Lincoln Zdunich
Milwaukee Brewers
- C William Contreras
- 1B Andrew Vaughn
- 2B Brice Turang
- SS Joey Ortiz
- 3B Luis Rengifo
- OF Brandon Lockridge
- OF Sal Frelick
- OF Jackson Chourio
- DH Christian Yelich
The Brewers continue to be underestimated by analysts year after year. However, this season, they might be right. Milwaukee traded away Rookie of the Year finalist Caleb Durbin and now Rengifo will likely take over third base duties. They also traded Isaac Collins to the Kansas City Royals so Lockridge figures to fill the final outfield spot.
But the Brew Crew still has superstars Chourio and Turang alongside veteran slugger Yelich. If anyone can beat the expectations, it’s the club who’s beat them again and again.
Chicago Cubs
- C Carson Kelly
- 1B Michael Busch
- 2B Nico Hoerner
- SS Dansby Swanson
- 3B Alex Bregman
- OF Ian Happ
- OF Pete Crow-Armstrong
- OF Seiya Suzuki
- DH Matt Shaw
Apart from the massive free agency pickup of Alex Bregman, the Cubs are largely running it back. But it’s important to remember that this is a Cubs group that just made the playoffs for the first time in five years.
In spite of Crow-Armstrong’s dismal second half, he still put up a 31-35 season and is a superstar in center field. The defensive makeup of this team is incredible at limiting runs and shortening games. Sure, free agent Kyle Tucker left for the Los Angeles Dodgers but it’ll be great to see Bregman producing in his place.
Pittsburgh Pirates
- C Henry Davis
- 1B Ryan O’Hearn
- 2B Brandon Lowe
- SS Konnor Griffin
- 3B Jared Triolo
- OF Jhostynxon Garcia
- OF Oneil Cruz
- OF Bryan Reynolds
- DH Marcell Ozuna
Pittsburgh has made a lot of moves this offseason. Trading for top prospect Jhostynxon Garcia to fill out their outfield, Lowe to play second base, and picking up O’Hearn and Ozuna in free agency helped bolster an offense that was lacking production last year.
Beyond that MLB’s number one prospect, Konnor Griffin, is expected to make his debut this season and has been raking this spring. With slugger Oneil Cruz returning as well (and top prospect Joey Bart joining the catching tandem with Davis), this lineup looks deadly.
St. Louis Cardinals
- C Iván Herrera
- 1B Alec Burleson
- 2B JJ Wetherholt
- SS Masyn Winn
- 3B Nolan Gorman
- OF Nathan Church
- OF Victor Scott II
- OF Jordan Walker
- DH Nelson Velazquez
General Manager Chaim Bloom has made no illusions that the Cardinals are rebuilding this year. In doing so he traded away stars Nolan Arenado, Brendan Donovan, and Willson Contreras. That being said, St. Louis still has a lot to be excited about.
MLB top prospect JJ Wetherholt will make his debut at second base alongside returners like Winn, Gorman, and Scott II. Cards fans don’t need to concern themselves with postseason aspirations but they have lots of young talent that will keep games exciting during the regular season.
Cincinnati Reds
- C Jose Trevino
- 1B Sal Stewart
- 2B Matt McLain
- SS Elly de la Cruz
- 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes
- OF TJ Friedl
- OF Noelvi Marte
- OF JJ Bleday
- DH Eugenio Suarez
In case you forgot, the Reds actually made the playoffs last year! After shocking the New York Mets via a tiebreaker on the final day of regular season play, they got bounced by the eventual World Series-winning Dodgers in the first round.
Cincinnati picked up free agents Eugenio Suárez and JJ Bleday to add some pop to their lineup. They’re also hoping for superstar Elly de la Cruz to finally put it all together, and for top prospect Stewart to show his skills in his first full season after impressing in 18 games last year.
