Baseball

2013 MLB World Series & Awards Predictions

Standard
MLB Awards
NL MVP – OF Andrew McCutchen
AL MVP – 1B Albert Pujols Los Angeles Angels
NL Cy Young – Stephen Strasburg Washington Nationals
AL Cy Young – Justin Verlander Detroit Tigers
NL Rookie of the Year – P Gerrit Cole Pittsburgh Pirates
AL Rookie of the Year – OF Aaron Hick Minnesota Twins
NL Manager of the Year – Clint Hurdle Pittsburgh Pirates
AL Manager of the Year – Bob Melvin Oakland Athletics
Postseason Projections
NL Division Winners – Nationals, Reds, Giants
NL Wild Card Winners – Dodgers, Cardinals

AL Division Winners – Tigers, Angels, Yankees

AL Wild Card Winners – Blue Jays, Athletics

ALCS – Tigers over Angels

NLCS – Nationals over Reds

World Series – Nationals over Tigers

American League East

Standard

* – indicates new to team
AVG – Batting Average
ERA – Earned Run Average
HR – Home Runs
RBI – Runs Batted In
SV – Saves

1. New York Yankees
A slow start could relegate them to the back of the pack.
2. Toronto Blue Jays
Benefiting from another Marlins fire sale puts them in contention.
3. Tampa Bay Rays
They’re poised to go under the radar once again.
4. Baltimore Orioles
They’ll remain contenders in an ultra competitive division.
5. Boston Red Sox
They pushed the reset button and forget 2012 ever happened.

Player to Watch: P David Price Tampa Bay Rays
He won his first Cy Young award last season, but with that and the massive extensions some of the best starting pitchers are getting in the offseason Price could be pricing himself out of Tampa Bay. It would be hard to imagine the Rays dealing him at any point. Evan Longoria received a massive extension a few years ago, but the Rays small payroll will put restrictions on them keeping Price.
Best Acquisition: SS Jose Reyes Toronto Blue Jays
There’s no doubt about how much of a difference maker he can be. Reyes can single handedly win a ball game for any team.  Even if the Blue Jays just acquired him from the Marlins they would still be instant contenders in the AL East.  Putting him in a power hitting lineup will motivate him to be a potential MVP candidate for many years in Toronto.
New Kid on the Block: P Dylan Bundy and Kevin Gausman Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore has enough starters to keep Bundy and Gausman from being rushed to the big leagues.  However, it’s only a matter of time before they’re pitching for them this season.  Gausman has the inside track on making an impact in the rotation.  Bundy might see time in the bullpen first, but make no mistake that these two will be frontline starters for many years.

