* – indicates new to team
AVG – Batting Average
ERA – Earned Run Average
HR – Home Runs
RBI – Runs Batted In
SV – Saves
1. Cincinnati Reds
A big trade brings new life into the team
2. St. Louis Cardinals
Can they defend their title without Pujols?
3. Milwaukee Brewers
No Prince means they have to rely on pitching
4. Chicago Cubs
The new regime is preaching patience
5. Pittsburgh Pirates
They’re heading in the right direction
6. Houston Astros
A new beginning as they move to the AL next year
Player to Watch: 3B David Freese St. Louis Cardinals
Best Acquisition: OF Carlos Beltran St. Louis Cardinals
New Kid on the Block: 1B Mat Gamel Milwaukee Brewers
Reds Lineup
1. 2B Brandon Phillips
.300 AVG 18 HR 82 RBI
2. LF Chris Heisey
.254 AVG 18 HR 50 RBI
3. 1B Joey Votto
.309 AVG 29 HR 103 RBI
4. RF Jay Bruce
.256 AVG 32 HR 97 RBI
5. 3B Scott Rolen
.242 AVG 5 HR 36 RBI
6. CF Drew Stubbs
.243 AVG 15 HR 44 RBI
7. SS Zack Cozart
.310 AVG 7 HR 32 RBI (AAA stats)
8. C Ryan Hanigan
.267 AVG 6 HR 31 RBI
Bench
OF Ryan Ludwick*
.237 AVG 13 HR 75 RBI
INF Miguel Cairo
.265 AVG 8 HR 33 RBI
C Devin Mesoraco
.289 AVG 15 HR 71 RBI (AAA stats)
Rotation
1. Mat Latos*
9-14 3.47 ERA
2. Johnny Cueto
9-5 2.31 ERA
3. Bronson Arroyo
9-12 5.07 ERA
4. Homer Bailey
9-7 4.43 ERA
5. Mike Leake
12-9 3.86 ERA
Setup
Nick Masset
3-6 3.71 ERA
Closer
Sean Marshall*
5 SV 2.26 ERA
Dusty Baker’s Job: Monitor the pitching staff
Most Important Player: P Johnny Cueto
Cardinals Lineup
1. SS Rafael Furcal
.231 AVG 8 HR 28 RBI
2. RF Carlos Beltran*
.300 AVG 22 HR 84 RBI
3. LF Matt Holliday
.296 AVG 22 HR 75 RBI
4. 1B Lance Berkman
.301 AVG 31 HR 94 RBI
5. 3B David Freese
.297 AVG 10 HR 55 RBI
6. CF Jon Jay
.297 AVG 10 HR 37 RBI
7. C Yadier Molina
.305 AVG 14 HR 65 RBI
8. 2B Tyler Greene
.212 AVG 1 HR 11 RBI
Bench
OF/INF Allen Craig
.315 AVG 11 HR 40 RBI
INF Daniel Descalso
.264 AVG 1 HR 28 RBI
INF/OF Skip Schumaker
.283 AVG 2 HR 38 RBI
Rotation
1. Chris Carpenter
11-9 3.45 ERA
2. Adam Wainwright
Did Not Play
3. Jaime Garcia
13-7 3.56 ERA
4. Kyle Lohse
14-8 3.39 ERA
5. Jake Westbrook
12-9 4.66 ERA
Setup
Fernando Salas
5-6 2.28 ERA
Closer
Jason Motte
9 SV 2.25 ERA
Mike Matheny’s Job: Don’t fix what isn’t broken
Most Important Player: P Jason Motte
Brewers Lineup
1. 2B Rickie Weeks
.269 AVG 20 HR 49 RBI
2. CF Nyjer Morgan
.304 AVG 4 HR 37 RBI
3. LF Ryan Braun
.332 AVG 33 HR 111 RBI
4. 3B Aramis Ramirez*
.306 AVG 26 HR 93 RBI
5. RF Corey Hart
.285 AVG 26 HR 63 RBI
6. 1B Mat Gamel
.310 AVG 28 HR 96 RBI (AAA stats)
7. SS Alex Gonzalez*
.241 AVG 15 HR 56 RBI
8. C Jonathan Lucroy
.265 AVG 12 HR 59 RBI
Bench
OF Carlos Gomez
.225 AVG 8 HR 24 RBI
OF Norichika Aoki*
.292 AVG 4 HR 44 RBI (Japan)
C George Kottaras
.252 AVG 5 HR 17 RBI
Rotation
