MLB 2013: PREVIEW

NL TEAM-BY-TEAM GLANCE NL (IN ORDER OF PREDICTED EAST FINISH IN THEIR DIVISION) THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 2012 2012 2012 98-64 94-68 81-81 nce struck out 1st, East 2nd, East 3rd, East to end the P (15-6, 3.16 ERA) OF JUSTIN and B.J. UPTON (ADDITIONS) P (17-6, 3.05 ERA) O , the chase was on. : (third season) Manager: Fredi Gonzalez (third season) Manager: (ninth season) The Upton brothers were reunited Projected Lineup: CF (.283, Projected Lineup: SS Andrelton Simmons Projected Lineup: SS (.250 23 in Atlanta. signed a big 4 HRs, 41 RBIs, 38 2Bs, 17 SB with Twins), RF (.289, 3 HRs, 19 RBIs in 49 games), RF Jason HRs, 68 RBIs, 30 SBs, 102 runs), CF free-agent deal with the Los Angeles (.300, 5, 31 in 300 ABs), LF Bryce Heyward (.269, 27, 82, 21 SBs, 152 Ks), LF Justin (.294, 0, 32, 40 SBs with Twins), 2B Harper (.270, 22, 59, 98 runs), 3B Ryan Zim- Upton (Chesapeake, .280, 17, 67, 18 SBs with (.256, 11, 45), 1B (.219, 14, 56), Dodgers, and Arizona remade its club merman (U.Va., .282, 25, 95), 1B Adam LaRoche Arizona), C Brian McCann (.230, 20, 67), CF B.J. 3B (.277, 8, 67 with Rangers), RF with fiery manager in (.271, 33, 100), SS (.292, 25, 73), Upton (Chesapeake, .246, 28, 78, 31 SBs, 169 Ks Domonic Brown (.235, 5, 26), LF John Mayberry mind. Washington and 2B (.247, 17, 56), C Kurt Suzuki with Tampa Bay), 1B (.259, 23, Jr. (.245, 14, 46) or Laynce Nix (.246, 3, 16), C each traded for a , and (.235, 6, 43 with Athletics and Nationals) or 94), 2B (.220, 19, 78, 168 Ks), 3B Chris (.248, 9, 26) Philadelphia added Michael Young to Wilson Ramos (.265, 3, 10 in 83 ABs) Johnson (.281, 15, 76 with Houston and Arizona) Rotation: LH Cole Hamels (17-6, 3.05 ERA), Rotation: RH Stephen Strasburg (15-6, 3.16 or Juan Francisco (.234, 9, 32 in 93 games) LH (6-9, 3.16), RH (11-8, its already potent lineup. ERA, 197 Ks, 159 1-3 IP), LH Gio Gonzalez (21-8, Rotation: RH Kris Medlen (10-1, 1.57 ERA; 9-0, 4.49), LH (4-1, 4.13 with Nationals), Romo and the 2.89, 207 Ks, 199 1-3 IP), RH Jordan Zimmer- 0.97 in 12 starts), LH Mike Minor (11-10, 4.12), RH RH (11-12, 3.90) begin the year on top, but there is no mann (12-8, 2.94), RH (12-13, 4.33 (16-7, 3.62), LH (13-11, Key Relievers: RH Jonathan Papelbon (5-6, shortage of potential challengers in the with the Angels), LH (10-8, 3.40) 3.67), RH Julio Teheran (0-0, 5.68; 7-9, 5.08 at 2.44, 38/42 saves), RH Mike Adams (5-3, 3.27 Key Relievers: RH (2-1, 2.26, -A Gwinnett) with Rangers), LH Antonio Bastardo (2-5, 4.33) leaner National League. 42/46 saves with Yankees), RH Key Relievers: RH (3-1, 1.01, Outlook: The Phillies no longer are the team to “History is not in our favor. It doesn’t (2-6, 3.72, 32/37), RH (3-1, 2.37, 4) 42/45 saves, 116 Ks in 62 2-3 IP), LH Eric O’Fla- beat in the NL East after winning five straight happen very often,” ace Outlook: The Nationals are confident they’re herty (3-0, 1.73), LH Jonny Venters (5-4, 3.22) division titles and the World Series in 2008. said, gearing up to defend the title. ready to return to the playoffs — and make a Outlook: Anything less than a second straight Howard and Utley seem healthy and eager to deep this time. “World Series or bust” were playoff appearance and deeper run in the post- prove they’ve got plenty left. With Halladay iffy, “But if we do all we can, it certainly is the words used by Johnson, who plans to retire season will be considered a major disappoint- Hamels and Lee must pitch up to their lucrative possible.” after this season. Strasburg will be rarin’ to go. ment, turning up the heat on Gonzalez. contracts to carry the staff.

