MLB Power Rankings: Fast or Slow Starters?

Each season, certain major league teams rise up and raise a few eyebrows, while others get off to a sluggish start. Often, how the schedule plays out will affect a team’s chances for success.

After carefully combing through all 30 teams' 2012 schedules, here is how six squads might start the year.

WINNERS

Milwaukee Brewers—Projected 85.5 wins

The Brewers are the defending NL Central champions but lost a large bat in the middle of their batting order in Prince Fielder. Milwaukee is predicted to finish second in the NL Central (according to oddsmakers) behind Cincinnati, but could get off to a quick start to help build confidence.

The Brew Crew begins and ends the month of April with the defending World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals, who also are replacing a huge component of their offense. Over the years, Milwaukee has always played well against the Redbirds and should do no worse than split with the Cards.

Milwaukee’s first road series take it o Wrigley Field, where it will play four games. The Cubs are rebuilding (again) with a new front office. This is a winnable series for the Crew.

After a tough series in Atlanta, the Brewers return home to face the L.A. Dodgers, Colorado and Houston. Any fewer than six wins would be a disappointment, given the quality of the starting pitching Milwaukee has assembled.

Atlanta Braves—Projected 86.5 wins

Only because Boston became a bigger story, the negative spotlight did not shine as brightly on Atlanta last year. The Braves had an 8.5-game lead in the wild-card race on Sept. 5, only to give it away to St. Louis and miss the playoffs on the final day of the regular season. With front-running Philadelphia weakened without two major bats in its lineup and having age as an issue at several positions, the Braves just might grab an early NL East lead.

Atlanta’s first 10 days of the season feature six games with the Mets (home and away) and a three-game series with Houston, both of whom are suspects to finish in the basement of their respective divisions.

A western trip to Arizona and the L.A. Dodgers will not be a simple task, but is not impossible either. The Bravos return home for a four-game series with Pittsburgh, which sounds like a series winner and solid start.

Oakland A’s—Projected 72.5 wins

You are probably scratching your head trying to figure out how Oakland fits in this picture. Just remember, this is about exceeding expectations for the short term, not the season. The Athletics offense lacks punch and their pitching is far from settled, yet Oakland might be hovering around .500 for awhile this season.

They already have split a pair with Seattle in Japan and have five more games (home and home) with the Mariners by the middle of the month. Seattle is not scaring anybody, giving the A’s a chance.

Oakland has four rugged games with Albert (Pujols) and the Angels, yet, for some reason, Oakland always presents a challenge for the Halos at the Big A in Anaheim.

The A’s have three other home series against Kansas City, Cleveland and the White Sox and should win at least two of those. Three contests in Baltimore on April 27-29 gives the Green and Gold a chance for victory and a decent record before May, when the schedule becomes a nightmare.

Starting April 30, in order, the A’s are at Boston, at Tampa Bay, Toronto, Detroit, at L.A. of Anaheim, at Texas, at San Francisco, L.A. of A and the Yankees, Whew!

LOSERS

Minnesota Twins—Projected 73.5 wins

After years of being a contender in the AL Central, the Twins lost 99 games in 2011 and prospects for a quick rebound seem remote. Opening the season at Baltimore at least gives Minnesota a chance to get off to a good start. However, after that reprieve, the Twinkies get the equivalent of a scheduling anvil falling on them.

The next five series are the Angels, Texas, at the Yankees, at Tampa Bay and home to Boston. Minnesota will not be favored to win any of those series and could be digging out of a hole for the rest of the year.

Pittsburgh Pirates—Projected 74 wins

After 100 games a season ago, Pittsburgh was 53-47 and in first place in the NL Central. The Pirates then reverted to previous form and lost 43 of their final 62 games, making it 18 straight losing seasons. Though the overall talent base in Pittsburgh is improved, the beginning of the year could well be similar to the close of last season.

After three encounters with in-state partner and NL East favorite Philadelphia, the Bucs head west for a nine-game swing through L.A., San Francisco and Arizona, which will test their mettle immediately. Upon returning home to Pittsburgh, the Pirates have the World Series champion Cardinals and Colorado, which figures to be improved.

That is followed by a four-game set in Atlanta and three near the shore of the Mississippi River at Busch Stadium. Locating more than nine victories in Pittsburgh’s first 25 tries might be harder than swallowing Burger King’s new menu items.

Chicago Cubs—Projected 73.5 wins

It’s a new beginning for the Cubs (think Bill Murray in Groundhog Day), with a revamped front office promising better days ahead. The familiar Cubs refrain of “Wait ‘til next year” might come even earlier the way the April schedule sets up.

The North-Siders will begin at Wrigley Field, but few will argue that Washington and Milwaukee are not better than the Cubbies in their first seven outings. The first road trip takes them to rival St. Louis and a presumably much-improved Miami club.

After that, Central Division contenders Cincinnati and the Cardinals will visit the “friendly confines” and probably find Cub pitching to their liking. After a day off, Chicago has seven games in Philadelphia and Cincy, both of whom are favored to win their divisions. “Wait ‘til next year!”