1. Yovani Gallardo
17-10 3.52 ERA
2. Zack Greinke
16-6 3.83 ERA
3. Shaun Marcum
13-7 3.54 ERA
4. Randy Wolf
13-10 3.69 ERA
5. Chris Narveson
11-8 4.45 ERA
Setup
Francisco Rodriguez
6-2 2.64 ERA
Closer
John Axford
46 SV 1.95 ERA
Ron Roenicke’s Job: Play small ball
Most Important Player: OF Ryan Braun
Cubs Lineup
1. RF David DeJesus*
.240 AVG 10 HR 46 RBI
2. 3B Ian Stewart*
.156 AVG 0 HR 6 RBI
3. SS Starlin Castro
.307 AVG 10 HR 66 RBI
4. 1B Bryan LaHair
.331 AVG 38 HR 109 RBI (AAA stats)
5. LF Alfonso Soriano
.244 AVG 26 HR 88 RBI
6. C Geovany Soto
.228 AVG 17 HR 54 RBI
7. CF Marlon Byrd
.276 AVG 9 HR 35 RBI
8. 2B Darwin Barney
.276 AVG 2 HR 43 RBI
Bench
INF/OF Jeff Baker
.269 AVG 3 HR 23 RBI
OF Reed Johnson
.309 AVG 5 HR 28 RBI
OF Tony Campana
.259 AVG 1 HR 6 RBI
Rotation
1. Matt Garza
10-10 3.32 ERA
2. Ryan Dempster
10-14 4.80 ERA
3. Paul Maholm*
6-14 3.66 ERA
4. Jeff Samardzija
8-4 2.97 ERA
5. Chris Volstad*
5-13 4.89 ERA
Setup
Kerry Wood
3-5 3.35 ERA
Closer
Carlos Marmol
34 SV 4.01 ERA
Dale Sveum’s Job: Fly under the radar
Most Important Player: SS Starlin Castro
Pirates Lineup
1. LF Alex Presley
.298 AVG 4 HR 20 RBI
2. RF Jose Tabata
.266 AVG 4 HR 21 RBI
3. CF Andrew McCutchen
.259 AVG 23 HR 89 RBI
4. 2B Neil Walker
.273 AVG 12 HR 83 RBI
5. 1B Garrett Jones
.243 AVG 16 HR 58 RBI
6. C Rod Barajas*
.230 AVG 16 HR 47 RBI
7. 3B Pedro Alvarez
.191 AVG 4 HR 19 RBI
8. SS Clint Barmes*
.244 AVG 12 HR 39 RBI
Bench
INF Casey McGehee*
.223 AVG 13 HR 67 RBI
OF Nate McLouth*
.228 AVG 4 HR 16 RBI
INF Yamaico Navarro*
.250 AVG 1 HR 9 RBI
Rotation
1. Erik Bedard*
5-9 3.62 ERA
2. Jeff Karstens
9-9 3.38 ERA
3. James McDonald
9-9 4.21 ERA
4. Kevin Correia
12-11 4.79 ERA
5. Charlie Morton
10-10 3.83 ERA
Setup
Evan Meek
1-1 3.48 ERA
Closer
Joel Hanrahan
40 SV 1.83 ERA
Clint Hurdle’s Job: Improve on last years success
Most Important Player: OF Andrew McCutchen
Astros Lineup
1. CF Jordan Schafer
.242 AVG 2 HR 13 RBI
2. SS Jed Lowrie*
.252 AVG 6 HR 36 RBI
3. LF J.D. Martinez
.274 AVG 6 HR 35 RBI
4. 1B Carlos Lee
.275 AVG 18 HR 94 RBI
5. RF Brian Bogusevic
.287 AVG 4 HR 15 RBI
6. 3B Chris Johnson
.251 AVG 7 HR 42 RBI
7. C Jason Castro
Did Not Play
8. 2B Jose Altuve
.276 AVG 2 HR 12 RBI
Bench
1B Brett Wallace
.259 AVG 5 HR 29 RBI
INF Matt Downs
.276 AVG 10 HR 41 RBI
C Chris Snyder*
.271 AVG 3 HR 17 RBI
Rotation
1. Wandy Rodriguez
11-11 3.49 ERA
2. Bud Norris
6-11 3.77 ERA
3. J.A. Happ
6-15 5.35 ERA
4. Kyle Weiland*
8-10 3.58 ERA (AAA stats)
5. Jordan Lyles
2-8 5.36 ERA
Setup
Wilton Lopez
2-6 2.79 ERA
Closer
Brett Myers
7-14 4.46 ERA
Brad Mills’ Job: Build for the future
Most Important Player: 2B Jose Altuve
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Wait a sec. The Cubs won't win the World Series? Shit.