Yankees Lineup
1. CF Brett Gardner
.323 AVG 0 HR 3 RBI
2. SS Derek Jeter
.316 AVG 15 HR 58 RBI
3. RF Ichiro Suzuki
.283 AVG 9 HR 55 RBI
4. 2B Robinson Cano
.313 AVG 33 HR 94 RBI
5. 3B Kevin Youkilis*
.235 AVG 19 HR 60 RBI
6. DH Travis Hafner*
.228 AVG 12 HR 34 RBI
7. LF Vernon Wells*
.230 AVG 11 HR 29 RBi
8. 1B Lyle Overbay*
.259 AVG 2 HR 10 RBI
9. C Francisco Cervelli
.246 AVG 2 HR 39 RBI (AAA stats))
Bench
INF Eduardo Nunez
.292 AVG 1 HR 11 RBI
C Chris Stewart
.241 AVG 1 HR 13 RBI
OF Ben Francisco*
.240 AVG 4 HR 15 RBI
Rotation
1. C.C. Sabathia
15-6 3.38 ERA
2. Phil Hughes
16-13 4.23 ERA
3. Hiroki Kuroda
16-11 3.32 ERA
4. Andy Pettitte
5-4 2.87 ERA
5. Ivan Nova
12-8 5.02 ERA
Setup
David Robertson
2-7 2.67 ERA
Closer
Mariano Rivera
5 SV 2.16 ERA
Joe Girardi’s Job: Overcome the injuries and stay near the top of the division.
Most Important Player: 2B Robinson Cano
Blue Jays Lineup
1. SS Jose Reyes*
.287 AVG 11 HR 57 RBI
2. LF Melky Cabrera*
.346 AVG 11 HR 60 RBI
3. RF Jose Bautista
.241 AVG 27 HR 65 RBI
4. 1B Edwin Encarnacion
.280 AVG 42 HR 110 RBI
5. DH Adam Lind
.255 AVG 11 HR 45 RBI
6. 3B Brett Lawrie
.273 AVG 11 HR 48 RBI
7. CF Colby Rasmus
.223 AVG 23 HR 75 RBI
8. C J.P. Arencibia
.233 AVG 18 HR 56 RBI
9. 2B Emilio Bonifacio*
.258 AVG 1 HR 11 RBI
Bench
INF Maicer Izturis*
.256 AVG 2 HR 20 RBI
OF Rajai Davis
.257 AVG 8 HR 43 RBI
INF/OF Mark DeRosa*
.188 AVG 0 HR 6 RBI
Rotation
1. R.A. Dickey*
20-6 2.73 ERA
2. Josh Johnson*
8-14 3.81 ERA
3. Mark Buehrle*
13-13 3.74 ERA
4. Brandon Morrow
10-7 2.96 ERA
5. Ricky Romero
9-14 5.77 ERA
Setup
Casey Janssen
22 SV 2.54 ERA
Closer
Sergio Santos
2 SV 9.00 ERA
John Gibbons’ Job: Ignore the hype and just play baseball.
Most Important Player: SS Jose Reyes
Rays Lineup
1. CF Desmond Jennings
.246 AVG 13 HR 47 RBI
2. SS Yunel Escobar*
.253 AVG 9 HR 51 RBI
3. RF Ben Zobrist
.270 AVG 20 HR 74 RBI
4. 3B Evan Longoria
.289 AVG 17 HR 55 RBI
5. LF Matt Joyce
.241 AVG 17 HR 59 RBI
6. DH Luke Scott
.229 AVG 14 HR 55 RBI
7. 2B Kelly Johnson*
.225 AVG 16 HR 55 RBI
8. 1B James Loney*
.249 AVG 6 HR 41 RBI
9. C Jose Molina
.223 AVG 8 HR 32 RBI
Bench
INF Ryan Roberts
.235 AVG 12 HR 52 RBI
INF/OF Sean Rodriguez
.213 AVG 6 HR 32 RBI
OF Sam Fuld
.255 AVG 0 HR 5 RBI
Rotation
1. David Price
20-5 2.56 ERA
2. Jeremy Hellickson
10-11 3.10 ERA
3. Matt Moore
11-11 3.81 ERA
4. Alex Cobb
11-9 4.03 ERA
5. Roberto Hernandez*
0-3 7.53 ERA
Setup
Joel Peralta
2-6 3.63 ERA
Closer
Fernando Rodney
48 SV 0.60 ERA
Joe Maddon’s Job: Continue to stay under the radar.
Most Important Player: P David Price
Orioles Lineup
1. 2B Brian Roberts
.182 AVG 0 HR 5 RBI
2. RF Nick Markakis
.298 AVG 13 HR 54 RBI
3. CF Adam Jones
.287 AVG 32 HR 82 RBI
4. C Matt Wieters
.249 AVG 23 HR 83 RBI
5. 1B Chris Davis
.270 AVG 33 HR 85 RBI
6. SS J.J. Hardy
.238 AVG 22 HR 68 RBI
7. 3B Manny Machado
.262 AVG 7 HR 26 RBI
8. DH Nolan Reimold
.313 AVG 5 HR 10 RBI
9. LF Nate McLouth
.241 AVG 7 HR 20 RBI
Bench
INF Wilson Betemit
.261 AVG 12 HR 40 RBI
INF Alexi Casilla*
.241 AVG 1 HR 30 RBi
INF Ryan Flaherty
.216 AVG 6 HR 19 RBI
Rotation
1. Jason Hammel
8-6 3.43 ERA
2. Wei-Yin Chen
12-11 4.02 ERA
3. Chris Tillman
9-3 2.93 ERA
4. Miguel Gonzalez
9-4 3.25 ERA
5. Brian Matusz
6-10 4.87 ERA
Setup
Darren O’Day
7-1 2.28 ERA
Closer
Jim Johnson
51 SV 2.49 ERA
Buck Showalter’s Job: Continue to build into eventual title contenders.
Most Important Player: 3B Manny Machado
Red Sox Lineup
1. CF Jacoby Ellsbury
.271 AVG 4 HR 26 RBI
2. 2B Dustin Pedroia
.290 AVG 15 HR 65 RBI
3. DH David Ortiz
.318 AVG 23 HR 60 RBI
4. 1B Mike Napoli*
.227 AVG 24 HR 56 RBI
5. LF Jonny Gomes*
.262 AVG 18 HR 47 RBI
6. RF Shane Victorino*
.255 AVG 11 HR 55 RBI
7. 3B Will Middlebrooks
.288 AVG 15 HR 54 RBI
8. C Jarrod Saltalamacchia
.222 AVG 25 HR 59 RBI
9. SS Stephen Drew*
.233 AVG 7 HR 28 RBI
Bench
C David Ross*
.256 AVG 9 HR 23 RBI
1B/OF Mike Carp*
.213 AVG 5 HR 20 RBI
OF Daniel Nava
.243 AVG 6 HR 33 RBI
Rotation
1. Jon Lester
9-14 4.82 ERA
2. Clay Buchholz
11-8 4.56 ERA
3. Ryan Dempster*
12-8 3.38 ERA
4. Felix Doubront
11-10 4.86 ERA
5. John Lackey
Did not play
Setup
Koji Uehara*
0-0 1.75 ERA
Closer
Joel Hanrahan*
36 SV 2.72 ERA
John Farrell’s Job: Wipe out any memory of Bobby Valentine.
Most Important Player: P Jon Lester