NEW YORK METS NL SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS WEST

2012 2012 2012 2012 74-88 69-93 94-68 86-76 4th, East 5th, East WS champs 2nd, West 1B (32 HOME RUNS, 90 RBIs) RF (.608 SLG) C (NL MVP, .336, 103 RBIs) P (14-9, 2.53 ERA) Manager: Terry Collins (third season) Manager: (first season) Manager: (seventh season) Manager: (third season) Projected Lineup: RF Mike Baxter (.263, 3 HRs, Projected Lineup: LF (.307, 1 HR, Projected Lineup: CF Angel Pagan (.288, 8 Projected Lineup: LF (.282, 17 RBIs in 179 at-bats) or (.210, 1, 9 25 RBIs, 37 SBs in 130 games for Phillies), 2B HRs, 56 RBIs, 29 SBs, 15 triples), 2B Marco 3 HRs, 19 RBIs with Red Sox), 2B Mark Ellis with Cubs and Red Sox), SS Ruben Tejada (.289, (.295, 2, 28), RF Giancarlo Scutaro (.306, 7, 74 with Rockies and Giants, (.258, 7, 31), CF (.303, 23, 69), 1B 1, 25), 3B (Chesapeake, .306, 21, Stanton (.290, 37, 86, NL-high .608 SLG in 123 NLCS MVP), 3B (.283, 12, 63, Adrian Gonzalez (.299, 16, 103 with Red Sox and 93), 1B Ike Davis (.227, 32, 90), 2B games), 1B (.229, 12, 55 for World Series MVP), C Buster Posey (.336, 24, Dodgers), SS Hanley Ramirez (.259, 24, 52 with (.291, 6, 65, 40 doubles), C John Buck (.192, 12, Indians), CF Justin Ruggiano (.313, 13, 36 in 91 103, 39 doubles, NL MVP), RF Marlins and Dodgers; expected to miss eight 41 with Marlins), LF (.239, 15, 57), CF games), 3B Placido Polanco (.257, 2, 19 in 90 (.253, 24, 104 with Phillies and Giants), 1B Bran- weeks), RF (.284, 20, 89), 3B Luis (.252, 7, 28, 98 Ks in 282 at- games for Phillies), Rob Brantly (.290, 3, 8 in 31 don Belt (.275, 7, 56), LF (.244, 5, Cruz (.297, 6, 40), C A.J. Ellis (.270, 13, 52) bats) or Collin Cowgill (.269, 1, 9 with Oakland) games), SS (.254, 2, 15 in 41 34, 26 SBs), SS (.248, 4, 45) Projected Rotation: LH Clayton Kershaw (14-9, Rotation: LH Jonathon Niese (13-9, 3.40 ERA, games for Blue Jays) Rotation: RH Matt Cain (16-5, 2.79 ERA, 193 2.53 ERA, 229 Ks, 227 2-3 IP, Award 190 1-3 IP in 30 starts), RH (3-5, Rotation: RH (12-13, 4.48 ERA), Ks), LH (16-11, 3.37, 191 Ks), runner-up), RH Zack Greinke (15-5, 2.48 with 2.73, 10 starts, 70 Ks, 26 BBs, 42 hits, 59 1-3 RH Nathan Eovaldi (3-7, 4.43), RH Henderson RH (10-15, 5.18, 190 Ks, matched Brewers and Angels), RH (7-14, IP), LH (6-9, 4.85 in 21 starts), Alvarez (9-14, 4.85 for Blue Jays), LH Wade career high with 17 wild pitches), LH 4.65 with Red Sox and Dodgers), RH Chad Bill- RH (7-4, 3.70 in 21 starts with LeBlanc (2-5, 3.67), RH (did not (15-8, 4.15), RH (14-9, 3.37) ingsley (10-9, 3.55), LH Hyun-Jin Ryu (9-9, 