MLB teams
Tim Kurkjian, ESPN Senior Writer 12y

Previewing the NL Central

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.

St. Louis Cardinals

PROJECTED LINEUP

PLAYER POS

Rafael Furcal# SS

Carlos Beltran# RF

Matt Holliday LF

Lance Berkman# 1B

David Freese 3B

Yadier Molina C

Jon Jay CF

Tyler Greene 2B

BENCH POS

Allen Craig OF

Daniel Descalso IF

PITCHING

2011: Stats » NL ERA (8th) »

ROTATION POS

Adam Wainwright SP1

Jaime Garcia* SP2

Kyle Lohse SP3

Jake Westbrook SP4

Lance Lynn SP5

BULLPEN POS

Marc Rzepczynski* RP

Kyle McClellan RP

Jason Motte CL

* -- left-handed

# -- switch-hitter

New players in italics

Information courtesy of Fungoes

THE PICK

1st Place

Best-case scenario: Adam Wainwright comes back from elbow surgery to win 15 games, Carlos Beltran and David Freese compensate for the huge loss of Albert Pujols by hitting 50 homers between them and the reigning champs do what they didn't do last season -- win the division.

Worst-case scenario: The roster is loaded with players who have injury histories, and Beltran, Freese, Matt Holliday and Rafael Furcal all spend time on the DL. That's too much lost production, especially without the big man in the middle for the first time in 11 seasons.

Cincinnati Reds

PROJECTED LINEUP

PLAYER POS

Brandon Phillips 2B

Zack Cozart SS

Joey Votto* 1B

Scott Rolen 3B

Jay Bruce* RF

Ryan Ludwick LF

Drew Stubbs CF

Devin Mesoraco C

BENCH POS

Chris Heisey OF

Ryan Hanigan C

PITCHING

ROTATION POS

Johnny Cueto SP1

Mat Latos SP2

Mike Leake SP3

Homer Bailey SP4

Bronson Arroyo SP5

BULLPEN POS

Aroldis Chapman* RP

Jose Arredondo RP

Sean Marshall* CL

* -- left-handed

# -- switch-hitter

New players in italics

Information courtesy of Redleg Nation

THE PICK

2nd Place

Best-case scenario: Mat Latos, the new ace of the pitching staff, shines. Joey Votto wins his second NL MVP award, Brandon Phillips signs a long-term deal and the Reds slug their way to their second NL Central title in three seasons.

Worst-case scenario: After pitching in spacious Petco Park, ex-Padre Latos struggles in a cozier stadium. Aroldis Chapman's arm can't hold up, Votto doesn't get enough pitches to hit, the Reds don't score much, the team finishes third and Phillips walks away as a free agent.

Milwaukee Brewers

PROJECTED LINEUP

PLAYER POS

Rickie Weeks 2B

Nyjer Morgan* CF

Ryan Braun LF

Aramis Ramirez 3B

Corey Hart RF

Mat Gamel* 1B

Alex Gonzalez SS

Jonathan Lucroy C

BENCH POS

Norichika Aoki* OF

Carlos Gomez CF

PITCHING

ROTATION POS

Yovani Gallardo SP1

Zack Greinke SP2

Shaun Marcum SP3

Randy Wolf* SP4

Chris Narveson* SP5

BULLPEN POS

Francisco Rodriguez RP

Jose Veras RP

John Axford CL

* -- left-handed

# -- switch-hitter

New players in italics

Information courtesy of Disciples of Uecker

THE PICK

3rd Place

Best-case scenario: Ryan Braun produces another MVP-caliber season, Zack Greinke wins 20 games and signs a long-term contract, Rickie Weeks hits 35 homers and the Brew Crew shock all of baseball by repeating as NL Central champions. Prince who?

Worst-case scenario: Without Fielder hitting behind him, Braun's intentional walks soar from two to 32, Aramis Ramirez is exposed for what he is -- a complement, not a cornerstone -- and the enigma that is Greinke can't handle the pressure of performing during a contract year.