National League East

Standard

* – indicates new to team
AVG – Batting Average
ERA – Earned Run Average
HR – Home Runs
RBI – Runs Batted In
SV – Saves

1. Washington Nationals
Last year was no fluke.  They are the best team in baseball.
2. Atlanta Braves
A bolstered lineup should take the pressure off the pitching staff.
3. Philadelphia Phillies
A full season from Chase Utley and Ryan Howard will help immensely.
4. New York Mets
Other than re-signing David Wright, no major improvements.
5. Miami Marlins
They’re in full-on rebuilding mode once again.

Player to Watch: P Stephen Strasburg Washington Nationals
Pitch limits be damned.  All of that is gone now and everyone will want to know how Strasburg does for a full season.  History has shown that pitchers in their second year removed from Tommy John surgery are back to what they were before the surgery. Health aside, he has the most electric stuff in the game.  That’s saying a lot, but the Nationals will only go as far as his arm can take them.
Best Acquisition: OF Justin Upton Atlanta Braves
They didn’t have to give Arizona a whole lot to get Upton.  Which is somewhat surprising considering how good he is.  He is reunited with his older brother B.J. who signed a 5 year deal early in the offseason.  Now that they’re both in an environment that wants them maybe they’ll perform to their talent level.  Justin should perform well in a lineup with Jason Heyward and Freddie Freeman.
New Kid on the Block: P Julio Teheran Atlanta Braves
There’s a reason that the Braves didn’t include Teheran in any of their trades the last couple years.  They see him as a top of the rotation starter.  Since the Braves have good depth at the top right now, he’ll be at the bottom.  That’s a good thing as to not put too much pressure on him.  Look for him to eventually be the number two starter or the ace of the future.

