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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