Tuesday's Trends and Indexes - 4/3 (NBA, NCAAB, NHL, Misc.)

[Udog]

NHL
Short Sheet

Tuesday, March 3

NY RANGERS at PHILADELPHIA, 7:05 PM ET
NY RANGERS: 11-4 SU Away off home loss
PHILADELPHIA: 2-8 SU at home off win by 2 goals

NY ISLANDERS at NEW JERSEY, 7:05 PM ET
NY ISLANDERS: 8-2 SU Away w/ double revenge
NEW JERSEY: 0-5 SU off shutout win

TORONTO at BUFFALO, 7:05 PM ET
TORONTO: 1-7 SU at Buffalo
BUFFALO: 12-2 SU off road loss by 1 goal

PITTSBURGH at BOSTON, 7:35 PM ET
PITTSBURGH: n/a
BOSTON: n/a

WINNIPEG at FLORIDA, 7:35 PM ET
WINNIPEG: 11-25 SU playing 4th game in 7 days
FLORIDA: 9-1 SU off BB non-conf games

CAROLINA at OTTAWA, 7:35 PM ET
CAROLINA: 4-16 SU as road dog of +150 or less
OTTAWA: 6-0 SU off win by 4+ goals

MINNESOTA at NASHVILLE, 8:05 PM ET
MINNESOTA: 12-6 SU on 2-game unbeaten streak
NASHVILLE: 16-24 SU playing w/ 2 days rest

SAN JOSE at DALLAS, 8:35 PM ET
SAN JOSE: 11-16 SU as road favorite of -200 or less
DALLAS: 6-0 SU off division loss by 3+ goals

ANAHEIM at VANCOUVER, 10:05 PM ET
ANAHEIM: 2-12 SU Away off home game
VANCOUVER: 10-2 SU revenging home loss

COLUMBUS at PHOENIX, 10:05 PM ET
COLUMBUS: 0-10 SU in April games
PHOENIX: 11-4 SU playing w/ 2 days rest

** (TC) Denotes Time Change

[Udog]

MLB primer: AL East odds to win and preview

For all the name power in the American League East, and the hype and buzz that goes with it, this division just doesn't produce champions like it used to, does it? The AL East has only one World Series title in the last four years: the 2009 Yankees.

Will normalcy be restored this season? To be determined. There certainly is high-priced talent all over the place. But maybe just enough questions on the money teams -- the Yankees, Red Sox and Rays -- to keep this division down when it counts.

Until then, let's examine all five teams, and their strengths and weaknesses as we await the first pitch of 2012 (Odds courtesy of PinnacleSports.com):

New York Yankees

Last year's record: 97-65
This year's season win total: 93.5
Odds to win the AL East: -136

WHO'S IN: Raul Ibanez, Hiroki Kuroda, Michael Pineda, Andy Pettitte, Bill Hall
WHO'S OUT: Jorge Posada, Jesus Montero, A.J. Burnett

TEAM STRENGTH: Power. What the Yankees lack in team batting average (.263 last season), they can make up for with the long balls. They whacked 222 last season, which led the majors, and though age is catching up to Derek Jeter, 37 years old, and Alex Rodriguez, 36, Curtis Granderson (41 homers last season), Mark Teixeira (39), Robinson Cano (28) and even Nick Swisher (23) should be able to pick up where they left off.

TEAM WEAKNESS: Starting pitching. CC Sabathia aside, there are questions to be answered. And there is no more Burnett to pick on, so Ivan Nova (16-4, 3.70 ERA last year) cannot suffer a slump a year after his breakout, and the unknowns that are Phil Hughes and Pettitte must at the least, deliver quality innings, and hand leads over to an aging but still effective bullpen.

Tampa Bay Rays

Last year's record: 91-71
This year's season win total: 86.5
Odds to win the AL East: +500

WHO'S IN: Carlos Pena, Luke Scott
WHO'S OUT: Casey Kotchman, Johnny Damon

TEAM STRENGTH: Starting pitching. James Shields (16-12, 2.82 ERA, 225 strikeouts) and David Price (12-13, 3.49, 218) can certainly produce better numbers than last year, and will lead a staff loaded with upside, including the much heralded Matt Moore, who was 1-0 with just three walks in limited duty last season. He will begin the year in the rotation, and won't have the pressure other youngsters have on other teams because of the horses in front of him.

TEAM WEAKNESS: Strikeouts. Pena and Scott could be a feast-or-famine parlay, as the two combined for 37 homers last season, but also produced a joint 215 punchouts. With health, those power numbers will increase, especially as Pena returns to the American League. But the threat of the strikeout, especially with runners on base for a team that needs to maximize offense, will loom large all season.

