MLB Preview: NL CENTRAL

(Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

LINEUP

1. Skip Schumaker | 2B | .302 | 8 HR | 46 RBI

2. Yadier Molina | C | .304 | 7 HR | 56 RBI

3. Albert Pujols | 1B | .357 | 37 HR | 116 RBI

4. Rick Ankiel | CF | .264 | 25 HR | 71 RBI

5. Ryan Ludwick | RF | .299 | 37 HR | 113 RBI

6. Chris Duncan | LF | .248 | 6 HR | 27 RBI

7. David Freese | 3B |

8. PITCHER

9. Khalil Greene | SS | .213 | 10 HR | 35 RBI

PITCHING STAFF

1. Adam Wainwright | 11-3 | 3.20 ERA | 91 K | 1.18 WHIP

2. Chris Carpenter | 0-1 | 1.76 ERA | 7 K | 1.30 WHIP

3. Kyle Lohse | 15-6 | 3.78 ERA | 119 K | 1.30 WHIP

4. Todd Wellemeyer | 13-9 | 3.71 ERA | 134 K | 1.25 WHIP

5. Joel Pineiro | 7-7 | 5.15 ERA | 81 K | 1.45 WHIP

CL Jason Motte | 4 H | 0.82 ERA | 16 K | .73 WHIP

KEY BENCH PLAYERS

Brendan Ryan | .244 | 0 HR | 10 RBI

Colby Rasmus |

The St. Louis Cardinals of 2008 surprised a lot of people with the success they had without pitching ace, Chris Carpenter. This season, the Cards have Carpenter back to presumably full strength. The Cards have two young guns that could start for the bulk of the season. Colby Rasmus and David Freese are being raved about and could be a key part of this team. With Freese taking Glaus’s spot, the Cardinals look to maintain the mojo from last season and challenge the Cubs for the NL Central.

OVERALL GRADE: B

CHICAGO CUBS

LINEUP

1. Alfonso Soriano | LF | .280 | 29 HR | 75 RBI

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