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.