Boston Red Sox

Last year's record: 90-72
This year's season win total: 90.5
Odds to win the AL East: +300

WHO'S IN: Andrew Bailey, Cody Ross, Nick Punto
WHO'S OUT: Marco Scutaro, Tim Wakefield, Jason Varitek, J.D. Drew

TEAM STRENGTH: Speed. Believe it or not, a team with Jacoby Ellsbury (39 steals), Dustin Pedroia (26) and Carl Crawford (18) last season finished 17th in the league in stolen bases. But the key here, is the latter of the three. Crawford, considering his talent, motivation and health, is due for a big season in Beantown, and if he's getting on base, and swiping them at a regular clip, the Red Sox could be the most dangerous baserunning team out there.

TEAM WEAKNESS: Bullpen. Not as much as a weakness just yet, as much as it's an unknown. New manager Bobby Valentine does not have the services of Jonathan Papelbon, who is now with the Phillies. And though he has options -- Bailey had 24 saves last season -- the mystery that is Josh Bard -- Is he staying in the bullpen? Is he headed to the rotation? Will he stay at either place very long? -- might just hover over this group and do more harm than good.

Toronto Blue Jays

Last year's record: 81-81
This year's season win total: 83
Odds to win the AL East: +1325

WHO'S IN: Sergio Santos, Francisco Cordero
WHO'S OUT: Corey Patterson

TEAM STRENGTH: Bullpen. An area of weakness last season, the relief staff should be a strong spot this year. Sergio Santos, Jason Frasor and Cordero have all closed games before, and done well in the role. Santos and Cordero, in fact, combined for 67 saves last season, and nine victories.

TEAM WEAKNESS: Protection. Jose Bautista is one of the most feared hitters in baseball, but there isn’t another bat in Toronto’s lineup to make an opposing pitcher sweat.

Baltimore Orioles

Last year's record: 69-93
This year's season win total: 70.5
Odds to win the AL East: +10,600

WHO'S IN: Wilson Betemit, Jason Hammel, Matt Lindstrom
WHO'S OUT: Jeremy Guthrie, Luke Scott, Derrek Lee

TEAM STRENGTH: You have to like the upside of the outfield. Adam Jones may never be the player he was billed as, but Orioles fans can probably live with the numbers he threw up last year: .280 average, 25 homers, 83 RBIs, 68 runs and 12 steals. Combine him Nick Markakis (73 RBIs and 72 runs), and at least you've got something out there in the grass of Camden Yards.

TEAM WEAKNESS: Starting pitching. Guthrie certainly wasn't Cy Young, but he won 47 games for bad Baltimore teams from 2007-11, and will be sorely missed. The names left for the rotation depth chart -- let's face it -- will not top many fantasy draft boards: Jake Arrieta, Tommy Hunter, Wei-Yin Chen, Tsuyoshi Wada, Zach Britton, Hammel. In this division? Good luck.




MLB primer: AL Central preview and odds to win

The Detroit Tigers are the defending division champs and they’re the only club getting much press in the AL Central. Detroit made a splash in the offseason, signing slugger 1B Prince Fielder to a monster deal and now feature an infield with two of the biggest bats in the majors.

So, you can understand, clearly, why the Tigers are favored as heavily as they are to win the AL Central. But it says here that all teams have to play 162 games anyway, so let’s examine all five teams, and their strengths and weaknesses as we await the first pitch of 2012 (Odds courtesy of PinnacleSports.com):

Detroit Tigers

Last year's record: 95-67
This year's season win total: 90.5
Odds to win the AL Central: -400

WHO'S IN: Prince Fielder, Gerald Laird, Octavio Dotel
WHO'S OUT: Brad Penny, Magglio Ordonez, Carlos Guillen, Victor Martinez (injury)

TEAM STRENGTH: Power. Of course, we’ll see how it translates at big, expansive Comerica Park, but the dynamic corner-infield duo of Fielder and Miguel Cabrera could prove to be nightmares for the opposition. They two combined to hit 68 homers last season, and if you throw in, let’s say, 20 from a player like Delmon Young, who mashed 21 with the Twins in 2010, the Tigers could challenge the Yankees for this year’s home run crown.

TEAM WEAKNESS: Fielding. The names on the back of the jerseys are great, and the offensive numbers are even better, but Detroit may have trouble catching the ball this season. Second baseman Ryan Raburn had 17 errors last season, and he was followed by Cabrera (13) and Brandon Inge (9). It all added up to a 16th -place finish in errors, and hard to believe that Fielder (15 with Brewers last season) is going to help much.

Cleveland Indians

Last year's record: 80-82
This year's season win total: 79.5
Odds to win the AL Central: +1070

WHO'S IN: Derek Lowe, Casey Kotchman, Kevin Slowey
WHO'S OUT: Fausto Carmona/Roberto Hernandez, Austin Kearns, Orlando Cabrera

TEAM STRENGTH: Starting pitching. Though he still needs a breakout season to garner national attention, Justin Masterson (12-10, 3.21 ERA, 158 strikeouts last season) appears ready to carry a rotation, and he will have help this year from veterans Ubaldo Jimenez and Derek Lowe, who combined for 19 wins last season and may benefit from having a more stable situation than in Colorado and Atlanta, respectively.

