NL EAST

Atlanta Braves

2007 (84-78)

3rd place, 5 GB

Starting rotation

RHPTim Hudson

LHPTom Glavine

RHPJair Jurrjens

LHPMike Hampton

RHPJohn Smoltz

CloserRHPRafael Soriano

Projected lineup

2BKelly Johnson

SSYunel Escobar

3BChipper Jones

1BMark Teixeira

RFJeff Francoeur

C

Brian McCann

LFMatt Diaz

CFMark Kotsay

* Manager: Bobby Cox, signed through 2008, could retire at end of season.

* Pressure is on: CF Mark Kotsay, slowed by bulging disk last season, was acquired from Oakland to fill void created by free-agent loss of Andruw Jones.

* Quickly: RHP Jair Jurrjens, offseason addition from Detroit, won fifth starter battle with Chuck James. . . . LHP Mike Hampton came through healthy in bid to make good in final year of eight-year, $121 million deal. . . . Matt Diaz beat out Brandon Jones for left field job.

* Bottom line: Braves are ready to return to top of division after back-to-back third-place finishes as long as Hampton stays healthy and LHP Tom Glavine remains competitive.

Florida Marlins

2007 (71-91)

5th place, 18 GB

Starting rotation

LHPMark Hendrickson

RHPRick VandenHurk

LHPAndrew Miller

LHPScott Olsen

RHPRicky Nolasco

CloserRHPKevin Gregg

Projected lineup

SSHanley Ramirez

2BDan Uggla

RFLuis Gonzalez

LFJosh Willingham

1BMike Jacobs

3BJorge Cantu

C

Matt Treanor

CFCody Ross

* Manager: Fredi Gonzalez, signed through 2009.

* Pressure is on: SS Hanley Ramirez, who led NL shortstops with 24 errors in 2007, is only All-Star remaining with trade of 3B Miguel Cabrera.

* Quickly: LHP Mark Hendrickson was given Opening Day assignment, with RHP Sergio Mitre (forearm strain) out for two months and LHP Scott Olsen (shoulder tendintis) pushed back to start home opener. . . . 3B Jorge Cantu's big bat earned him starting job over Jose Castillo. . . . C Mike Rabelo suffered sprained left knee March 13, didn't return to action until getting in minor league games in final days of spring, then went on disabled list.

* Bottom line: Hendrickson is highest paid member of rotation ($1.5 million) and was released by Dodgers. There's no depth or veteran leadership to help through tough times.

* Also on disabled list: OF Jeremy Hermida.

New York Mets

2007 (88-74)

2nd place, 1 GB

Starting rotation

LHPJohan Santana

RHPPedro Martinez

LHPOliver Perez

RHPJohn Maine

RHPMike Pelfrey

CloserLHPBilly Wagner

Projected lineup

SSJose Reyes

2BLuis Castillo

3BDavid Wright

CFCarlos Beltran

1BCarlos Delgado

LFAngel Pagan

RFRyan Church

C

Brian Schneider

* Manager: Willy Randolph, signed through 2009 with $2.5 million option in 2010.

* Pressure is on: Randolph was close to being fired when Mets coughed up seven-game lead in final 17 games of 2007. Leash will be short this year despite contract.

* Quickly: Fragile LF Moises Alou went on the disabled list for at least a month with a groin injury, leaving Mets in need of right-handed-hitting OF. . . . CF Carlos Beltran issued challenge by announcing, "Tell Jimmy Rollins, we're the team to beat." . . . RHP Pedro Martinez seemed 100 percent, giving Mets solid 1-2 with LHP Johan Santana and Martinez.

* Bottom line: Mets are old and injury-prone. Problems began to surface in spring with injury to Alou and ongoing struggles of hoped-for fifth starter Orlando Hernandez.

