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N.L. Central Division preview

Debut of outfielder Oscar Taveras, a top Cardinals prospect, will depend on lineup’s performance. (Associated Press)
Debut of outfielder Oscar Taveras, a top Cardinals prospect, will depend on lineup’s performance. (Associated Press)

St. Louis Cardinals

2013 record: 97-65, first place (lost World Series to Boston).

Hot spots: The pitching staff is brimming with young arms with several coming off big rookie debuts. Joe Kelly won the fifth spot in the rotation during spring training and Carlos Martinez was put in the bullpen as the setup man. The trade of David Freese, the 2011 World Series MVP, to the Angels opened a spot for Kolten Wong, a first-round pick in 2011, with Matt Carpenter moving from second base to third. Mark Ellis is a viable alternative at second if Wong falters.

Outlook: A team that’s been to the World Series twice in the last three years looks primed for another postseason run. St. Louis is deep enough to perhaps postpone the debut of OF Oscar Taveras, a top minor league prospect, and keep monitoring the workload for all those young arms. Adam Wainwright finished second in N.L. Cy Young Award balloting and Michael Wacha missed a no-hitter by one out in his final regular-season start, then was sensational in the postseason.

Pittsburgh Pirates

2013 record: 94-68, second place (beat Reds in wild-card game, lost to Cardinals in division series).

Hot spots: The Pirates entered the offseason with question marks at first base and right field. Four months later, they still have them. Gaby Sanchez appears to be the frontrunner at first, though he may platoon with left-handed veteran Travis Ishikawa after Andrew Lambo failed to stick in spring training. OF Travis Snider had surgery to repair a toe issue that dogged him and understands this is likely his last shot to stick as an everyday player, with the Pirates grooming prospect Gregor Polanco to take over soon.

Outlook: After ending 21 years of misery, the Pirates didn’t exactly break the bank over the winter looking for an encore. They were never really serious contenders to keep pitcher A.J. Burnett, and the big (or even medium) bats they needed at first and in the outfield signed elsewhere. Still, a major step back seems unlikely. OF Andrew McCutchen is coming off an MVP season, Gerrit Cole appears ready to replace Burnett as the fiery leader of the rotation, and the entire bullpen returns a year after being a major reason the Pirates were the surprise of the National League.

Cincinnati Reds

2013 record: 90-72, third place (lost wild-card game to Pirates).

Hot spot: The bullpen. Right-handed starter Mat Latos had surgery for torn cartilage in his left knee the day camp opened and won’t be ready for the start of the season, forcing Alfredo Simon’s move to the rotation as a fill-in; he hasn’t started since 2011. All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman got hit in the face by a line drive on March 19 and had surgery to have a plate inserted in his forehead to help heal fractures above his left eye and nose; he’ll be out for at least a month. RHP Jonathan Broxton is still recovering from forearm surgery. LHP Sean Marshall developed a sore shoulder. No one else has any significant experiencing closing games.

Outlook: The Reds return the core of a team that has made the playoffs in three of the last four seasons before losing in the first round. The offense will miss Shin-Soo Choo, who was one of the majors’ best leadoff hitters last season. OF Billy Hamilton takes over at the top of the lineup, trying to get on base enough to use his unmatched speed. OF Ryan Ludwick is back after missing most of last season with a shoulder injury sustained on opening day. He lacked power after he returned, but got healthy and strong in the offseason.

Milwaukee Brewers

2013 record: 74-88, fourth place.

Hot spots: OF Ryan Braun has been playing well this spring in returning from last season’s 65-game, season-ending drug suspension – both at the plate and in his new position in right. RHP Matt Garza, the team’s surprise, high-profile free-agent acquisition, had a rough start to the spring.

Outlook: After a breakout season in 2013, OF Carlos Gomez and his speed-power combo make him an intriguing leadoff hitter, though he also struck out 140 times. The lineup is lengthened with the return of Braun and Aramis Ramirez.

Chicago Cubs

2013 record: 66-96, fifth place.

Hot spots: All eyes for now are on SS Starlin Castro and 1B Anthony Rizzo. Castro missed time in spring training because of a strained right hamstring, and both players are coming off disappointing seasons. Can they bounce back? That’s one of biggest questions facing the Cubs as they wait for their touted prospects to develop in the farm system.

Outlook: The Cubs are set to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Wrigley Field. That might be the only thing they celebrate this year. Actually, if Castro and Rizzo progress and top prospects progress, the Cubs will take that.