Nationals Lineup
1. CF Denard Span*
.283 AVG 4 HR 41 RBI
2. SS Ian Desmond
.292 AVG 25 HR 73 RBI
3. 3B Ryan Zimmerman
.282 AVG 25 HR 95 RBI
4. 1B Adam LaRoche
.271 AVG 33 HR 100 RBI
5. RF Jayson Werth
.300 AVG 5 HR 31 RBI
6. LF Bryce Harper
.270 AVG 22 HR 59 RBI
7. 2B Danny Espinosa
.247 AVG 17 HR 56 RBI
8. C Wilson Ramos
.265 AVG 3 HR 10 RBI
Bench
OF Roger Bernadina
.291 AVG 5 HR 25 RBI
C Kurt Suzuki
.235 AVG 6 HR 43 RBI
INF Steve Lombardozzi
.273 AVG 3 HR 27 RBI
Rotation
1. Stephen Strasburg
15-6 3.16 ERA
2. Gio Gonzalez
21-8 2.89 ERA
3. Jordan Zimmermann
12-8 2.94 ERA
4. Ross Detwiler
10-8 3.40 ERA
5. Dan Haren*
12-13 4.33 ERA
Setup
Drew Storen
3-1 2.37 ERA
Closer
Rafael Soriano*
42 SV 2.26 ERA
Davey Johnson’s Job: Keep them focused on the task at hand.
Most Important Player: P Stephen Strasburg
Braves Lineup
1. SS Andrelton Simmons
.289 AVG 3 HR 19 RBI
2. RF Jason Heyward
.269 AVG 27 HR 82 RBI
3. LF Justin Upton*
.280 AVG 17 HR 67 RBI
4. 1B Freddie Freeman
.259 AVG 23 HR 94 RBI
5. CF B.J. Upton*
.246 AVG 28 HR 78 RBI
6. C Brian McCann
.230 AVG 20 HR 67 RBI
7. 2B Dan Uggla
.220 AVG 19 HR 78 RBI
8. 3B Chris Johnson*
.281 AVG 15 HR 76 RBI
Bench
3B Juan Francisco
.234 AVG 9 HR 32 RBI
OF Reed Johnson
.290 AVG 3 HR 20 RBI
C Gerald Laird*
.282 AVG 2 HR 11 RBI
Rotation
1. Tim Hudson
16-7 3.62 ERA
2. Paul Maholm
13-11 3.67 ERA
3. Kris Medlen
10-1 1.57 ERA
4. Mike Minor
11-10 4.12 ERA
5. Julio Teheran
7-9 5.08 ERA (AAA stats)
Setup
Jonny Venters
5-4 3.22 ERA
Closer 
Craig Kimbrel
42 SV 1.01 ERA
Fredi Gonzalez’s Job: Avoid falling flat in September.
Most Important Player: P Craig Kimbrel
Phillies Lineup
1. SS Jimmy Rollins
.250 AVG 23 HR 68 RBI
2. 2B Chase Utley
.256 AVG 11 HR 45 RBI
3. 3B Michael Young*
.277 AVG 8 HR 67 RBI
4. 1B Ryan Howard
.219 AVG 14 HR 56 RBI
5. LF Delmon Young*
.267 AVG 18 HR 74 RBI
6. RF Domonic Brown
.235 AVG 5 HR 26 RBI
7. CF Ben Revere*
.294 AVG 0 HR 32 RBI
8. C Erik Kratz
.248 AVG 9 HR 26 RBI
Bench
OF/1B John Mayberry
.245 AVG 14 HR 46 RBI
OF Laynce Nix
.246 AVG 3 HR 16 RBI
INF Kevin Frandsen
.338 AVG 2 HR 14 RBI
Rotation
1. Roy Halladay
11-8 4.49 ERA
2. Cole Hamels
17-6 3.05 ERA
3. Cliff Lee
6-9 3.16 ERA
4. Kyle Kendrick
11-12 3.90 ERA
5. John Lannan*
4-1 4.13 ERA
Setup
Mike Adams*
5-3 3.27 ERA
Closer
Jonathan Papelbon
38 SV 2.44 ERA
Charlie Manuel’s Job: Get the offense back on track.
Most Important Player: P Cole Hamels
Mets Lineup
1. CF Collin Cowgill*
.250 AVG 4 HR 37 RBI (AAA stats)
2. 2B Daniel Murphy
.291 AVG 6 HR 65 RBI
3. 3B David Wright
.306 AVG 21 HR 93 RBI
4. 1B Ike Davis
.227 AVG 32 HR 90 RBI
5. RF Marlon Byrd*
.210 AVG 1 HR 9 RBI
6. LF Lucas Duda
.239 AVG 15 HR 57 RBI
7. C John Buck*
.192 AVG 12 HR 41 RBI
8. SS Ruben Tejada
.289 AVG 1 HR 25 RBI
Bench
INF Justin Turner
.269 AVG 2 HR 19 RBI
OF Mike Baxter
.263 AVG 3 HR 17 RBI
OF Kirk Nieuwenhuis
.252 AVG 7 HR 28 RBI
Rotation
1. Jon Niese
13-9 3.40 ERA
2. Shaun Marcum*
7-4 3.70 ERA
3. Matt Harvey
3-5 2.73 ERA
4. Dillon Gee
6-7 4.10 ERA
5. Jeremy Hefner
4-7 5.09 ERA
Setup
Brandon Lyon*
4-2 3.10 ERA
Closer
Bobby Parnell
7 SV 2.49 ERA
Terry Collins’ Job: Do the best with what you have.
Most Important Player: 3B David Wright
Marlins Lineup
1. LF Juan Pierre*
.307 AVG 1 HR 25 RBI
2. 3B Placido Polanco*
.257 AVG 2 HR 19 RBI
3. RF Giancarlo Stanton
.290 AVG 37 HR 86 RBI
4. 1B Casey Kotchman*
.229 AVG 12 HR 55 RBI
5. CF Chris Coghlan
.140 AVG 1 HR 10 RBI
6. C Rob Brantly
.298 AVG 5 HR 41 RBI (AA and AAA stats)
7. 2B Donovan Solano
.295 AVG 2 HR 28 RBI
8. SS Adeiny Hechavarria*
.312 AVG 6 HR 63 RBI (AAA stats)
Bench
1B/OF Logan Morrison
.230 AVG 11 HR 36 RBI
INF Greg Dobbs
.285 AVG 5 HR 39 RBI
OF Austin Kearns
.245 AVG 4 HR 16 RBI
Rotation
1. Ricky Nolasco
12-13 4.48 ERA
2. Nathan Eovaldi
4-13 4.30 ERA
3. Wade LeBlanc
2-5 3.67 ERA
4. Henderson Alvarez*
9-14 4.85 ERA
5. Kevin Slowey*
3-3 5.14 ERA
Setup
Jon Rauch*
3-7 3.59 ERA
Closer
Steve Cishek
15 SV 2.69 ERA
Mike Redmond’s Job: Don’t think of this as a AAA managing job.
Most Important Player: OF Giancarlo Stanton