TEAM WEAKNESS: Infield hitters. When Kotchman, a first baseman, is your marquee offseason addition, you're in trouble. Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera (25 homers, 92 RBIs, 17 steals last season) is coming off a tremendous campaign, but how much of a load can he carry? He has Jack Hannahan at third, and Jason Kipnis at second. Ugh. In a division with good pitching, this team will struggle to score runs.

Chicago White Sox

Last year's record: 79-83
This year's season win total: 76.5
Odds to win the AL Central: +1425

WHO'S IN: Kosuke Fukodome
WHO'S OUT: Sergio Santos, Jason Frasor, Carlos Quentin, Mark Buehrle

TEAM STRENGTH: Pride. New manager Robin Ventura will put the focus on the field -- unlike his predecessor, Ozzie Guillen -- and the former Chicago third baseman will lean on the veterans who love being White Sox, who’ve made names for themselves as members of the White Sox, and hope to change the fortunes of the White Sox soon.

TEAM WEAKNESS: Batting average. They have power, and they’ll be able to knock runs in ... provided they can get on base. The only way that’s going to happen, though, is if the averages improve. Because last year, they were awful. Take a look at just three: Adam Dunn (.159), Alex Rios (.227), and Gordon Beckham (.230). Those clips must move north soon or else.

Kansas City Royals

Last year's record: 71-91
This year's season win total: 76.5
Odds to win the AL Central: +1260

WHO'S IN: Jonathan Sanchez, Jonathan Broxton
WHO'S OUT: Melky Cabrera, Gil Meche, Jason Kendall, Kyle Davies

TEAM STRENGTH: Speed. As you’d expect from a small-market club without a dearth of big boppers, the Royals can swipe bases with the best of them. Their regular lineup is loaded with theft threats, including Alcides Escobar (26 steals last season), Jeff Francoeur (22), Chris Getz (21), Alex Gordon (17), and Eric Hosmer (11). And that’s all considering they lost Cabrera’s 20 steals from last year, too. Keep them off the basepaths, folks.

TEAM WEAKNESS: Starting pitching. There is upside, for certain, but far too many unknowns. When you scan the names -- Luke Hochevar, Bruce Chen, Felipe Paulino, Danny Duffy and Sanchez -- nothing truly stands out. While Hochevar and Chen combined for 23 wins last season, there's still nothing there to feel good about, even in a weak division.

Minnesota Twins

Last year's record: 63-99
This year's season win total: 72.5
Odds to win the AL Central: +1780

WHO'S IN: Jason Marquis, Josh Willingham, Ryan Doumit, Jamey Carroll
WHO'S OUT: Michael Cuddyer, Jason Kubel, Joe Nathan, Kevin Slowey

TEAM STRENGTH: Health. This is a franchise clearly built around Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer, and without them at 100 percent last year, you see the results. Hard to believe a worse fate in their still-new ballpark, than the M&M boys combining last year seven whole home runs last season with the Twins. Tough to stomach in Minnesota. But they are back, and should be able to make the most of 18 games against the likes of the Royals and White Sox.

TEAM WEAKNESS: Identity. Though Morneau and Mauer are the poster boys for the franchise, the team will seek a new image and brand, now that several blood-and-guts members of many postseason runs are gone. Cuddyer, Kubel, and certainly, Nathan were glue guys in Minnesota for a long time, and will be missed on the field, as well as the clubhouse. Of course, when you add a bat like Willingham’s, maybe identity is overrated.




MLB primer: AL West preview and odds to win

There are plenty of reasons this year to stay up late -- if you’re on the East Coast -- and watch baseball in this division. You have new stars, like Albert Pujols, in the mix. You have complete teams, like the Rangers and Angels, hunting for October. And as always, you have some decent rivalries.

And while the Mariners and Athletics -- who opened on Wednesday in Tokyo -- are young, there is some burgeoning talent there to keep on your radar. So, let’s examine all four teams, and their strengths and weaknesses as we wait for the 2012 season to begin in earnest. (Odds courtesy Pinnaclesports.com):

Texas Rangers

Last year's record: 96-66
This year's season win total: 91
Odds to win the AL West: Even

WHO'S IN: Yu Darvish, Joe Nathan
WHO'S OUT: C.J. Wilson, Darren Oliver

TEAM STRENGTH: Offensive consistency. Sure, there have been some changes. But, primarily, this is the same lineup that’s been to the postseason in consecutive years. And last year, Michael Young (106) and Adrian Beltre (105) topped 100 RBIs, and Josh Hamilton (94) and Nelson Cruz (87) came awfully close. No reason to think those numbers will drop significantly this season.

TEAM WEAKNESS: Starting pitching. Without Wilson, and despite plenty of hype hovering over it, the starting rotation is a bit of an unknown. Colby Lewis was 14-10 last year, and will be counted on heavily. But the rest of the crew -- Darvish, Derek Holland and Neftali Feliz among them -- is entering the deep end of the pool, and who knows what to expect. Facing the light-hitting Mariners and Athletics will help some, but is there enough here to get back to the playoffs?

