MLB Preview: NL East

(Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

Note: The lineups and rotation order are done by my discretion. The projected lineups are done the way I would have them if I was the team's manager.

ATLANTA BRAVES

LINEUP

1. Kelly Johnson 2B .287 12 HR 69 RBI

2. Yunel Escobar SS .288 10 HR 60 RBI

3. Chipper Jones 3B .364 22 HR 75 RBI

4. Brian McCann C .301 23 HR 87 RBI

5. Casey Kotchman 1B .272 14 HR 74 RBI

6. Garret Anderson LF .293 15 HR 84 RBI

7. Jeff Francoeur RF .239 11 HR 71 RBI

8. Gregor Blanco CF .251 1 HR 38 RBI

9. PITCHER

PITCHING STAFF

1. Derek Lowe 14-11 3.24 ERA 147 K 1.13 WHIP

2. Jair Jurrjens 13-10 3.68 ERA 139 K 1.37 WHIP

3. Javier Vazquez 12-16 4.67 ERA 200 K 1.32 WHIP

4. Kenshin Kawakami

5. Tom Glavine 2-4 5.54 ERA 37 K 1.64 WHIP

CL Mike Gonzalez 14 SV 4.28 ERA 44 K 1.19 WHIP

KEY BENCH PLAYERS

Matt Diaz .244 2 HR 14 RBI

Omar Infante .293 3 HR 40 RBI

I like what the Braves have done this offseason. They are going back to their successful ways in having quality pitching. Their lineup is balanced; however, they lack a dependable, power hitter. If Chipper can stay healthy for the majority of the year, I would expect the 2009 Atlanta Braves to be competitive.

OVERALL GRADE: B-

FLORIDA MARLINS

LINEUP

1. Cameron Maybin CF .500 0 HR 2 RBI

2. John Baker C .299 5 HR 32 RBI

3. Hanley Ramirez SS .301 33 HR 67 RBI

4. Jorge Cantu 1B .277 29 HR 95 RBI

5. Jeremy Hermida LF .249 17 HR 61 RBI

6. Dan Uggla 2B .260 32 HR 92 RBI

7. Cody Ross RF .260 22 HR 73 RBI

8. Emilio Bonifacio 3B .243 0 HR 14 RBI

9. PITCHER

PITCHING STAFF

1. Ricky Nolasco 15-8 3.52 ERA 186 K 1.10 WHIP

2. Josh Johnson 7-1 3.61 ERA 77 K 1.35 WHIP

3. Chris Volstad 6-4 2.88 ERA 52 K 1.33 WHIP

4. Anibal Sanchez 2-5 5.57 ERA 50 K 1.57 WHIP

5. Andrew Miller 6-10 5.87 ERA 89 K 1.64 WHIP

CL Matt Lindstrom 14 H 3.14 ERA 43 K 1.45 WHIP

KEY BENCH PLAYERS

Wes Helms .243 5 HR 31 RBI

Alfredo Amezega .264 3 HR 32 RBI

Another young squad from the Florida Marlins. The only thing that differentiates the Marlins from other young teams is the productive stats they receive from their young guns. I will be excited to see this young team throughout the season; I expect they will play a big role as a spoiler.

OVERALL GRADE: C

NEW YORK METS

LINEUP

1. Jose Reyes SS .297 16 HR 68 RBI

2. Daniel Murphy LF .313 2 HR 17 RBI

3. Carlos Beltran CF .284 27 HR 112 RBI

4. David Wright 3B .302 33 HR 124 RBI

5. Carlos Delgado 1B .271 38 HR 115 RBI

6. Ryan Church RF .276 12 HR 49 RBI

7. Luis Castillo 2B .245 3 HR 28 RBI

8. Brian Scheider C .257 9 HR 38 RBI

9. PITCHER

PITCHING STAFF

1. Johan Santana 16-7 2.53 ERA 206 K 1.15 WHIP

2. Mike Pelfrey 13-11 3.72 ERA 110 K 1.36 WHIP

3. Oliver Perez 10-7 4.22 ERA 180 K 1.40 WHIP

4. John Maine 10-8 4.18 ERA 122 K 1.35 WHIP

5. Livan Hernandez 13-11 6.05 ERA 67 K 1.67 WHIP

CL Francisco Rodriguez 62 SV 2.24 ERA 77 K 1.29 WHIP

KEY BENCH PLAYERS

Fernando Tatis .297 11 HR 47 RBI

Alex Cora .270 0 HR 9 RBI

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