American League Central

Standard

* – indicates new to team
AVG – Batting Average
ERA – Earned Run Average
HR – Home Runs
RBI – Runs Batted In
SV – Saves

1. Detroit Tigers
Aside from their closer, this team is complete.
2. Chicago White Sox
The surprise of the Central last year, they’ll look to improve on last season.
3. Kansas City Royals
An improved rotation should help them contend for a Wild Card spot.
4. Cleveland Indians
Big moves in the offseason, but their pitching will fall short.
5. Minnesota Twins
A lot has to go right for them to contend this year.

Player to Watch: 3B Miguel Cabrera Detroit Tigers
It’s no fluke that he won the first Triple Crown since 1967 last year. It seems that overnight he has become the most dangerous hitter in the game, but he’s been that way since he first arrived in the big leagues.  With Prince Fielder protecting him, the Tigers lineup is very similar to what the Boston Red Sox had with Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz.  The only difference is that the Tigers don’t have a World Series title.
Best Acquisition: P Jame Shields Kansas City Royals
No one expects Shields to stay in Kansas City longer than the two years he has left on his current deal.  Yet this is a great move by the Royals.  Sure, they gave up some of their best prospects, but the Royals are in a win-now situation.  If they are playoff contenders the next two years, maybe Shields decides to stick around.  If not, they can trade Shields and start over.
New Kid on the Block: OF Aaron Hicks Minnesota Twins
Not only is he their starting center fielder, but he is their new leadoff hitter.  He got off to a slow start in the minors.  Granted he was drafted straight out of high school.  But he showed off his skills last season at double A batting. 286 and driving in 61 runs. Batting in front of Joe Mauer, Josh Willingham and Justin Morneau should really help him in his progression.

Tigers Lineup
1. CF Austin Jackson
.300 AVG 16 HR 66 RBI
2. RF Torii Hunter*
.313 AVG 16 HR 92 RBI
3. 3B Miguel Cabrera
.330 AVG 44 HR 139 RBI
4. 1B Prince Fielder
.313 AVG 30 HR 108 RBI
5. DH Victor Martinez
Did not play
6. SS Jhonny Peralta
.239 AVG 13 HR 63 RBI
7. C Alex Avila
.243 AVG 9 HR 48 RBI
8. LF Andy Dirks
.322 AVG 8 HR 35 RBI
9. 2B Omar Infante
.274 AVG 12 HR 53 RBI

Bench

C Brayan Pena
.236 AVG 2 HR 25 RBI
INF Ramon Santiago
.206 AVG 2 HR 17 RBI
OF Avisail Garcia
.299 AVG 14 HR 58 RBI (A and AA stats)

Rotation

1. Justin Verlander
17-8 2.64 ERA
2. Max Scherzer
16-7 3.74 ERA
3. Doug Fister
10-10 3.45 ERA
4. Anibal Sanchez
9-13 3.86 ERA
5. Rick Porcello
10-12 4.59 ERA

Setup

Joaquin Benoit
5-3 3.68 ERA

Closer

Phil Coke
2-3 4.00 ERA

Jim Leyland’s Job: Don’t let his players get complacent.

Most Important Player: 3B Miguel Cabrera

White Sox Lineup
1. CF Alejandro De Aza
.281 AVG 9 HR 50 RBI

2. 3B Jeff Keppinger*
.325 AVG 9 HR 40 RBI
3. 1B Paul Konerko
.298 AVG 26 HR 75 RBI
4. DH Adam Dunn
.204 AVG 41 HR 96 RBI
5. RF Alex Rios
.304 AVG 25 HR 91 RBI
6. LF Dayan Viciedo
.255 AVG 25 HR 75 RBI
7. SS Alexei Ramirez
.265 AVG 9 HR 73 RBI
8. 2B Gordon Beckham
.234 AVG 16 HR 60 RBI
9. C Tyler Flowers
.213 AVG 7 HR 13 RBI

Bench

OF Dewayne Wise
.259 AVG 8 HR 30 RBI
INF Angel Sanchez*
.320 AVG 5 HR 45 RBI (AAA stats)
C Hector Gimenez
.259 AVG 14 HR 57 RBI (AAA stats)

Rotation

1. Chris Sale
17-8 3.05 ERA
2. Jake Peavy
11-12 3.37 ERA
3. John Danks
3-4 5.70 ERA
4. Gavin Floyd
12-11 4.29 ERA
5. Jose Quintana
6-6 3.76 ERA

Setup

Matt Thornton
4-10 3.46 ERA

Closer

Addison Reed
29 SV 4.75 ERA

Robin Ventura’s Job: Avoid another late season collapse.

