104–58)
(2) Philadelphia (95–67)
(2) Philadelphia (96–66)

;Notes and Tiebreakers

  • New York and Cincinnati of the National League Central were tied for the wild-card berth and played in a tie-breaker game. The Mets won 5–0 to claim the wild-card spot.
  • Atlanta and St. Louis of the National League Central were tied for the second and third seed, but the Braves were relegated to the third seed by losing the season series 4–3.
  • New York and San Francisco of the National League West were tied for both wild-card berths, but the Mets claimed the first wild-card spot by winning the season series 4–3.
  • Atlanta and New York were tied for the division title, but the Braves claimed the National League East title by winning the season series 10–9.
  • Miami and Arizona of the National League West were tied for the fifth seed and the second wild-card berth, but the Marlins claimed the second wild-card spot by winning the season series 4–2.
  • Atlanta, New York and Arizona of the National League West were tied for the fifth seed and the second wild card berth, but the Braves claimed the second wild card spot by winning the season series 7–6 over the Mets, and the Mets claimed the third wild card spot by winning the season series 4–3 over the Diamondbacks. The Diamondbacks also lost to the Braves 5–2 in their season series.
  • New York and Cincinnati of the National League Central were tied for the sixth seed and the third wild card berth, but the Reds claimed the third wild card spot by winning the season series 4–2

NL East statistics

TeamDivision championshipsPostseason recordsNumberYear(s)Most recentWild CardNLWCNLDSNLCSWorld SeriesCurrent Teams in DivisionFormer Teams in DivisionTotal551969–1993, 1995–present20241565222023231211
Atlanta Braves181995–2005, 2013, 2018–2021, 2022*, 2023202331–28–114–42–2
Philadelphia Phillies131976–1978, 1980, 1983, 1993, 2007–2011, 2024, 2025202522–05–46–52–4
New York Mets61969, 1973, 1986, 1988, 2006, 2015201551–25–05–42–3
Washington Nationals / Montreal Expos51981, 2012, 2014, 2016–2017201711–02–41–11–0
Miami Marlins041–12–12–02–0
Pittsburgh Pirates91970–1972, 1974–1975, 1979, 1990–199219920–02–72–0
St. Louis Cardinals31982, 1985, 198719870–03–01–2
Chicago Cubs21984, 198919890–00–20–0
  • – Won division via tiebreaker

indicates no longer in division since 1994 :Totals updated through conclusion of the 2024 postseason.

Rivalries

  • Braves–Mets rivalry
  • Mets–Phillies rivalry
  • Nationals–Phillies rivalry

Notes

References

References

  1. (March 18, 1953). "Boston Braves go to Milwaukee". Pittsburgh Press.
  2. Collier, Gene. (September 27, 1993). "Pirates, Phillies Have Owned the Outgoing NL East Division". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  3. Collier, Gene. (July 4, 2005). "Pirates—Phillies: A Rivalry Lost and Missed". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  4. Von Benko, George. (July 7, 2005). "Notes: Phils–Pirates rivalry fading". Major League Baseball.
  5. (September 28, 1992). "Pirates perform rare three-peat feat 4-2". USA Today.
  6. (September 16, 1993). "BASEBALL; Pirates Relent on New Alignment". The New York Times.
  7. (June 16, 2011). "Starkey: Pirates in American League' Yes!". TribLIVE.com.
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