Philadelphia Phillies

2007 (89-73)

1st place, 1 GA; lost NLDS 3-0

Starting rotation

RHPBrett Myers

LHPCole Hamels

LHPJamie Moyer

RHPKyle Kendrick

RHPAdam Eaton

CloserRHPTom Gordon

Projected lineup

SSJimmy Rollins

CFShane Victorino

2BChase Utley

1BRyan Howard

LFPat Burrell

3BPedro Feliz

RFGeoff Jenkins

C

Carlos Ruiz

* Manager: Charlie Manuel is in first year of two-year extension with option for 2010.

* Pressure is on: 1B Ryan Howard is four years removed from free agency, but won $10 million in arbitration even though average fell from .313 to .268 in 2007.

* Quickly: Closer Brad Lidge was brought along slowly after reinjuring surgically-repaired right knee on first pitch he threw off a mound. . . . RHP Brett Myers seemed comfortable in move from closer back to rotation. . . . RHP Adam Eaton continued to struggle but was slotted into fifth starter role.

* Bottom line: Offense can line up with any team in NL, and defense got better with addition of 3B Pedro Feliz, but pitching staff lacks depth and is thin, even without injury.

* Disabled list: RHP Brad Lidge.

Washington Nationals

2007 (73-89)

4th place, 16 GB

Starting rotation

LHPOdalis Perez

LHPMatt Chico

RHPTim Redding

LHPJohn Lannan

RHPShawn Hill

CloserRHPChad Cordero

Projected lineup

SSCristian Guzman

CFLastings Milledge

3BRyan Zimmerman

1BNick Johnson

RFAustin Kearns

LFElijah Dukes

C

Paul Lo Duca

2BRonnie Belliard

* Manager: Manny Acta, option for 2009 picked up in September, has option for 2010.

* Pressure is on: OF Lastings Milledge escaped Mets, and gets the everyday opportunity he complained about not receiving in New York. Can he clean up his reputation, too?

* Quickly: RHP John Patterson, former Opening Day starter sidelined with injuries past two seasons, was released. . . . LHP Odalis Perez wound up in Opening Day assignment because LHP Shawn Hill was sidelined with forearm tightness. . . . OFs Milledge and Elijah Dukes joined Nationals, played well on field and showed no signs of offseason problems of the past.

* Bottom line: Move into new stadium will provide an additional year or two on the honeymoon, but team on field is still at least three years from turning things around.

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NL CENTRAL

Chicago Cubs

2007 (85-77)

1st place, 2 GA; lost NLDS 3-0

Starting rotation

RHPCarlos Zambrano

LHPTed Lilly

LHPRich Hill

RHPRyan Dempster

RHPJason Marquis

CloserRHPKerry Wood

Projected lineup

SSRyan Theriot

LFAlfonso Soriano

1BDerrek Lee

3BAramis Ramirez

RFKosuke Fukudome

2BMark DeRosa

C

Geovany Soto

CFFelix Pie

* Manager: Lou Piniella, signed through 2009 with option 2010.

* Pressure is on: CF Felix Pie, who is top-flight defensively and has hit at every level except the big leagues. He needs to hit, and so do quickly in 2008.

* Quickly: OF Alfonso Soriano will hit second to ease demands on legs. . . . 2B Mark DeRosa underwent surgical procedure to correct rapid heartbeats and will open season on active roster. . . . RHP Ryan Dempster went from closer to starter, with RHP Kerry Wood moving into closer role.

* Bottom line: They don't have a 2B, CF, leadoff hitter, back-end starters or a closer, putting them in position for 100th consecutive year without World Series.

Cincinnati Reds

2007 (72-90)

5th place, 13 GB

Starting rotation

RHPAaron Harang

RHPBronson Arroyo

RHPJohnny Cueto

RHPJosh Fogg

RHPEdinson Volquez

CloserRHPFrancisco Cordero

Projected lineup

CFCorey Patterson

SSJeff Keppinger

RFKen Griffey Jr.