Los Angeles Angels

Last year's record: 86-76
This year's season win total: 91.5
Odds to win the AL West: -125

WHO'S IN: Albert Pujols, C.J. Wilson, Chris Iannetta, LaTroy Hawkins, Jorge Cantu, Ryan ****erhans, Brad Mills
WHO'S OUT: Jeff Mathis, Joel Pineiro, Tyler Chatwood, Russell Branyan, Reggie Willits

TEAM STRENGTH: Starting pitching. The Angels improved their rotation and weakened the rival Rangers in one signing. C.J. Wilson, who was an ace in Texas, is the third starter behind Jered Weaver and Dan Haren. Ervin Santana, 178 strikeouts last season, is slated to be the No. 4 hurler in the rotation. Not too shabby.

TEAM WEAKNESS: Bullpen. There are numbers in there, for sure, and Jordan Walden had 32 saves last season, but if you're looking for a question mark on one of the league's best collections of talent, it's relief pitching. Scott Downs and Hawkins are coming off quality seasons, and keep finding ways to get it done. But this is a new mix, and it may take time to mesh and let everyone settle into a respective, pure role.

Oakland Athletics

Last year's record: 74-88
This year's season win total: 72
Odds to win the AL West: +3000

WHO'S IN: Yoenis Cespedes, Manny Ramirez, Seth Smith, Josh Reddick, Jonny Gomes, Bartolo Colon, Jarrod Parker
WHO'S OUT: Trevor Cahill, Gio Gonzalez, Andrew Bailey, Ryan Sweeney

TEAM STRENGTH: Promise of young prospects. Yoenis Cespedes is showing why Billy Beane is bananas about the Cuban defect. It always feels like they’re rebuilding in Oakland but with Cespedes and the prospects the A’s landed in the Cahill and Gonzalez deals, there does seem to be some foundation for the future.

TEAM WEAKNESS: Starting pitching. There's a lot to like about Brandon McCarthy, who had 123 strikeouts last season. But Colon and Dallas Braden as your No. 2 and 3? Expecting much out of them in this bat-heavy division is a tall task. Colon had his moments with the Yankees last season, but still lost 10 games with a monstrous lineup supporting him. This year, he doesn't have that luxury.

Seattle Mariners

Last year's record: 67-85
This year's season win total: 72
Odds to win the AL West: +4000

WHO'S IN: Jesus Montero, George Sherrill, Kevin Millwood, Carlos Guillen, John Jaso
WHO'S OUT: Michael Pineda, Adam Kennedy, Josh Lueke

TEAM STRENGTH: Catchers. Montero enters the fold fresh from the Yankees farm system, and joins Miguel Olivo and Jaso. Do they even need that many? Well, it's a good position to stockpile at, clearly, and the Mariners surely will find ways to get them all at-bats. In a small sample last season, Montero hit .328 with 12 RBIs.

TEAM WEAKNESS: Offense. As is always the case in Seattle, runs will be hard to come by. The M’s are hoping Montero gets up to speed right away and Justin Smoak will become a middle-of-the-order masher this season. But for now, slap hitter Irchiro is hitting third. So… yeah.

[Udog]

MLB primer: NL East preview and odds to win

When you've won five straight division titles, it's easy to assume the role as the favorite. It’s expected even. So you can forgive the Phillies if they've been through all of this before. Their run began in 2007, when they won 89 games, and it stretched through 2011, when they won 102. Ho hum.

But the competition is tougher this year. Washington, Miami and Atlanta are all primed to challenge Philly - this might even be the most balanced division in the league when it's all said and done. So, let’s examine all five teams, and their strengths and weaknesses as we wait for the 2012 season to begin in earnest. (Odds courtesy of Pinnaclesports.com):

Philadelphia Phillies

Last year's record: 102-60
This year's season win total: 93
Odds to win the NL East: -130

WHO'S IN: Jonathan Papelbon, Chad Qualls, Jim Thome, Ty Wigginton, Laynce Nix, Juan Pierre, Joel Pineiro
WHO'S OUT: Roy Oswalt, Brad Lidge, Raul Ibanez, Ryan Madson, Ben Francisco, Wilson Valdez

TEAM STRENGTH: Starting pitching. Oswalt is gone and so is all of the talk about the "Four Aces," but Philadelphia retains the best trio of starters in the league, still. And Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels will limit damage and give the Phillies' new-look bullpen, highlighted by Papelbon, a chance to save many games.

TEAM WEAKNESS: Infield. And isn’t that hard to believe? But the Phillies’ staples in the infield have questions aplenty alongside all of them. First baseman Ryan Howard will start the season on the disabled list. Second baseman Chase Utley will likely join him. And third baseman Placido Polanco is always a threat to land on the shelf. That leaves shortstop Jimmy Rollins, who may regret re-signing with Philadelphia this offseason. Not good.