2.66 Milwaukee), RH (6-7, 4.10 in 17 starts) pitch in 2012) Key Relievers: RH Sergio Romo (4-2, 1.79, with Hanwha of Korean Baseball Organization) Key Relievers: RH Bobby Parnell (5-4, 2.49, 7 Key Relievers: RH (5-2, 2.69, 14/15 saves, .185 BA against), LH Javier Lopez Key Relievers: RH (2-6, 3.13, saves, 74 games), RH Frank Francisco (1-3, 5.53, 15/19), RH (4-3, 4.03), LH (U.Va., 3-0, 2.50, 7 saves), RH Santiago Casilla 15/19 saves with Mariners and Dodgers), RH 23/26 saves), RH Brandon Lyon (4-2, 3.10, 1 (0-3, 4.91) (7-6, 2.84, 25/31 saves) (5-3, 2.35, 25/31 saves) , 67 games with Houston and ) Outlook: A young, thin, inexperienced rotation Outlook: General manager Outlook: A 2013 payroll of more than Outlook: Better days appear to be ahead, but probably will make for a long year, especially if brought back almost the entire World Series $230 million bought a lot of expectations. the Mets face a tough road to success. The Mar- Nolasco is traded during the season to further crew, with players who accounted for more than The big ticket is the six-year, $147 million lins could keep them out of last place again. cut costs, as anticipated. 95 percent of the postseason at-bats. contract that Greinke signed in December.

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS PADRES NL CENTRAL

2012 2012 2012 2012 81-81 64-98 76-86 97-65 3rd, West 5th, West 4th, West 1st, Central 2B (.302, 26 HOME RUNS) CF (.300, 72 RUNS) SS EVERTH CABRERA (NL-HIGH 44 SBs) 1B (.337, 14 HOME RUNS) Manager: Kirk Gibson (third season) Manager: (first season) Manager: (seventh season) Manager: (sixth season) Projected Lineup: CF Adam Eaton (.259, 2 HRs, Projected Lineup: CF Dexter Fowler (.300, 13 Projected Lineup: SS Everth Cabrera (.246, 2 Projected Lineup: CF Shin-Soo Choo (.283, 16 5 RBIs; .381, 46 doubles, 119 runs at Triple-A HRs, 53 RBIs, 12 SBs, 72 runs), 2B Josh Rutledge HRs, 24 RBIs, NL-high 44 SBs), RF HRs, 67 RBIs, 21 SBs with ), 2B Bran- Reno), 3B Martin Prado (.301, 10, 70 with Braves), (.274, 8, 37), LF Carlos Gonzalez (.303, 22, 85), (.264, 9, 45) or (.293, 8, 36), 3B don Phillips (.281, 18, 77), 1B Joey Votto (.337, 2B Aaron Hill (.302, 26, 85), C Miguel Montero SS (.287, 8, 27 in 47 games), RF Chase Headley (.286, 31, 115), LF 14, 56 in 111 games), LF (.275, 26, (.286, 15, 88), 1B (.286, 20, (Chesapeake, .260, 16, 58), 1B (.261, 16, 46), 1B (.273, 9, 62), 2B 80), RF (.252, 34, 99), 3B 82), LF (.253, 30, 90), RF (.238, 7, 37), C Wilin Rosario (.270, (.328, 24, 83 in 92 games at Triple- (.273, 19, 67 in 128 games), SS Zack Cozart (.267, 