Editor's note: ESPN.com has teamed with ESPN The Magazine and the SweetSpot Blog Network to produce this year's preview capsules. Buster Olney and Tim Kurkjian examined the American League and the National League, respectively. They ordered the teams based on how they think they'll finish, while also breaking down each team's best- and worst-case scenarios.
The SweetSpot bloggers provided the projected lineups, pitching rotations and bullpens, which are mostly approximations based on the latest information. In most cases, they don't include players who will open the season on the disabled list. The lineups reflect the most likely batting order against a right-handed starter and are subject to change.
Detroit Tigers
PROJECTED LINEUP
2011: AL runs (4th) »
PLAYER POS
Austin Jackson CF
Brennan Boesch* RF
Miguel Cabrera 3B
Prince Fielder* 1B
Delmon Young LF
Jhonny Peralta SS
Alex Avila C
Ryan Raburn DH
Brandon Inge 2B
BENCH POS
Andy Dirks* OF
Ramon Santiago# INF
PITCHING
2011: AL ERA (7th) »
ROTATION POS
Justin Verlander SP1
Max Scherzer SP2
Doug Fister SP3
Rick Porcello SP4
Andrew Oliver* SP5
BULLPEN POS
Joaquin Benoit RP
Jose Valverde RP
* -- left-handed
# -- switch-hitter
Information courtesy of Walkoff Woodward
THE PICK
1st Place
Best-case scenario: Justin Verlander is again the best pitcher on the planet, Max Scherzer harnesses his nasty stuff to become a reliable No. 2 starter and big hitters Brennan Boesch, Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder -- who will bat 2-3-4 in the Detroit lineup -- overpower the team's defensive deficiencies.
Worst-case scenario: Cabrera struggles so much at third base that manager Jim Leyland is forced to use him and Fielder in a first-base/DH job share, a role neither finds comfortable. Catcher Alex Avila is unable to repeat his breakout 2011 (.295, 19 HRs), and Detroit misses the playoffs.
Kansas City Royals
PROJECTED LINEUP
2011: AL runs (6th) »
PLAYER POS
Alex Gordon* LF
Lorenzo Cain CF
Eric Hosmer* 1B
Billy Butler DH
Jeff Francoeur RF
Mike Moustakas* 3B
Brayan Pena# C
Chris Getz* 2B
Alcides Escobar SS
BENCH POS
Mitch Maier* OF
Johnny Giavotella 2B
PITCHING
2011: AL ERA (12th) »
ROTATION POS
Luke Hochevar SP1
Jonathan Sanchez* SP2
Bruce Chen* SP3
Luis Mendoza SP4
Danny Duffy* SP5
BULLPEN POS
Greg Holland RP
Aaron Crow RP
Jonathan Broxton CL
* -- left-handed
# -- switch-hitter
Information courtesy of Royals Authority
THE PICK
2nd Place
Best-case scenario: Former Giant Jonathan Sanchez finally fulfills his potential, and young starters Danny Duffy and Mike Montgomery improve so much that Kansas City flirts with a playoff berth for the first time since 1985, when the Royals won the World Series.
Worst-case scenario: Duffy and Montgomery fail to live up to their minor league promise, and the Royals' formidable offense is held back by a mediocre rotation. KC remains mired in the second division, and its attempt to lock up Eric Hosmer with a long-term deal stalls.
Cleveland Indians
PROJECTED LINEUP
2011: AL runs (9th) »
PLAYER POS
Michael Brantley* CF
Asdrubal Cabrera# SS
Shin-Soo Choo* RF
Carlos Santana# C
Travis Hafner* DH
Shelley Duncan LF
Jason Kipnis* 2B
Casey Kotchman* 1B
Jack Hannahan* 3B
BENCH POS
Jason Donald SS
Lou Marson C
PITCHING
2011: AL ERA (10th) »
ROTATION POS
Justin Masterson SP1
Ubaldo Jimenez SP2
Derek Lowe SP3
Josh Tomlin SP4
Jeanmar Gomez SP5
BULLPEN POS
Vinnie Pestano RP
Rafael Perez* RP
Chris Perez CL
* -- left-handed
# -- switch-hitter
Information courtesy of It's Pronounced "Lajaway"
THE PICK
3rd Place
Best-case scenario: Ubaldo Jimenez, who spent the offseason strengthening his core, rediscovers his fastball and his success of 2010 (198, 2.88 ERA). Jimenez, Justin Masterson and a dominant bullpen led by Vinnie Pestano rival Detroit's staff as the best in the division.
Worst-case scenario: Jimenez is again plagued by control problems, and scouts label him -- and Cleveland's trade-deadline deal for him last July -- a bust. By year's end, the Indians' window for future success seems to be closing, and they rebuild all over again.
Minnesota Twins
PROJECTED LINEUP
2011: AL runs (13th) »
PLAYER POS
Denard Span* CF
Jamey Carroll SS
Joe Mauer* C
Justin Morneau* 1B
Josh Willingham RF
Ryan Doumit# DH
Danny Valencia 3B
Alexi Casilla# 2B
Ben Revere* LF
BENCH POS
Chris Parmelee* 1B
Trevor Plouffe SS
PITCHING
2011: AL ERA (13th) »
ROTATION POS
Carl Pavano SP1
Francisco Liriano* SP2
Scott Baker SP3
Nick Blackburn SP4
Jason Marquis SP5
BULLPEN POS
Glen Perkins* RP
Brian Duensing* RP
Matt Capps CL
* -- left-handed
# -- switch-hitter
Information courtesy of Twins Daily
THE PICK
4th Place
Best-case scenario: Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau -- who account for roughly 40 percent of the team's payroll -- recapture their
MVP-caliber form, and the Twins are transformed. The defense, so ineffective in 2011, gets back to the business of making plays.
Worst-case scenario: Morneau suffers from more concussion symptoms, ending his days as a front-line player, and Mauer -- in Year
2 of an eight-year deal -- again is nagged by injuries. The small-market team is faced with two massive albatross contracts and a major rebuild.
Chicago White Sox
PROJECTED LINEUP
2011: AL runs (11th) »
PLAYER POS
Alejandro De Aza* CF
Alexei Ramirez SS
Adam Dunn* DH
Paul Konerko 1B
A.J. Pierzynski* C
Alex Rios RF
Dayan Viciedo LF
Gordon Beckham 2B
Brent Morel 3B
BENCH POS
Kosuke Fukudome* OF
Tyler Flowers C
PITCHING
2011: AL ERA (8th) »
ROTATION POS
John Danks* SP1
Gavin Floyd SP2
Jake Peavy SP3
Philip Humber SP4
Chris Sale* SP5
BULLPEN POS
Addison Reed RP
Will Ohman* RP
Matt Thornton* CL
* -- left-handed
# -- switch-hitter
Information courtesy of SweetSpot
THE PICK
5th Place
Best-case scenario: Youngsters Gordon Beckham and Dayan Viciedo respond well to new manager Robin Ventura, and the skipper's calm demeanor coaxes bounce-back seasons from Adam Dunn and Alex Rios. The Sox surprise and fight for the second wild-card spot.
Worst-case scenario: Dunn turns out to be done, Chris Sale is unable to make a successful conversion from the bullpen to the rotation and Jake Peavy's lingering injuries effectively end his career. Ventura is seen as too aloof, and the Sox finish last for the first time since 1989.