5 NL Teams Who Would Benefit the Most From the DH

The National League might finally bet getting over their weird obsession with watching pitchers bat .100 and strike out all the time instead of an actual competent hitter, as reports from Jim Bowden state that the NL might be moving towards implementing the DH rule. This could be a massive boost for these five NL clubs, who currently have some excellent hitters stuck on their bench.

5. New York Mets

After the return of Yoenis Cespedes and Brandon Nimmo from injury, that duo is expected to combine with Michael Conforto to make up the Mets' starting outfield. That leaves the likes of JD Davis, Jake Marisnick, and even Dominic Smith without an avenue for regular at bats. The likes of Davis and Smith can hide their subpar defense in a DH role, which would help give the Mets one of the more well-rounded lineups in the NL.

4. Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs have been trying to fit the square peg that is Kyle Schwarber into the round hole that is left field. Adding the DH could solve two of the Cubs' biggest issues with the lineup, as it could get Schwarber out of the field and keep Willson Contreras' bat in the lineup when they want to get Victor Caratini some run behind the plate. The Cubs should be banging on Rob Manfred's office door trying to get the DH in the NL.

3. Washington Nationals

The Nationals currently have a major infield logjam. Eric Thames recently signed a deal to come over from Milwaukee, and Starlin Castro also joined the fold. Those two will join an infield that brought Ryan Zimmermann and Asdrubal Cabrera back and is still looking for a role for top prospect Carter Kieboom. Introducing the DH would give Washington the ability to rotate in any number of players to get them at-bats as opposed to forcing them to sit on the bench.

2. Cincinnati Reds

The Reds added Nick Castellanos on a $64 million deal, but their outfield was already crowded before the former Cubs and Tigers outfielder showed up. Shogo Akiyama will earn some time in the starting lineup, while Jesse Winker, Nick Senzel, and powerful masher Aristides Aquino all proved that they are capable of holding down a starting spot. David Bell will have to get creative to squeeze them all in, but the DH would certainly help in that department.

1. Los Angeles Dodgers

Kiké Hernandez, Chris Taylor, and Alex Verdugo are above-average fielders and quality hitters who are deprived of starts in the outfield thanks to the presence of Joc Pederson. Pederson might have 36 home run power, but his performance in the field is too poor to keep sticking him out there. Pederson moving to DH and one of those three moving into a full-time spot in the outfield could be what propels the Dodgers to a World Series once again.