22, 81 with Red Sox) or Gerardo Parra 28, 71), 3B (.301, 9, 53) A), CF (.243, 8, 45, 26 SBs), C (.246, 15, 35), C Ryan Hanigan (.274, 2, 24) (.273, 7, 36), SS Cliff Pennington (.215, 6, 28 with Rotation: RH Jhoulys Chacin (3-5, 4.43 ERA, 69 Nick Hundley (.157, 3, 22) Rotation: RH (19-9, 2.78 ERA, 33 Oakland) or (.302, 0, 23) IP), LH Jorge De La Rosa (0-2, 9.28, 3 starts), Rotation: LH Clayton Richard (14-14, 3.99 ERA, starts, 2 CG), RH (12-10, 3.74, Rotation: RH Ian Kennedy (15-12, 4.02 ERA, LH Drew Pomeranz (2-9, 4.93), RH 107 Ks), RH Edinson Volquez (11-11, 4.14, 174 Ks), 32 starts, 1 CG, 1 SHO), RH Mat Latos (14-4, 187 Ks), RH Trevor Cahill (13-12, 3.78), LH Wade (2-3, 5.28), LH (6-7, 5.58) RH (8-11, 5.22 with Twins and Pa- 3.46, 33 starts, 2 CG), RH (13-10, Miley (16-11, 3.33, 144 Ks, 37 BBs), RH Brandon Key Relievers: RH Rafael Betancourt (1-4, dres), LH Eric Stults (8-3, 2.92), RH 3.68, 33 starts, 2 CG, 1 no-hitter), LH Aroldis McCarthy (8-6, 3.24 with Oakland), RH Randall 2.81, 31/38 saves), RH Matt Belisle (3-8, 3.71, 3 (2-11, 6.50 with Oakland) or RH Chapman (5-5, 1.51 as , 38/43 saves in 68 Delgado (4-9, 4.37 with Braves) or LH Patrick saves), RH Wilton Lopez (6-3, 2.17, 10 saves with (3-4, 4.27, 5 starts, 33 appearances) games) Corbin (6-8, 4.54) Houston) Key Relievers: RH (2-1, 1.85, Key Relievers: RH Jonathan Broxton (3-3, 2.82, Key Relievers: RH J.J. Putz (1-5, 2.82, 32/37 Outlook: This time last year, Weiss was - 23/24 saves), RH (2-0, 2.39, 72 4 saves with Reds, 1-2, 2.27, 23 saves with Roy- saves), RH David Hernandez (2-3, 2.50, 98 Ks in ing his son’s high school baseball team. Now, Ks in 71 2-3 IP), RH Brad Brach (2-4, 3.78) als), LH Sean Marshall (Manchester/VCU, 5-5, 68 1-3 ), RH (4-5, 5.09, 19/27 the first-year manager inherits a Rockies squad Outlook: There’s not much optimism that the 2.51, 9 saves), RH Logan Ondrusek (5-2, 3.46) saves with Marlins) that’s coming off a season in which they lost Padres will avoid a fifth losing season in six Outlook: The Reds return their roster virtually Outlook: The question is, can they score 98 games. The team made no bold offseason years. That leaves fans to wonder what they intact from a 97-win season. The goal is to get enough and avoid their myriad baserunning moves to bolster the club, banking on bounce- will do with Headley, whose breakout season past the first round of the playoffs, something blunders of a season ago. back seasons from veterans coming off injuries. produced Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards. Cincinnati has failed to do.