2BBrandon Phillips

LFAdam Dunn

3BEdwin Encarnacion

1BJoey Votto

C

David Ross

* Manager: Dusty Baker, signed three-year, $12 million contract with 2011 option during offseason.

* Pressure is on: GM Wayne Krivsky is in final year of contract, and owner Bob Castellini, former part owner in St. Louis, brought in fired Cardinals GM as an adviser.

* Quickly: Homer Bailey, No. 1 pick in 2004, pitched his way back to Triple-A Louisville. . . . Corey Patterson and Norris Hooper claimed center-field platoon, leaving Jay Bruce, game's top prospect, back in minors.

* Bottom line: Reds can put up runs in a hurry, but can they find some surprises on the pitching staff? If they do, they can be a surprise in game's worst division.

* Disabled list: LHP Bobby Livingston.

Houston Astros

2007 (73-89)

4th place, 12 GB

Starting rotation

RHPRoy Oswalt

RHPBrandon Backe

LHPWandy Rodriguez

RHPShawn Chacon

RHPChris Sampson

CloserRHPJose Valverde

Projected lineup

CFMichael Bourn

RFHunter Pence

1BLance Berkman

LFCarlos Lee

SSMiguel Tejada

3BTy Wigginton

2BMark Loretta

C

J.R. Towles

* Manager: Cecil Cooper, signed two-year deal with option for 2010 in offseason.

* Pressure is on: SS Miguel Tejada has had diminishing range and production, and now is under investigation by the FBI for performance enhancement drug issues.

* Quickly: 2B Kazuo Matsui underwent an anal fissure and opens the season on the disabled list. . . . Tejada battled with off-field problems stemming from fed investigation of his steroid usage, and it seemed to affect his play on field, where he was defensive nightmare. . . . RHP Shawn Chacon, signed as camp opened, claimed fourth spot in rotation.

* Bottom line: Astros have taken high-priced stars whose careers are on the decline in an effort to patch a franchise that is going to crumble because of farm system neglect.

Milwaukee Brewers

2007 (83-79)

2nd place, 2 GB

Starting rotation

RHPBen Sheets

RHPJeff Suppan

RHPDave Bush

RHPCarlos Villanueva

LHPManny Parra

CloserRHPEric Gagne

Projected lineup

2BRickie Weeks

CFTony Gwynn Jr.

1BPrince Fielder

LFRyan Braun

RFCorey Hart

3BBill Hall

SSJ.J. Hardy

C

Jason Kendall

* Manager: Ned Yost, option for 2009 was exercised during offseason.

* Pressure is on: RHP Eric Gagne was given $10 million to be reliever he was with Texas before turning into batting practice pitcher in Boston down the stretch last year.

* Quickly: C Jason Kendall will hit ninth to serve as "second leadoff hitter." . . . Switch of Bill Hall from CF to 3B and Ryan Braun from 3B to LF went smoothly. . . . RHP Yovani Gallardo (minor knee surgery) and LHP Chris Capuano (sore elbow) opened on disabled list.

* Bottom line: The Brewers are rolling the dice with Gagne. They have quality lineup and solid rotation. They need relief help.

Pittsburgh Pirates

2007 (68-94)

6th place, 17 GB

Starting rotation

RHPIan Snell

LHPTom Gorzelanny

LHPPaul Maholm

RHPMatt Morris

LHPZach Duke

CloserRHPMatt Capps

Projected lineup

CFNate McLouth

SSJack Wilson

3BFreddy Sanchez

LFJason Bay

1BAdam LaRoche

RFXavier Nady

3BJose Bautista

C

Ronny Paulino

* Manager: John Russell, signed three-year contract during offseason.

* Pressure is on: OF Jason Bay went from three strong seasons to .247, 21 HR, 84 RBI last year, hitting .204 in his final 89 games.

* Quickly: RHP Ian Snell signed three-year, $8 million deal that has options for 2011 and 2012. . . . Top prospect Steve Pearce was sent to Triple-A Indianapolis with orders to focus on RF, setting stage for trade of Xavier Nady. . . . 2B Freddy Sanchez was sidelined by right- shoulder problems.