Most Important Player: P Chris Sale

Royals Lineup
1. CF Lorenzo Cain
.266 AVG 7 HR 31 RBI

2. SS Alcides Escobar
.293 AVG 5 HR 52 RBI
3. LF Alex Gordon
.294 AVG 14 HR 72 RBI
4. DH Billy Butler
.313 AVG 29 HR 107 RBI
5. 1B Eric Hosmer
.232 AVG 14 HR 60 RBI
6. C Salvador Perez
.301 AVG 11 HR 39 RBI
7. 3B Mike Moustakas
.242 AVG 20 HR 73 RBI
8. RF Jeff Francoeur
.235 AVG 16 HR 49 RBI
9. 2B Chris Getz
.275 AVG 0 HR 17 RBI

Bench

OF Jarrod Dyson
.260 AVG 0 HR 9 RBI
INF Miguel Tejada*
.239 AVG 4 HR 26 RBI (2011 stats)
C George Kottaras*
.211 AVG 9 HR 31 RBI

Rotation

1. James Shields*
15-10 3.52 ERA
2. Jeremy Guthrie
8-12 4.76 ERA
3. Ervin Santana*
9-13 5.16 ERA
4. Wade Davis*
3-0 2.43 ERA
5. Bruce Chen
11-14 5.07 ERA

Setup

Kelvin Herrera
4-3 2.35 ERA

Closer

Greg Holland
16 SV 2.96 ERA

Ned Yost’s Job: Compete for a Wild Card spot.

Most Important Player: P James Shields

Indians Lineup
1. CF Michael Bourn*
.274 AVG 9 HR 57 RBI
2. 2B Jason Kipnis
.257 AVG 14 HR 76 RBI
3. SS Asdrubal Cabrera
.270 AVG 16 HR 68 RBI
4. 1B Nick Swisher*
.272 AVG 24 HR 93 RBI
5. C Carlos Santana
.252 AVG 18 HR 76 RBI
6. DH Mark Reynolds*
.221 AVG 23 HR 69 RBI
7. LF Michael Brantley
.288 AVG 6 HR 60 RBI
8. 3B Lonnie Chisenhall
.268 AVG 5 HR 16 RBI
9. RF Drew Stubbs*
.213 AVG 14 HR 40 RBI
Bench
INF Mike Aviles*
.250 AVG 13 HR 60 RBI
INF/OF Ryan Raburn*
.171 AVG 1 HR 12 RBI
C Lou Marson
.226 AVG 0 HR 13 RBI
Rotation
1. Justin Masterson
11-15 4.93 ERA
2. Ubaldo Jimenez
9-17 5.40 ERA
3. Brett Myers*
3-8 3.31 ERA
4. Zach McAllister
6-8 4.24 ERA
5. Scott Kazmir*
9-15 5.94 ERA (2010 stats)
Setup
Vinnie Pestano
3-3 2.57 ERA
Closer
Chris Perez
39 SV 3.59 ERA
Terry Francona’s Job: Wipe the slates clean and get Cleveland back in the fold.
Most Important Player: OF Michael Bourn

Twins Lineup
1. CF Aaron Hicks
.286 AVG 13 HR 61 RBI (AA stats)
2. 2B Jamey Carroll
.268 AVG 1 HR 40 RBI
3. C Joe Mauer
.319 AVG 10 HR 85 RBI
4. LF Josh Willingham
.260 AVG 35 HR 110 RBI
5. 1B Justin Morneau
.267 AVG 19 HR 77 RBI
6. DH Ryan Doumit
.275 AVG 18 HR 75 RBI
7. RF Chris Parmelee
.229 AVG 5 HR 20 RBI
8. 3B Trevor Plouffe
.235 AVG 24 HR 55 RBI
9. SS Pedro Florimon
.219 AVG 1 HR 10 RBI
Bench
OF Darin Mastroianni
.252 AVG 3 HR 17 RBI
INF Brian Dozier
.234 AVG 6 HR 33 RBI
INF Eduardo Escobar
.214 AVG 0 HR 9 RBI
Rotation
1. Scott Diamond
12-9 3.54 ERA
2. Kevin Correia*
12-11 4.21 ERA
3. Vance Worley*
6-9 4.20 ERA
4. Mike Pelfrey*
0-0 2.29 ERA
5. Cole De Vries
5-5 4.11 ERA
Setup
Jared Burton
3-2 2.18 ERA
Closer
Glen Perkins
16 SV 2.56 ERA
Ron Gardenhire’s Job: Keep them focused and stay competitive.
Most Important Player: C Joe Mauer

