MLB Preview: NL CENTRAL

(Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

2. Ryan Theriot | SS | .307 | 1 HR | 38 RBI

3. Derrek Lee | 1B | .291 | 20 HR | 90 RBI

4. Milton Bradley | RF | .321 | 22 HR | 77 RBI

5. Aramis Ramirez | 3B | .289 | 27 HR | 111 RBI

6. Geovany Soto | C | .285 | 23 HR | 86 RBI

7. Kosuke Fukudome | CF | .257 | 10 HR | 58 RBI

8. Mike Fontenot | 2B | .305 | 9 HR | 40 RBI

9. PITCHER

PITCHING STAFF

1. Carlos Zambrano | 14-6 | 3.91 ERA | 130 K | 1.29 WHIP

2. Ryan Dempster | 17-6 | 2.96 ERA | 187 K | 1.21 WHIP

3. Rich Harden | 10-2 | 2.07 ERA | 181 K | 1.06 WHIP

4. Ted Lilly | 17-9 | 4.09 ERA | 184 K | 1.23 WHIP

5. Sean Marshall | 3-5 | 3.86 ERA | 58 K | 1.27 WHIP

CL Kevin Gregg | 29 SV | 3.41 ERA | 58 K | 1.28 WHIP

KEY BENCH PLAYERS

Aaron Miles | .317 | 4 HR | 31 RBI

Reed Johnson | .303 | 6 HR | 50 RBI

Micah Hoffpauir | .342 | 2 HR | 8 RBI

The 2009 Chicago Cubs are the most talented team in the NL Central and arguably the best team in baseball. The Cubs seem to have no holes in their team. They have a strong lineup with depth and they have a quality pitching staff with depth in the rotation and bullpen. What can wrong? Well, let’s not forget, it is the Chicago Cubs. A big key for the Cubs is starting pitcher, Rich Harden; if Harden can stay healthy for most of the season, the Cubs are going to win the NL Central without much contest. I look for Aramis Ramirez to have a big season and Big Z to have an ace-like season (also I see a few broken bats over his thigh).

OVERALL GRADE: A-

PITTSBURGH PIRATES

LINEUP

1. Nyjer Morgan | LF | .294 | 0 HR | 7 RBI

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