Atlanta Braves

Last year's record: 89-73
This year's season win total: 87.5
Odds to win the NL East: +500

WHO'S IN: Tyler Pastornicky
WHO'S OUT: Derek Lowe, Alex Gonzalez, Nate McLouth, Scott Linebrink, George Sherrill

TEAM STRENGTH: Youth. Pastornicky, a touted shortstop prospect, can lean on the likes of first baseman Freddie Freeman and outfielder Jason Heyward, who have recently been through the ups and downs of a rookie season. Freeman (21 homers, 76 RBIs last season) and Heyward (14 and 42) also left plenty of hits out there last season, especially as the unseasoned Braves collapsed in September. So, not only do they need to produce, they must lead by example, as well.

TEAM WEAKNESS: Distraction. The Braves proved at the end of 2011 that they’re not mentally stable to withstand the pitfalls of a marathon season, and this year, they will have to cope with the Chipper Jones Farewell Tour. Everywhere they go, there will be ceremonies for Jones and the subsequent delays and dilemmas that go with them. Jones can still play -- he hit .275 last season with 70 RBIs -- but he could provide just enough of a commotion to slow this train down.

Washington Nationals

Last year's record: 80-81
This year's season win total: 84
Odds to win the NL East: +750

WHO'S IN: Edwin Jackson, Gio Gonzalez, Brad Lidge, Mark DeRosa, Chad Durbin
WHO'S OUT: Livan Hernandez, Jonny Gomes, Laynce Nix

TEAM STRENGTH: Starting pitching. There has to eventually be some proof to go with the promise and potential. But the firepower is there and it's led by Stephen Strasburg, who is 6-4 with a 2.54 ERA in his brief career. Gonzalez will be a key, as well, especially after he went 16-12 last season in Oakland. But there might be a bit of a transition period for him, as he switches leagues. So, be careful.

TEAM WEAKNESS: Hitting. The Nats finished 27th in batting average and 25th in on-base percentage last season. Michael Morse did his part last season, posting a surprising .303 average with 31 homers and 95 RBIs, but there wasn’t much production elsewhere in the lineup. Danny Espinosa (.236 BA) and Jayson Werth (.232) are due for breakouts after slump-ridden seasons, but you have to ask yourself in this pitching-rich division, can you trust them to bounce back?

New York Mets

Last year's record: 77-85
This year's season win total: 73.5
Odds to win the NL East: +5000

WHO'S IN: Andres Torres, Frank Francisco, Jon Rauch, Ronny Cedeno,
WHO'S OUT: Jose Reyes, Angel Pagan, Chris Capuano, Ronny Paulino, Jason Isringhausen, Chris Young

TEAM STRENGTH: Financial freedom. The Mets received some good news in March regarding the Bernie Madoff scandal, and will soon have some money to spend on the open market. That might not mean much this season, but know this: If they make a few runs, and are in some semblance of contention come July, the Mets might be able to add some payroll to help the cause. They may even be able to keep David Wright in town for good.

TEAM WEAKNESS: Outfield hitters. Some many places to pick. The hometown fences have been moved in, and that might help, but how much? Jason Bay hit 36 homers in his final season in Boston, and in the two years since -- with the Mets -- he has just 18. And though Torres will track down many a flyball in Citi Field, he hit just .224 last season, and is just a .244 career hitter. Not exactly Murderer’s Row out there as the Mets look to win back some fans.

Miami Marlins

Last year's record: 72-90
This year's season win total: 85.5
Odds to win the NL East: +500

WHO'S IN: Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle, Carlos Zambrano, Heath Bell, Wade LeBlanc, Chad Gaudin, Aaron Rowand, Austin Kearns
WHO'S OUT: Chris Volstad, Clay Hensley, Burke Badenhop, John Baker

TEAM STRENGTH: New attitude. This club has a new manager, new stadium, new name and a boatload of new talent. It’d be foolish to assume they’re going to draw like the Red Sox do in Boston but Ozzie Guillen’s boys should be playing home games with a few more butts in the seats this season. Got to be nice to be noticed which hasn’t been the case for the Marlins in a long, long time.

TEAM WEAKNESS: Pressure. The remodeled club must live up to the hype now. There is plenty of talent there -- probably enough to win the division -- but the Phillies and Braves, surely, are not buying these Johnny Come Latelys, and that’s a stigma only the Marlins can undo with their efforts on the field. One thing is for sure: New manager Ozzie Guillen won’t settle for slumps. He will not take long to shake things up if he needs to.




MLB primer: National League Central preview and odds

No division lost more name power than the National League Central, which is why experts aren’t predicting much for this group.

But the fact remains that this division is used to proving people wrong. After all, who thought this bunch would produce two playoff teams last year - St. Louis and Milwaukee - and have one of them win the World Series?