* Bottom line: Pirates have quality young arms that bode well for creation of solid rotation, but offense that ranked 12th in NL in runs scored last year could be even worse this season.

St. Louis Cardinals

2007 (78-84)

3rd place, 7 GB

Starting rotation

RHPAdam Wainwright

RHPTodd Wellemeyer

RHPBrad Thompson

RHPBraden Looper

RHPKyle Lohse

CloserRHPJason Isringhausen

Projected lineup

RFSkip Schumaker

LFRyan Ludwick

1BAlbert Pujols

3BTroy Glaus

CFRick Ankiel

C

Yadier Molina

SSCesar Izturis

2BAaron Miles

* Manager: Tony La Russa, signed new two-year contract during offseason.

* Pressure is on: 2B Adam Kennedy has two years remaining on three-year, $10 million contract, but his play last year created doubts he'll be able fulfill the deal.

* Quickly: RHPs Joel Pineiro and Matt Clement developed minor shoulder problems and will open the season on the disabled list with LHP Mark Mulder and RHP Chris Carpenter. . . . INF Scott Spiezio was released the day team learned of his offseason problems, apparently involving alcohol. . . . Oft-injured OF Juan Gonzalez played nine innings before being sidelined with an abdominal strain.

* Bottom line: With 1B Albert Pujols, team has to be taken seriously, but four members of rotation on disabled list and lack of a shortstop are reasons for concern.

* Also on the disabled list: RHP Josh Kinney and OF Juan Encarnacion.

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NL WEST

Arizona Diamondbacks

2007 (90-72)

1st place, 1/2 GA; lost NLCS 4-3

Starting rotation

RHPBrandon Webb

RHPDan Haren

LHPDoug Davis

RHPMicah Owings

LHPEdgar Gonzalez

CloserRHPBrandon Lyon

Projected lineup

CFChris Young

2BOrlando Hudson

1BConor Jackson

LFEric Byrnes

3BMark Reynolds

SSStephen Drew

RFJustin Upton

C

Chris Snyder

* Manager: Bob Melvin, signed extension through 2010 during offseason.

* Pressure is on: LHP Randy Johnson is critical for rotation, but at 44 he is coming off second back surgery in 10 months, third in 18 months.

* Quickly: Chad Tracy (microfracture knee surgery in September) and C Miguel Montero (fractured right index finger in winter ball) went on disabled list, opening spots for OF Alex Romero and C Robby Hammock. . . . Johnson struggled to get outs once he started to pitch and returned to the disabled list. . . . LHP Doug Davis will open season in rotation but eventually will require surgery for thyroid cancer.

* Bottom line: Lineup lacks an impact bat, but more concerning is lack of late-inning relievers and fragile rotation that can't survive expected problems of Johnson.

Colorado Rockies

2007 (90-73)

2nd place, 1/2 GB;lost WS 4-0

Starting rotation

LHPJeff Francis

RHPAaron Cook

RHPUbaldo Jimenez

LHPMark Redman

RHPFranklin Morales

CloserRHPManny Corpas

Projected lineup

CFWilly Taveras

SSTroy Tulowitzki

1BTodd Helton

LFMatt Holliday

3BGarrett Atkins

RFBrad Hawpe

C

Yorvit Torrealba

2BJayson Nix

* Manager: Clint Hurdle, signed extension through 2009 on Opening Day 2007.

* Pressure is on: 3B Garrett Atkins is only young core member without multiyear deal and hot prospect Ian Stewart is considered a year away.

* Quickly: RHP Jason Hirsh (slight rotator cuff strain) went on disabled list, opening spot for promising but inconsistent Franklin Morales in rotation. . . . LHP Jeff Francis joins Erik Bedard, Ryan Dempster, Ferguson Jenkins and Reggie Cleveland as only Canadian-born pitchers to start Opening Day. . . . Jayson Nix made good on chance to win second base job, becoming only rookie in lineup.