National League Central

Standard

* – indicates new to team
AVG – Batting Average
ERA – Earned Run Average
HR – Home Runs
RBI – Runs Batted In
SV – Saves

1. Cincinnati Reds
Their pitching and defense is unmatched as the division favorites.
2. St. Louis Cardinals
They’ll provide much needed competition for the Reds.
3. Pittsburgh Pirates
The losing streak ends in 2013 with a record above .500.
4. Milwaukee Brewers
One of the best offensive teams doesn’t have enough pitching.
5. Chicago Cubs
The only place to go is up for the ‘lovable losers’.

Player to Watch: OF Andrew McCutchen Pittsburgh Pirates
Had the Pirates and McCutchen for that matter not struggled down the stretch last season, he would have been the NL MVP. Pittsburgh has changed their culture thanks in large part to McCutchen and their manager Clint Hurdle.  He know that he’ll need Andrew to be at his best if the Pirates are to compete and maybe even go for one of the Wild Card spots.
Best Acquisition: OF Shin-Soo Choo Cincinnati Reds
He had worn out his welcome in Cleveland and the Reds were more than happy to acquire him.  It will be interesting to see how he handles the task of being the center fielder, but he should do fine as the Reds leadoff hitter.  The lineup behind him is full of power with Joey Votto, Brandon Phillips and Jay Bruce.  Choo should have a nice bounce back season.
New Kid on the Block: OF Starling Marte Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pirates have two elite starting pitchers waiting in the minors for their chance to shine.  The time is now for the Pirates top hitting prospect in Marte.  Like McCutchen and Pedro Alvarez before him he’ll be expected to produce immediately and in the leadoff spot.  It will be important for him to get off to a good start to help McCutchen and Neil Walker bat with runners on.

Reds Lineup
1. CF Shin-Soo Choo*
.283 AVG 16 HR 67 RBI
2. 2B Brandon Phillips
.281 AVG 18 RH 77 RBI
3. 1B Joey Votto
.337 AVG 14 HR 56 RBI
4. RF Jay Bruce
.252 AVG 34 HR 99 RBI
5. LF Ryan Ludwick
.275 AVG 26 HR 80 RBI
6. 3B Todd Frazier
.273 AVG 19 HR 67 RBI
7. C Ryan Hanigan
.274 AVG 2 HR 24 RBI
8. SS Zack Cozart
.246 AVG 15 HR 35 RBI
Bench
INF Jack Hannahan*
.244 AVG 4 HR 29 RBI
OF Chris Heisey
.265 AVG 7 HR 31 RBI
C Devin Mesoraco
.212 AVG 5 HR 14 RBI
Rotation
1. Johnny Cueto
19-9 2.78 ERA
2. Mat Latos
14-4 3.48 ERA
3. Bronson Arroyo
12-10 3.74 ERA
4. Homer Bailey
13-10 3.68 ERA
5. Mike Leake
8-9 4.58 ERA
Setup
Jonathan Broxton
4-5 2.48 ERA
Closer
Aroldis Chapman

38 SV 1.51 ERA

Dusty Baker’s Job: Keep Chapman in the bullpen.

Most Important Player: 1B Joey Votto

Cardinals Lineup
1. CF Jon Jay
.305 AVG 4 HR 40 RBI
2. SS Pete Kozma
.333 AVG 2 HR 14 RBI
3. RF Carlos Beltran
.269 AVG 32 HR 97 RBI
4. LF Matt Holliday
.295 AVG 27 HR 102 RBI
5. 3B David Freese
.293 AVG 20 HR 79 RBI
6. C Yadier Molina
.315 AVG 22 HR 76 RBI
7. 1B Allen Craig
.307 AVG 22 HR 92 RBI
8. 2B Daniel Descalso
.227 AVG 4 HR 26 RBI
Bench
INF Ty Wigginton*
.235 AVG 11 HR 43 RBI
INF/OF Matt Carpenter
.294 AVG 6 HR 46 RBI
1B Matt Adams
.329 AVG 18 HR 50 RBI (AAA stats)
Rotation
1. Adam Wainwright
14-13 3.94 ERA
2. Jake Westbrook
13-11 3.97 ERA
3. Jaime Garcia
7-7 3.92 ERA
4. Lance Lynn
18-7 3.78 ERA
5. Shelby Miller
11-10 4.74 ERA (AAA stats)
Setup
Mitchell Boggs
4-1 2.21 ERA
Closer
Jason Motte
42 SV 2.75 ERA
Mike Matheny’s Job: Keep a good balance between the veterans and the young guys.
Most Important Player: C Yadier Molina
Pirates Lineup
1. LF Starling Marte
.286 AVG 12 HR 62 RBI (AAA stats)
2. 2B Neil Walker
.280 AVG 14 HR 69 RBI
3. CF Andrew McCutchen
.327 AVG 31 HR 96 RBI
4. 1B Garrett Jones
.274 AVG 27 HR 86 RBI
5. 3B Pedro Alvarez
.244 AVG 30 HR 85 RBI