Let’s examine all six teams and their strengths and weaknesses as we wait for the 2012 season to begin:

Milwaukee Brewers

Last year's record: 96-66
This year's season win total: 85
Odds to win the NL Central: +228

WHO'S IN: Aramis Ramirez, Alex Gonzalez, Jose Veras
WHO'S OUT: Prince Fielder, Craig Counsell, Casey McGehee, Yuniesky Betancourt, LaTroy Hawkins, Takashi Saito

TEAM STRENGTH: Power. Even with Prince Fielder gone, this is a light-pitching division and there are bats abound in this lineup. Give credit to Milwaukee for adding Gonzalez (15 homers last season with Atlanta) and Ramirez (26 with the Cubs), as they form a neat bond with Ryan Braun (161 career homers). The Prince is gone, but the power isn’t.

TEAM WEAKNESS: Bullpen. It’s more of an unknown than a weakness. The numbers look good but closers are such a delicate bunch and Year 3 with John Axford might be a telling one. You can’t argue with his 71 saves and Francisco Rodriguez is there to back him up. But hitters in this league are tough to fool over the long haul, especially when you’re pitching one inning per appearance. With a solid staff in front of him, there should be plenty of opportunities for Axford. Only time will tell if he’s worth of star status.

St. Louis Cardinals

Last year's record: 90-72
This year's season win total: 84.5
Odds to win the NL Central: +238

WHO'S IN: Carlos Beltran, J.C. Romero, Alex Cora
WHO'S OUT: Albert Pujols, Edwin Jackson, Ryan Theriot, Nick Punto, Gerald Laird, Octavio Dotel

TEAM STRENGTH: Experience. No one is going to discount the loss of Pujols. But there are still many pieces on this roster that led St. Louis to a title last season. Hard to believe that kind of seasoning won’t help in a weak division. Lance Berkman, Matt Holliday and Yadier Molina are just a few of the names and now they have Beltran in the mix. Things aren't so bad in St. Louis, Pujols or not.

TEAM WEAKNESS: Health. Though he appears ready to go, there might be too much being placed at the feet of Adam Wainwright. A No. 1 or No. 2 starter might be too large a role for a pitcher who missed the entire 2011 season following Tommy John surgery. Of course, the weak division will help. But there has to be a question mark surrounding Wainwright.

Cincinnati Reds

Last year's record: 79-83.
This year's season win total: 87.5
Odds to win the NL Central: +153

WHO'S IN: Mat Latos, Ryan Madson, Sean Marshall, Jeff Francis, Ryan Ludwick, Wilson Valdez
WHO'S OUT: Ramon Hernandez, Francisco Cordero, Travis Wood, Edinson Volquez, Dontrelle Willis, Edgar Renteria

TEAM STRENGTH: Offensive balance. Lot of experts like the Reds in this division because they lost the least in the offseason. And when you throw the likes of Joey Votto, Brandon Phillips, Jay Bruce and Scott Rolen in the lineup everyday - health permitting - you're going to score some runs. Outfielder Drew Stubbs, who stole 40 bases last season, may complete the picture but needs to improve on last year's .243 BA.

TEAM WEAKNESS: Bullpen. It all seemed so perfect with Madson, who had 32 saves for Philadelphia last year, in the fold. But he’s injured now and manager Dusty Baker told reporters this week that he’d like to use a closer-by-committee approach. A lot of critics point to the theory that if you have two or more closers, you don’t have any closers. It could cost Cincinnati some close games.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Last year's record: 72-90
This year's season win total: 73
Odds to win the NL Central: +3164

WHO'S IN: Erik Bedard, A.J. Burnett, Rod Barajas, Clint Barmes, Nate McLouth, Casey McGehee
WHO'S OUT: Derrek Lee, Ryan Ludwick, Paul Maholm, Ronny Cedeno, Ryan Doumit, Jose Veras

TEAM STRENGTH: Runs. Perhaps one of the more underrated lineups, this team can drive them in and added some punch in the offseason to supplement that. Neil Walker drove in 83 runs last season and Andrew McCutchen knocked in 89 more. And lost in the mix appears to be McGehee, who drove in 104 runs for Milwaukee in 2010. If they make the most of their at-bats, the Pirates will do some damage in this division.

TEAM WEAKNESS: Starting pitching. Barajas will be a veteran presence to lean on behind the plate and Bedard could be special. But the loss of Burnett to an eye injury might be tough to overcome. Jeff Karstens had a 3.58 ERA last year and was a great story along the way. But it's doubtful he'll be able to keep that pace up and if Bedard stumbles in his first stint in the National League, there might be some trouble on the mound.

Chicago Cubs

Last year's record: 71-91
This year's season win total: 74.5
Odds to win the NL Central: +1923

WHO'S IN: Paul Maholm, Chris Volstad, Ian Stewart, David DeJesus, Andy Sonnanstine
WHO'S OUT: Carlos Zambrano, Aramis Ramirez, Carlos Pena, Sean Marshall

TEAM STRENGTH: General management. While this year’s going to be a tough one, new GM Theo Epstein will slowly implement his styles, his strategies, and piece this franchise back together. He will have the money to do so, and he’s got the experience to make it count. For now, when Stewart - a career .236 hitter - is your most experienced infielder, you’re in trouble.