* Bottom line: Time for RHP Aaron Cook to become dominant starter. Bullpen has depth with former closer Brian Fuentes to back up Manny Corpas. Offense is explosive.

Los Angeles Dodgers

2007 (82-80)

4th place, 8 GB

Starting rotation

RHPBrad Penny

RHPDerek Lowe

RHPChad Billingsley

RHPHiroki Kuroda

RHPEsteban Loaiza

CloserRHPTakashi Saito

Projected lineup

SSRafael Furcal

C

Russell Martin

2BJeff Kent

CFAndruw Jones

1BJames Loney

LFAndre Ethier

RFMatt Kemp

3BBlake DeWitt

* Manager: Joe Torre, signed three-year, $13 million contract during offseason.

* Pressure is on: CF Juan Pierre is in second year of five-year, $44 million deal, but will battle for playing time with addition of Andruw Jones.

* Quickly: 3B Andy LaRoche (torn ligament right thumb) and Nomar Garciaparra (broken hand) went on the disabled list and forced Dodgers to shop for third-base help. . . . Pierre appeared to be forced to bench by Ethier despite four years left on five-year, $44 million deal. . . . LHP Clayton Kershaw will open at Double-A but made strong enough impression to be considered likely in-season call-up.

* Bottom line: Concerns remain in clubhouse, where young players and veterans are at odds. Torre's laid-back approach worked with vets in the Bronx, but Dodgers need attention.

San Diego Padres

2007 (89-74)

3rd place, 11/2 GB

Starting rotation

RHPJake Peavy

RHPChris Young

RHPGreg Maddux

LHPRandy Wolf

RHPJustin Germano

CloserRHPTrevor Hoffman

Projected lineup

RFBrian Giles

2BTadahito Iguchi

3BKevin Kouzmanoff

1BAdrian Gonzalez

SSKhalil Greene

LFJody Gerut

CFScott Hairston

C

Josh Bard

* Manager: Bud Black, signed through 2009.

* Pressure is on: RHP Trevor Hoffman is 40, coming off two blown saves in final three games that cost Padres 2007 postseason bid.

* Quickly: CF Jim Edmonds went on the disabled list when the straw man injured a calf coming out of batter's box. . . . Rookie Chase Headley worked on conversion from 3B to LF, allowing Scott Hairston to move over to center while Edmonds is on the DL. . . . Justin Germano and Wil Ledezma were battling for fifth rotation spot, with loser going to bullpen.

* Bottom line: On paper, things don't look promising, especially if Hoffman struggles, but Padres excel at making the most out of what they have, so don't count them out.

San Francisco Giants

2007 (71-91)

5th place, 19 GB

Starting rotation

LHPBarry Zito

RHPMatt Cain

RHPTim Lincecum

LHPJonathan Sanchez

RHPKevin Correia

CloserRHPBrian Wilson

Projected lineup

CFDave Roberts

2BEugenio Velez

RFRandy Winn

C

Bengie Molina

CFAaron Rowand

1BRich Aurilia

3BJuan Castillo

SSBrian Bocock

* Manager: Bruce Bochy, signed through 2009.

* Pressure is on: LHP Barry Zito was horrible in first year of seven-year, $126 million deal, but has six years to get things straightened out.

* Quickly: LHP Noah Lowry will be out until at least end of April after undergoing surgery on his left forearm. . . . SS Omar Vizquel was sidelined in late February because of arthroscopic right-knee surgery and could miss at least first month of season. . . . INF Jose Castillo was claimed off waivers from Florida and will get a long look at third base, a major void with free-agent loss of Pedro Feliz.

* Bottom line: Good young arms help create a solid rotation, but Giants farm system hasn't produced an impact offensive player since Will Clark, and there are none on the horizon.

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