MLB PREVIEW: Let's Play Two. Kansas City Royal & Cincinnati Reds

By Andrew Marcus
Sportswriter for Lansdale Reporter

Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515

#22.

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PROJECTED LINEUP
CF Billy Hamilton
2B Brandon Phillips
1B Jay Bruce
3B Todd Frazier
RF Jay Bruce
LF Marlon Byrd
C Devon Mesoraco
SS Zack Cozart

PROJECTED ROTATION
Johnny Cueto
Homer Bailey
Mike Leake
Anthony DeScalafini
Jason Marquis

PROJECTED BULLPEN
Closer: Aroldis Champman
Set-up: Jumbo Diaz

Top Prospect: Robert Stephenson (P)

BREAKOUT - They were my sexy World Series pick two years in a row and they have let me down. They have let their rotation crumble and their offense get old. If anyone is going to spark Cincy it is going to be one of the young arms. I still think Tony Cingrani has a big future, though it might not be this year. Robert Stephenson is on the way, but how about Mike Leake. Leake came straight from Arizona State to the pros and still has chance to put an all-star first half together.

SPRING STORYLINES - If anyone can take the Reds from a 70-win club to a playoff contender it's the MVP Joey Votto in the middle of the order. Votto needs to start swinging a little more and drive in a few more runs and take a few less walks. Same could be said for Jay Bruce. Not the walking thing, more contact in general. Bruce and Votto will decide the Reds fate this year and for the foreseeable future.

LAST YEAR'S RECORD: 76-86 (5th in NL Central)

PROJECTED 2013 FINISH: 78-84 (4th in NL Central)

#.21

PROJECTED LINEUP
SS Alicides Escobar
LF Alex Gordon
1B Eric Hosmer
CF Lorenzo Cain
C Salvador Perez
RF Alex Rios
DH Kendrys Morales
2B Omar Infante
3B Mike Moustakas

PROJECTED ROTATION
Yordano Ventura
Danny Duffy
Edinson Volquez
Jeremy Guthrie
Jason Vargas

PROJECTED BULLPEN
Closer: Greg Holland
Set-up: Wade Davis

Top Prospect: Raul Mondesi (SS)

BREAKOUT - I may be the last sitting in the Eric Hosmer bandwagon, but I am not ready to get out just yet. Entering his age 25 season the first basemen can still reach the potential every one saw for him in the minors and his rookie year. Hosmer has a great chance to put it all together this year and if the Royals can contend like last season, be in the running for the MVP.

SPRING STORYLINES - The Royals had too much fun reaching the Fall Classic last year do not want to wait another 30 years to see it again. But the  question remains can they repeat the magic? With a target on their back? With no true ace like James Shields? No clubhouse vet like Billy Butler? A lot has changed in KC? The bullpen is the same though. And it is deadly.

LAST YEAR'S RECORD: 89-73 (2nd in AL Central)

PROJECTED 2013 FINISH: 79-83 (5th in AL Central)

**Check back tomorrow for the A's and Brewers*