NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL

By BEN BOLCH

April 2, 2004 12 AM PT

1. HOUSTON ASTROS

Key additions: P Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens, OF Orlando Palmeiro.

Key losses: P Billy Wagner, Jeriome Robertson and Ron Villone, 3B Geoff Blum.

Strengths: Pettitte and Clemens are coming home in an effort to give the long-suffering Astros their first playoff series victory, and you have to like their chances with a rotation that also includes Roy Oswalt and Wade Miller. Big things are expected from third baseman Morgan Ensberg, who last season hit .291 with 25 home runs and 60 runs batted in despite having to split time with Blum. Octavio Dotel’s numbers -- 97 strikeouts and only 31 walks in 87 innings -- suggest he is capable of replacing Wagner as closer.

Weaknesses: Craig Biggio is no longer the prototypical leadoff man as evidenced by on-base percentages that have been in steady decline since 1997, reaching .350 last season. For all his offensive prowess, second baseman Jeff Kent is mediocre on defense.

Outlook: After finishing one game behind the Cubs last season, the Astros have the pitching help necessary to propel them back into the playoffs for the first time since 2001. Expect plenty of shutouts and complete games, especially against the likes of the Brewers and Reds.

At Dodger Stadium: July 8-11.

PROJECTED LINEUP

CF Craig Biggio

SS Adam Everett

1B Jeff Bagwell

2B Jeff Kent

LF Lance Berkman

RF Richard Hidalgo

3B Morgan Ensberg

C Brad Ausmus

STARTING PITCHERS

Roy Oswalt

Andy Pettitte

Roger Clemens

Wade Miller

Tim Redding

BULLPEN

Octavio Dotel

Brad Lidge

Dan Miceli

Jared Fernandez

Mike Gallo

Ricky Stone

2. CHICAGO CUBS

Key additions: P Greg Maddux, LaTroy Hawkins and Kent Mercker, 1B Derrek Lee, 2B Todd Walker, C Michael Barrett.

Key losses: OF Kenny Lofton, 1B Randall Simon, Eric Karros and Hee Seop Choi, C Damian Miller, P Antonio Alfonseca and Shawn Estes.

Strengths: Maddux returns to his original team to provide a veteran presence on one of baseball’s top young rotations, though Mark Prior probably won’t pitch until May because of inflammation in his right Achilles’ tendon. Lee brings dependable defense and a solid bat to a lineup anchored by Sammy Sosa, who has put together six consecutive 40-homer seasons.

Weaknesses: Free-swinging Alex Gonzalez must cut down on his 123 strikeouts of a year ago and Barrett must step up after hitting .208 in 70 games with Montreal. Reliever Mike Remlinger could be out until May after shoulder surgery.

Outlook: The temporary loss of Prior could have lasting implications for a team that suffers from perpetual bad luck and has not posted consecutive winning seasons since 1971-72. Once Prior returns, watch out. He went 10-1 with a 1.52 earned-run average in 11 starts last season after returning from the disabled list Aug. 4.

At Dodger Stadium: May 11-13.

At Angel Stadium: June 11-13.

PROJECTED LINEUP

2B Mark Grudzielanek

CF Corey Patterson

RF Sammy Sosa

LF Moises Alou

3B Aramis Ramirez

1B Derrek Lee

SS Alex Gonzalez

C Michael Barrett

STARTING PITCHERS

Mark Prior

Kerry Wood

Greg Maddux

Matt Clement

Carlos Zambrano

BULLPEN

Joe Borowski

LaTroy Hawkins

Kyle Farnsworth

Kent Mercker

Todd Wellemeyer

Andy Pratt

3. ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

Key additions: OF Reggie Sanders and Ray Lankford, P Jeff Suppan, Julian Tavarez, Jason Marquis, Chris Carpenter and Ray King, 2B Tony Womack and Marlon Anderson.

Key losses: OF J.D. Drew, 1B Tino Martinez, 2B Fernando Vina, P Brett Tomko, Sterling Hitchcock and Jeff Fassero.

Strengths: With Albert Pujols moving to first base, the Cardinal infield could produce 375 RBIs. Top-of-the-rotation starters Matt Morris and Woody Williams can compete with their counterparts on the Astros and Cubs. A resurgent Lankford won the left field job.

Weaknesses: The back end of the rotation could be troublesome. Carpenter, coming off shoulder surgery, hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2002. Suppan did not fare well last season after being traded to Boston and Marquis never found his rhythm with the Braves.

Outlook: The Cardinals made more off-season moves than the Astros and Cubs but did not grab any headlines because they acquired no big names. The defense features four Gold Glove winners and the batting order is still one of the best in the game, but the rotation must collect more than the 42 victories it totaled last season to keep the Cardinals in the division race.

At Dodger Stadium: Sept. 10-12.