Pittsburgh Pirates

PROJECTED LINEUP

PLAYER POS

Alex Presley* LF

Jose Tabata RF

Andrew McCutchen CF

Neil Walker# 2B

Garrett Jones* 1B

Pedro Alvarez* 3B

Rod Barajas C

Clint Barmes SS

BENCH POS

Casey McGehee IF

Nate McLouth* OF

PITCHING

ROTATION POS

Erik Bedard* SP1

James McDonald SP2

Jeff Karstens SP3

Kevin Correia SP4

Charlie Morton SP5

BULLPEN POS

Evan Meek RP

Chris Resop RP

Joel Hanrahan CL

* -- left-handed

# -- switch-hitter

New players in italics

Information courtesy of Pitt Plank

THE PICK

4th Place

Best-case scenario: Andrew McCutchen takes another step forward, and Pedro Alvarez finally figures things out and becomes a productive major leaguer. The Bucs find whatever magic they had in the first half of 2011 and end their historic streak of 19 straight losing seasons.

Worst-case scenario: The 1943 finish to 2011 is a true barometer of this team's future, Alvarez continues whiffing and is branded a bust, and the Pirates make it 20 straight seasons below .500. For reference, the Yankees have 21 losing seasons & in franchise history.

Chicago Cubs

PROJECTED LINEUP

PLAYER POS

David DeJesus* RF

Starlin Castro SS

Marlon Byrd CF

Bryan LaHair* 1B

Alfonso Soriano LF

Geovany Soto C

Ian Stewart* 3B

Darwin Barney 2B

BENCH POS

Reed Johnson OF

Jeff Baker IF

PITCHING

ROTATION POS

Ryan Dempster SP1

Matt Garza SP2

Jeff Samardzija SP3

Paul Maholm* SP4

Chris Volstad SP5

BULLPEN POS

James Russell* RP

Kerry Wood RP

Carlos Marmol CL

* -- left-handed

# -- switch-hitter

New players in italics

Information courtesy of View From the Bleachers

THE PICK

5th Place

Best-case scenario: Starlin Castro gets 220 hits, Anthony Rizzo becomes the first baseman of the future and Cubs Nation starts to believe that new team president Theo Epstein and GM Jed Hoyer will someday deliver the club's first championship since 1908.

Worst-case scenario: Despite good work being done on the farm, the major league team is irrelevant. There is no punch at the infield corners, Alfonso Soriano remains untradeable and ace Matt Garza is dealt for prospects. Only the abysmal Astros keep the Cubs out of the cellar.

Houston Astros
PROJECTED LINEUP

PLAYER POS

Jordan Schafer* CF

Jed Lowrie# SS

J.D. Martinez LF

Carlos Lee 1B

Brian Bogusevic* RF

Chris Johnson 3B

Jason Castro* C

Jose Altuve 2B

BENCH POS

J.B. Shuck* OF

Matt Downs IF

PITCHING

ROTATION POS

Wandy Rodriguez* SP1

Bud Norris SP2

J.A. Happ* SP3

Jordan Lyles SP4

Kyle Weiland SP5

BULLPEN POS

Brandon Lyon RP

Wilton Lopez RP

Brett Myers CL

* -- left-handed

# -- switch-hitter

New players in italics

Information courtesy of Austin's Astros 290 Blog

THE PICK

6th Place

Best-case scenario: All the kids acquired in recent trades come quicker than expected, giving hope to fans that Lance Berkman, Hunter Pence and Roy Oswalt weren't traded in vain. The 'Stros still finish last, but they feel good about their future as they move to the AL West in 2013.

Worst-case scenario: Carlos Lee's $18.5 million salary can't be moved, and his 25 homers represent a third of the team's total. The Astros lose a club-record 110 games, and their fans get depressed about having to beat the Rangers and Angels in 2013 instead of the Cubs and Bucs.

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