After years of discussions, a new playoff format expected to take place in time for the 2012 postseason. This is great news for both leagues, but none more than in the 2012 MLB National League predictions, where things appear to be more undefined than it has in recent years.

How crazy have things been in the NL this year? Well, just take one look at our current division leaders for your answer: (22-13) Atlanta Braves [NL East], (20-14) St. Louis Cardinals [NL Central], and the (23-11) LA Dodgers [NL West]. Not exactly the teams everyone envisioned would be sitting atop the standings over thirty games into the 2012 season, right?

But the most alarming thing about the trickery in trying to predict MLB games this year is the fact that teams that are supposed to be in playoff contention are nowhere close. In the East, the Philadelphia Phillies were listed by most sportsbooks in the world as the clear betting odds favorites to win the World Series.

Can you guess where the Phils sit in the standings at this time? How about at the cellar of the division! With a whopping, 16-19 record, Philly is one of the worst teams, not only in the division where they’re dead last, but also in all of baseball. I mean, these guys can’t win anywhere!

Going into this new week of baseball, Charlie Manuel’s club is currently: 7-9 at home, 9-10 on the road and have lost 6 of their last 10 games played. The beauty about a baseball season is that there are 162 games in a season. there no way I, even imagine, the 2012 MLB playoffs without the Phillies being an integral part of the main contenders. Get your professional NL predictions right here!

“Just not winning games. That’s frustrating for everybody. That’s really the bottom line. That’s what I’m concerned about,” said Phillies ace (3-3, 3.20 ERA) Roy Halladay regarding the team’s recent struggles. “My job has always been to keep the game close and give us a chance. You don’t have a lot of control over wins and losses.

“Your control is over making pitches. It can be challenging sometimes to keep that in mind and not forget that. But that’s my job, to give us a chance and do it consistently. And that’s what I’m going to try to continue to do. You can’t get caught up in personal wins and losses. As a team, yeah, it’s important to win.”

So, is there hope for Phillies fans? You bet! I fully expect them to bounce back, take the NL East back and contend for another title in the Fall. Right now, the standings in the East go as follows: Braves, (21-13) Washington Nationals, (19-15) NY Mets, (19-16) Miami Marlins and Phillies. Why am I focusing so much on the NL East? Because I believe that is the strongest division this year.

In fact, out of those five teams, I expect to see three in the postseason: Philadelphia, Atlanta and Miami in the postseason, barring any injuries of course. I don’t think the Nationals will be able to keep winning ballgames, and I believe the Mets will come up short.

In conclusion, my 2012 MLB National League predictions for this year’s postseason are: Philadelphia, Atlanta, Miami, Milwaukee and the LA Dodgers. When the dust settles, I still like the Phillies' MLB odds to finish on top and compete in the 2012 Fall Classic.

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