TEAM WEAKNESS: First base. A lot will be expected of Bryan LaHair, who takes over for Pena and could be there for a long time. He has the tools and he hit .262 BA last year with five homers in limited action. But first base for the Cubs is a marquee, pressure-packed position. We'll see if he can hold up over 162 games.

Houston Astros

Last year's record: 56-106
This year's season win total: 63
Odds to win the NL Central: +13314

WHO'S IN: Jed Lowrie, Chris Snyder, Livan Hernandez, Zach Duke
WHO'S OUT: Mark Melancon, Clint Barmes, Jason Michaels

TEAM STRENGTH: First base. Carlos Lee has carved out quite a career for himself, and though not many people have noticed him through the years, he’s still going on a bad team. He hit .275 BA last season with 18 home runs and 94 RBIs, as the Astros sunk to the bottom of the league. There’s no more Hunter Pence to pair him with and there’s not much to be optimistic about in Houston overall. But Lee is a bright spot, for sure.

TEAM WEAKNESS: Bullpen. Brett Myers, who saved 21 games with the Phillies in 2007, will give the closer role a crack, though he hasn't posted a save in four years. The good news for Myers is that he will likely not have all that many opportunities to fail on a team this bad.




MLB 2012: NL West season preview

Can the National League West, which produced surprises the past two seasons, do it again?

No one expected the Giants to win the World Series in 2010. They did. No one expected the Diamondbacks to win the division in 2011. They did. Who’s next? Well, who knows, the Dodgers -- and their new ownership group -- could be in line, but that’s still a ways off.

In the interim, let’s examine all five teams and their strengths and weaknesses as we wait for the season to begin in earnest. (Odds courtesy of pinnaclesports.com):

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

Last year's record: 94-68
This year's season win total: 86.5
Odds to win the NL West: +151

WHO'S IN: Jason Kubel, Trevor Cahill, Takashi Saito, Jonathan Albaladejo
WHO'S OUT: Xavier Nady, Zach Duke, Colin Cowgill, Sean Burroughs

TEAM STRENGTH: Middle infield. Now that shortstop Stephen Drew is healthy, and second baseman Aaron Hill is in the fold for an entire season, the Diamondbacks are stronger up the middle than most. In 2010, his last full season, Drew hit 33 doubles, 12 triples and 15 home runs, and that was without the supporting cast he has now. Hill hit .315 with 12 RBIs in 33 games last season after Toronto traded him to Arizona. For his career, he has 98 homers and 425 RBIs.

TEAM WEAKNESS: Starting pitching. The numbers are there, clearly, as Ian Kennedy (21-4 last season) and Daniel Hudson (16-12) return to help the D-Backs defend their crown. But the expectations and pressure that go along with being West champs are tough to handle -- ask the 2011 Giants. And when you have questions after the top two starters -- Josh Collmenter, Trevor Cahill, Joe Saunders round out the rotation -- you might be fighting an uphill battle.

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

Last year's record: 86-76
This year's season win total: 87.5
Odds to win the NL West: +158

WHO'S IN: Melky Cabrera, Angel Pagan, Ryan Theriot, Clay Hensley
WHO'S OUT: Carlos Beltran, Andres Torres, Ramon Ramirez, Cody Ross, Pat Burrell

TEAM STRENGTH: Starting pitching. The Giants faded down the stretch last season and could not keep up their magic from the year before, but the staff is still in place to give it another run. Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Madison Bumgarner, Barry Zito, and Clay Hensley against a light-hitting division is a recipe for success. As long as the bullpen -- Brian Wilson had 36 saves last season, 12 fewer than in 2010 -- can hold up its end of the bargain, the pitching will be just fine in San Francisco.

TEAM WEAKNESS: Outfield. The Giants have been known to do more with less, and even in the World Series season, their lineup didn’t scare opponents. But this outfield has serious work to do. Cabrera had a bounceback year in Kansas City last season, hitting 18 homers with 87 RBIs, but how he’ll do on a team where games actually matter is another issue. Pagan is just a career .279 hitter, and has never had more than 11 home runs in a season. Nate Schierholtz has yet to play 140 games in a season.

LOS ANGELES DODGERS

Last year's record: 82-79
This year's season win total: 81
Odds to win the NL West: +735

WHO'S IN: Mark Ellis, Juan Rivera, Adam Kennedy, Chris Capuano, Aaron Harang, Mike MacDougal, Matt Treanor
WHO'S OUT: Hiroki Kuroda, Jonathan Broxton, Vicente Padilla, Casey Blake, Jamey Carroll, Rod Barajas

TEAM STRENGTH: Outfield. There was already plenty of upside here and now Rivera, who had 20 doubles and 15 homers in his last full season (2010), joins the mix for an entire year. He'll play alongside Matt Kemp (39 homers, 126 RBIs, and a .324 average last season) and Andre Ethier (11, 62, .292), who combined for one of the more impressive campaigns from an outfield duo in recent Dodgers' history.

