MLB PREVIEW: Let's Play Two. Cleveland Indians & San Diego Padres

By Andrew Marcus
Sportswriter for Lansdale Reporter

Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515

#12.

.

PROJECTED LINEUP
CF Wil Myers
1B Yonder Alonso
RF Matt Kemp
LF Justin Upton
2B Jedd Gyorko
3B Will Middlebrooks
C Derek Norris
SS Alexi Amarista

PROJECTED ROTATION
James Shields
Andrew Cashner
Tyson Ross
Ian Kennedy
Brandon Morrow

PROJECTED BULLPEN
Closer: Joaquin Benoit
Set-up: Kevin Quackenbush

Top Prospect: Austin Hedges (C)

BREAKOUT - Now that the lineup is stocked full of potential pop, the once three-hole hitter Jedd Gyorko slips down to sixth or seventh and should see some fastballs to hit. With newcomers like Wil Myers, Matt Kemp, and Justin Upton getting on base look for the power-hitting second basemen to flirt with 100 RBIs in his second full season.

SPRING STORYLINES - What a job new general manager AJ Preller has done. He had the vision and stones the prior men in business did not have. He found a way to go from the worst hitting team in baseball to, well at least on paper, should not be the worst team on paper. We shall see how Kemp, Upton, and Myers respond to the friendly confines of Petco, but it cannot be much worse than 2014's offense.

LAST YEAR'S RECORD: 77-85 (3rd in NL West)

PROJECTED 2013 FINISH: 86-76 (2nd in NL West)

#11.

PROJECTED LINEUP
CF Michael Bourn
2B Jason Kipnis
LF Michael Brantley
1B Carlos Santana
C Yan Gomes
RF Brandon Moss
3B Lonnie Chisenhall
DH David Murphy
SS Jose Ramirez

PROJECTED ROTATION
Corey Kluber
Carlos Carrasco
Trevor Bauer
Zach McAllister
TJ House

PROJECTED BULLPEN
Co-Closer: Cody Allen
Set-up Man: Bryan Shaw

Top Prospect: Francisco Lindor (SS)

BREAKOUT - Carlos Carrasco is one of those former top prospects, lost in the shuffle of todays here and now. There are always the "next big things" coming and going and injuries have this guy flying under the radar entering the season. Carrasco had a 2.55 ERA last year and 1.72 ERA after the all-star break. He and Corey Kluber, the reigning Cy Young award winner could become a deadly one-two punch.

SPRING STORYLINES - Just because 85 wins was not enough to make the playoffs in back-to-back years, the Tribe's season success sort of get buried. But they have been a strong team since Terry Francona has taken over and now they need to prove they have staying power and can take the next step. Stars like Jason Kipnis and Carlos Santana need to take the next step and Michael Brantley needs to have similar season to his 2014, near MVP year.

LAST YEAR'S RECORD: 85-77 (3rd in AL Central)

PROJECTED 2013 FINISH: 87 -75 (3rd in AL Central)

**Check back tomorrow for the Tigers and Pirates*