6. C Russell Martin*
. 211 AVG 21 HR 53 RBI
7. RF Gaby Sanchez
.217 AVG 7 HR 30 RBI
8. SS Clint Barmes
.229 AVG 8 HR 45 RBI

Bench

OF Travis Snider
.250 AVG 4 HR 17 RBI
OF Jose Tabata
.243 AVG 3 HR 16 RBI
C Michael McKenry
.233 AVG 12 HR 39 RBI

Rotation

1. A.J. Burnett
16-10 3.51 ERA
2. Wandy Rodriguez
12-13 3.76 ERA
3. James McDonald
12-8 4.21 ERA
4. Francisco Liriano*
3-2 4.40 ERA
5. Jeff Karstens
5-4 3.97 ERA

Setup

Jared Hughes
2-2 2.85 ERA

Closer

Jason Grilli
2 SV 2.91 ERA

Clint Hurdle’s Job: End the Pirates losing streak.

Most Important Player: OF Andrew McCutchen

Brewers Lineup
1. RF Norichika Aoki
.288 AVG 10 HR 50 RBI
2. 2B Rickie Weeks
.230 AVG 21 HR 63 RBI
3. LF Ryan Braun
.319 AVG 41 HR 112 RBI
4. 3B Aramis Ramirez
.300 AVG 27 HR 105 RBI
5. C Jonathan Lucroy
.320 AVG 12 HR 58 RBI
6. CF Carlos Gomez
.260 AVG 19 HR 51 RBI

7. 1B Alex Gonzalez
.259 AVG 4 HR 15 RBI
8. SS Jean Segura
.264 AVG 0 HR 14 RBI

Bench

C Martin Maldonado
.266 AVG 8 HR 30 RBI
OF Logan Schafer
.278 AVG 11 HR 40 RBI (AAA stats)
INF Taylor Green
.184 AVG 3  HR 14 RBI

Rotation

1. Yovani Gallardo
16-9 3.66 ERA
2. Kyle Lohse*
16-3 2.86 ERA
3. Marco Estrada
5-7 3.64 ERA
4. Mike Fiers
9-10 3.74 ERA
5. Chris Narveson
1-1 7.00 ERA

Setup

Tom Gorzelanny*
4-2 2.88 ERA

Closer

John Axford
35 SV 4.67 ERA

Ron Roenicke’s Job: Hope that the bullpen improves.

Most Important Player: OF Ryan Braun

Cubs Lineup
1. LF Alfonso Soriano
.262 AVG 32 HR 108 RBI
2. CF David DeJesus
.263 AVG 9 HR 50 RBI
3. SS Starlin Castro
.283 AVG 14 HR 78 RBI
4. 1B Anthony Rizzo
.285 AVG 15 HR 48 RBI
5. 3B Ian Stewart
.201 AVG 5 HR 17 RBI
6. C Wellington Castillo
.265 AVG 5 HR 22 RBI
7. RF Nate Schierholtz*
.257 AVG 6 HR 21 RBI
8. 2B Darwin Barney
.254 AVG 7 HR 44 RBI
Bench
OF Scott Hairston*
.263 AVG 20 HR 57 RBI
INF Luis Valbuena
.219 AVG 4 HR 28 RBI
C Dioner Navarro*
Rotation
1. Jeff Samardzija
9-13 3.81 ERA
2. Edwin Jackson*
10-11 4.03 ERA
3. Travis Wodd
6-13 4.27 ERA
4. Scott Feldman*
6-11 5.09 ERA
5. Carlos Villanueva*
7-7 4.16 ERA
Setup
Carlos Marmol
20 SV 3.42 ERA
Closer
Kyuji Fujikawa*
24 SV 1.32 ERA (Japan)
Dale Sveum’s Job: Keep improving one day at a time.
Most Important Player: SS Starlin Castro