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

2012 2012 2012 2012 88-74 79-83 83-79 61-101 2nd, Central 4th, Central 3rd, Central 5th, Central LF (27 HRs, 102 RBIs) CF ANDREW McCUTCHEN (.327, 31 HRs) 3B ARAMIS RAMIREZ (.307, 27 HRs) LF (32 HRs, 108 RBIs) Manager: (second season) Manager: (third season) Manager: Ron Roenicke (third season) Manager: Dale Sveum (second season) Projected Lineup: CF (.305, 4 HRs, 40 Projected Lineup: LF (.257, 5 Projected Lineup: RF Norichika Aoki (.288, 10 Projected Lineup: CF David DeJesus (.263, 9 RBIs, 19 SBs, .373 OBP), 2B HRs, 17 RBIs, 12/17 SBs), 2B (.280, HRs, 50 RBIs, 30 SBs), 2B Rickie Weeks (.230, HRs, 50 RBIs), SS Starlin Castro (.283, 14, 78), (.227, 4, 26, 7 triples), LF Matt Holliday (.295, 27, 14, 69), CF Andrew McCutchen (.327, 31, 96), 3B 21, 63), LF (.319, 41, 112), 3B Aramis 1B (.285, 15, 48 in 87 games), 102, 95 runs), 1B (.307, 22, 92 in 119 Pedro Alvarez (.244, 30, 85, 180 Ks), 1B Garrett Ramirez (.300, 27, 105), 1B Corey Hart (.270, 30, LF Alfonso Soriano (.262, 32, 108), RF Nate games), RF Carlos Beltran (.269, 32, 97, 13 SBs), Jones (.274, 27, 86), C (.211, 21, 83), C (.320, 12, 58), CF Carlos Schierholtz (.257, 6, 21 with SF and Philadelphia) C (.315, 22, 76, 12 SBs), 3B David 53 with Yankees), RF (.250, 4, 17 Gomez (.260, 19, 51), SS (.264, 0, or (.263, 20, 57 with Mets), 2B Freese (.293, 20, 79), SS (.333, 2, 14 with Blue Jays and Pirates), SS Clint Barmes 14 in 44 games with Brewers) (.254, 7, 44), C Welington Castillo in 26 games) (.229, 8, 45) Rotation: RH (16-9, 3.66 ERA), (.265, 5, 22), 3B Luis Valbuena (.219, 4, 28) Rotation: RH (14-13, 3.94, Rotation: RH A.J. Burnett (16-10, 3.51 ERA, RH (3-10, 5.69), RH Mike Fiers Rotation: RH (9-13, 3.81 184K in 198 2-3 IP), LH Jaime Garcia (7-7, 3.92 180 Ks), LH Wandy Rodriguez (12-13, 3.76 with (9-10, 3.79), LH (1-1, 7.00 in 2 ERA, 180 Ks), RH (10-11, 4.03 in 20 starts), RH (13-11, 3.97), Astros and Pirates), RH James McDonald (12-8, starts), RH Wily Peralta (2-1, 2.48 in 6 games, 5 with Washington), RH (5-7, 3.91, RH (18-7, 3.78), RH Joe Kelly (5-7, 4.21), RH (5-4, 3.97), LH Jeff Locke starts) 18 starts), RH (6-11, 5.09 with 3.53 in 16 starts) or RH (1-0, 1.32 (1-3, 5.50) Key Relievers: RH (5-8, 4.67, 35/44 ), LH Travis Wood (6-13, 4.27) or RH Carlos in 1 start) Key Relievers: RH (1-6, 2.91, 2 saves), LH Mike Gonzalez (0-0, 3.03 with Wash- Villanueva (7-7, 4.16 in 38 games with Toronto) Key Relievers: RH (4-5, 2.75, saves), RH Jared Hughes (2-2, 2.85 in 66 ington), RH Jim Henderson (1-3, 3.52) Key Relievers: RH Carlos Marmol (3-3, 3.42, 42/49 saves), RH (4-1, 2.21 in games), RH (0-0, 5.56) Outlook: Milwaukee traded Zack Gre- 20/23 saves), RHP Kyuji Fujikawa (2-2, 1.32, 24 78 games), LH Randy Choate (0-0, 3.03 with Outlook: It sounds almost bizarre, but it could inke last summer but quietly made up for it with saves with Hanshin Tigers in Japan), RH Shawn Marlins and Dodgers) very well be the playoffs or bust for this group of one of the majors’ most productive offenses. If Camp (3-6, 3.59, 2 saves in 80 games) Outlook: They lost 16-game winner Pirates. Pittsburgh flirted with the postseason Braun can put together another MVP-caliber Outlook: As they enter the second year of the to free agency, former ace to an and the franchise’s first winning record in two season, Gallardo can anchor the pitching staff era, the Cubs remain in the early arm injury and to reconstructive decades last summer before fading. The roster and Segura can live up to expectations, the stages of a building process. They have a long elbow surgery, and added no key pieces. returns pretty much intact. Brewers could compete in the NL Central. way to go, though. This isn’t about quick fixes.