MLB Preview: National League

NL East

1. Philadelphia (93 wins)
This team is the class of the NL. I like the lineup 1-8, the starting pitching could be fantastic, and the bullpen should be solid (even if Brad Lidge misses significant time). Howard and Utley are a murderer's row by themselves, and Roy Halladay is going to love pitching on a team that's relevant.

2. Atlanta (86)
If there's one team that could seize the NL East if the Phillies slip, it's Atlanta. I like Heyward and McClouth in the OF, Glaus should stay healthier at 1B (just two years ago he was worth more than 5 wins to the Cardinals, says Fangraphs.com), and McCann and Chipper will produce. And I like the rotation. Tommy Hansen is a perennial Cy Young candidate in the making, and they have depth.

3. Florida (85)
There's a lot to like about the Fish, but the pitching is too shallow, and I think I might be overrating them slightly. Of course, any team with Hanley Ramirez as its anchor should be OK, and if the top pitchers stay healthy, they could contend.

4. New York (77)
Last year I predicted big things for the Mets; not this year. After Johan Santana, their starting pitching is scary, as in, New York fans are going to cringe a lot. The lineup also has holes (even with the addition of JBay). This is going to be a long season, though David Wright will bounce back and have a great year.

5. Washington (66)
In five seasons of existence since moving from Montreal/San Juan, the Nationals have never finished better than 4th in the NL East. Their best season was their first, with 81 wins. Jim Bowden ran this team so poorly, spending money on players who will never be on a good Nationals team. But there is some hope. Everybody and their mother thinks Stephen Strasburg is the real deal, and Ryan Zimmerman blossomed into a superstar in 2009. Still, this is a bad team, with holes all over the place. But they should win more than 59 games (their win total two years running).

NL Central
1. St. Louis (92)
There is only one really good team in this division, and the Cardinals will cruise to another division crown (their 8th in 11 years). The pitching should be good, and Pujols anchors a decent lineup. Welcome to the playoffs again, boys.

2. Chicago (84)
Alfonso Soriano is a disaster. He has had some good seasons, where he was worth 4-5 wins. Last year he was so bad, you would have been better grabbing a random minor leaguer to replace him. (Check out his Fangraphs page.) Geovany Soto fell flat after an awesome 2008. Neither of those two are as bad as they were last year. The Cubs will rebound, but won’t be able to catch their rivals.

3. Cincinnati (80)
Semi-bold prediction: The Reds win the Central in 2011. The young lineup will rake this year, led by Votto and Bruce. The starting rotation will be decent, especially after Cuban lefty Aroldis Chapman joins the rotation. They are not deep enough or good enough to contend for the playoffs in 2010, but that won’t be true in 2011.

4. Milwaukee (77)
I like the lineup. Of course, Fielder and Braun are total studs, but Weeks will stay healthy and Corey Hart won't suck as bad, so they will score a lot of runs. And much ballyhooed SS prospect Alcides Escobar will add speed and excitement to the middle infield. But the pitching, after Gallardo, is not good enough.

5. Houston (68)
Looking at the Astros active roster, the only players I would really want are Oswalt and Wandy Rodriguez. Kaz Matsui? Really? This is a bad team, and I don’t believe management realizes how bad.

6. Pittsburgh (65)
The Pirates last made the postseason at the beginning of my junior year of high school, 1992, with an outfield of Barry Bonds, Andy Van Slyke and Alex Cole. And though they have a couple of young position players that are intriguing (including Jeff Clement at 1B), they will finish 6th in the Central for the 4th year in a row.

NL West
1. Colorado (90)
The Rockies lineup is going to be really good, the right mixture of hitting and defense. Tulowitski is a stud, and Dexter Fowler is a All-Star in the making in center. The pitching is also good, and the rest of the West is mediocre.

2. Los Angeles (88)
Unfortunately a divorce may have killed this team. This is a team with a great OF, and a window to compete. But yet the Blake Dewitt-Ronnie Belliard combo will patrol 2B, Casey Blake starts at 3B, and Vincente Padilla is the opening day starter. Could they make the playoffs? Absolutely, but a few shrewd offseason moves might have made them a runaway favorite like the Cardinals.

3. Giants (82)
The pitching will be awesome. Lincecum is a freaky stud, and Cain and Zito are a good 2-3. The offense? Brutal. Besides Kung Fu Panda, there’s not a plus player on the field (and he’s a bad fielder). Again, a few shrewd offseason moves could have made them a contender.

4. Arizona (80)
The D-Backs are a cute darkhorse pick, but I don’t see it. Are they young? Absolutely. Could some of their young underperformers (I’m looking at you, Stephen Drew) break out? Totally. But too many things would have to go right, and the pitching will be bad if Webb can’t get back on the mound.

5. Padres (65)
Take a look at the Padres depth chart. Really. Take a look. This is a really bad team. A slim Matt Stairs is even coming off the bench. And yes, that’s really Jon Garland as the No. 1 starter. It will be a long season in San Diego, but at least the weather will be nice.

NLDS
Colorado over St. Louis
Philadelphia over Los Angeles

NLCS
Colorado over Philadelphia

World Series
Seattle over Colorado