PROJECTED LINEUP

2B Tony Womack

LF Ray Lankford

1B Albert Pujols

CF Jim Edmonds

3B Scott Rolen

RF Reggie Sanders

SS Edgar Renteria

C Mike Matheny

STARTING PITCHERS

Matt Morris

Woody Williams

Chris Carpenter

Jeff Suppan

Jason Marquis

BULLPEN

Jason Isringhausen

Julian Tavarez

Steve Kline

Ray King

Cal Eldred

Mike Lincoln

4. PITTSBURGH PIRATES

Key additions: OF Raul Mondesi, 1B Randall Simon, 3B Chris Stynes, P Jose Mesa and Rick Reed.

Key losses: OF Reggie Sanders and Matt Stairs, P Jeff D’Amico and Julian Tavarez.

Strengths: Tike Redman gives the Pirates one reason to be excited after he replaced Kenny Lofton in center field last season and hit .330 with 34 extra-base hits in 56 games. Kip Wells looks to build on a strong September in which he went 4-2 with a 1.71 ERA, and Kris Benson appears to have recovered from shoulder tendinitis.

Weaknesses: Mesa will try to lift the bullpen out of what was a season-long funk but could see limited action without an effective setup man. The rotation possesses little quality depth beyond Wells, Benson and Josh Fogg.

Outlook: The Pirates, stuck in a franchise-record streak of 11 consecutive losing seasons, haven’t been involved in a meaningful moment since Barry Bonds failed to throw out Sid Bream at the plate in Game 7 of the 1992 National League championship series. The team will continue its attempts to move catcher Jason Kendall, its only proven commodity, to further pare the payroll.

At Dodger Stadium: Aug. 3-5.

PROJECTED LINEUP

CF Tike Redman

C Jason Kendall

LF Raul Mondesi

1B Randall Simon

RF Craig Wilson

3B Chris Stynes

2B Jose Castillo

SS Jack Wilson

STARTING PITCHERS

Kip Wells

Kris Benson

Josh Fogg

Ryan Vogelsong

Rick Reed

BULLPEN

Jose Mesa

Brian Boehringer

Salomon Torres

Oliver Perez

Mike Johnston

John Grabow

5. MILWAUKEE BREWERS

Key additions: 2B Junior Spivey, SS Craig Counsell, 1B Lyle Overbay, RF Ben Grieve, C Chad Moeller and Gary Bennett, P Chris Capuano.

Key losses: 1B Richie Sexson, P Glendon Rusch, SS Royce Clayton, C Eddie Perez and Keith Osik, OF John Vander Wal.

Strengths: Speedy center fielder Scott Podsednik could build on a fine rookie year in which he hit .314 and stole 43 bases. Ace Ben Sheets might finally unveil the 20-victory season scouts keep saying he is capable of. Dan Kolb should emerge as a dependable closer after notching 21 saves in the second half of last season.

Weaknesses: The departure of Sexson leaves the Brewers with only left fielder Geoff Jenkins as a true power threat. The new faces in the rotation and the bullpen may struggle to adjust to pitching in homer-happy Miller Park.

Outlook: Milwaukee keeps touting itself as having the game’s best minor league talent, but that probably won’t make a difference until 2005. The parade of call-ups that seems inevitable by midseason should bear witness to the franchise’s 12th consecutive losing season.

At Dodger Stadium: May 31-June 2.

At Angel Stadium: June 8-10.

PROJECTED LINEUP

CF Scott Podsednik

SS Craig Counsell

1B Lyle Overbay

LF Geoff Jenkins

2B Junior Spivey

3B Wes Helms

RF Ben Grieve

C Chad Moeller

STARTING PITCHERS

Ben Sheets

Doug Davis

Chris Capuano

Matt Kinney

Wes Obermueller

BULLPEN

Danny Kolb

Luis Vizcaino

Adrian Hernandez

Jeff Bennett

Brooks Kieschnick

Ben Ford

6. CINCINNATI REDS

Key additions: P Cory Lidle and Aaron Harang.

Key losses: P Ryan Dempster, 3B Russell Branyan.

Strengths: Ken Griffey Jr. -- remember him? -- is still on the team but might not be for long if management can find a suitor for a high-priced star who has appeared in only 379 games in four seasons with the Reds. Right fielder Austin Kearns could have a big year now that he has recovered from the shoulder injury that hindered him last season.

Weaknesses: The Reds are to pitching what the Dodgers are to hitting. The staff set a franchise record for worst earned-run average (5.09) and most home runs allowed (209). The defense was also atrocious, leading the majors with 141 errors. Third baseman Brandon Larson will open the season on the disabled list with turf toe.

Outlook: There’s not a lot to look forward to as the Reds open their second season in Great American Ball Park. The team did practically nothing to improve itself over the off-season and appears willing to take its chances with a young and inexperienced starting rotation.

At Dodger Stadium: May 14-16.

PROJECTED LINEUP

2B D’Angelo Jimenez

SS Barry Larkin

CF Ken Griffey Jr.

RF Austin Kearns

LF Adam Dunn

1B Sean Casey

C Jason LaRue

3B Ryan Freel

STARTING PITCHERS

Cory Lidle