TEAM WEAKNESS: Bullpen. Javy Guerra, who had 21 saves and a 2.31 ERA last season, is in a similar situation that many new closers face. Can he sustain success, and continue to thrive in a pressure-packed role? Time will tell, but there's not a ton behind him. The pen includes Kenley Jansen, Mike MacDougal, Todd Coffey, Matt Guerrier and Scott Elbert. So if Guerra falters, so too will the Dodgers.

COLORADO ROCKIES

Last year's record: 73-89
This year's season win total: 81.5
Odds to win the NL West: +646

WHO'S IN: Jeremy Guthrie, Michael Cuddyer, Marco Scutaro, Ramon Hernandez, Casey Blake, Jamie Moyer
WHO'S OUT: Huston Street, Jason Hammel, Seth Smith, Chris Iannetta, Ian Stewart

TEAM STRENGTH: Infield. Chris Nelson at third base has some growing to do, but the rest of the crew is good to go. A declining Todd Helton returns at first, backed up by Jason Giambi. They aren't the producers they once were, but they combined for 27 homers last season. Scutaro, a second baseman often overlooked in Boston, gets on base. He scored 92 runs in his last full season (2010). And shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (.302 average, 30 homers, 105 RBIs last season) is one of the best, all-around players in the game.

TEAM WEAKNESS: Starting pitching. Guthrie was stuck on bad teams in Baltimore. He never won more than 11 games in his five seasons there. A new start might be what he needs, but a change of league could throw that off a bit. With Juan Nicasio and Jhoulys Chacin behind him, the rotation is perilously thin.

SAN DIEGO PADRES

Last year's record: 71-91
This year's season win total: 74
Odds to win the NL West: +2018

WHO'S IN: Carlos Quentin, Huston Street, Edinson Volquez, Micah Owings, John Baker
WHO'S OUT: Heath Bell, Mat Latos, Anthony Rizzo

TEAM STRENGTH: Bullpen. Luke Gregerson, with 56 holds the last two seasons, is among the many anonymous pieces to the Padres' bullpen that gets lost in the mix. With Street in the fold now, the Padres should be able to close games better. How many leads they'll get is another story, but Street, with 178 career saves, should be able to shut the door. And the fact that he came from the Rockies helps, too, as he clearly knows the division and league.

TEAM WEAKNESS: Take your pick. Let's go outfield, and take a look at Carlos Quentin, Cameron Maybin and Will Venable. When you analyze productive outfields -- even in the National League -- you're looking for trios that combine to drive in about 250 runs. You'd love to have one hitter over 100 RBIs, and the others close to the 80s. Well, these three combined for 161 RBIs last season, and that was with Quentin (77) hitting for the White Sox. It could be another long year in San Diego.

[Udog]

MLB
Long Sheet

Wednesday, April 4

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ST LOUIS (101 - 79) at MIAMI (72 - 90) - 7:05 PM
KYLE LOHSE (R) vs. JOSH JOHNSON (R)
Top Trends for this game.
ST LOUIS is 50-38 (+13.6 Units) against the money line in road games in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
ST LOUIS is 77-50 (+19.0 Units) against the money line in night games over the last 2 seasons.
MIAMI is 31-47 (-21.5 Units) against the money line in home games over the last 2 seasons.
MIAMI is 31-47 (-21.5 Units) against the money line in home games in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
MIAMI is 24-38 (-19.4 Units) against the money line in home games in night games over the last 2 seasons.
MIAMI is 20-37 (-20.8 Units) against the money line in home games against right-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

KYLE LOHSE vs. MIAMI since 1997
LOHSE is 2-2 when starting against MIAMI with an ERA of 5.85 and a WHIP of 1.516.
His team's record is 3-3 (-0.2 units) in these starts. The OVER is 3-2. (+1.0 units)

JOSH JOHNSON vs. ST LOUIS since 1997
JOHNSON is 1-2 when starting against ST LOUIS with an ERA of 3.60 and a WHIP of 1.229.
His team's record is 3-2 (+0.8 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 2-2. (+0.0 units)

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MLB
Short Sheet

Wednesday, April 4

ST LOUIS at MIAMI, 7:05 PM ET ESPN
LOHSE: 11-30 TSR as underdog of +150 or higher
JOHNSON: 14-4 TSR as home favorite

** (TC) Denotes Time Change




MLB

Wednesday, April 4

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Trend Report
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7:05 PM
ST. LOUIS vs. MIAMI
St. Louis is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Miami
The total has gone OVER in 6 of St. Louis's last 8 games when playing Miami
Miami is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing St. Louis
Miami is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games


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