N.L. East

PROJECTIONS

LINEUP

SS Jimmy Rollins

CF Kenny Lotion

RF Bobby Abreu

LF Pat Burrell

1B Jim Thome

2B Chase Utley

3B David Bell

C Mike Lieberthal

ROTATION

RH Jon Lieber

LH Randy Wolf

RH Vicente Padilla

RH Cory Lidle

RH Brett Myers

CLOSER

LH Billy Wagner

TSN FANTASY TIP

Vicente Padilla's arm trouble could help Gavin Floyd win a starting spot. Floyd, 22, has the power stuff to develop into a fantasy force quickly, a la Rich Harden.

BREAKOUT PLAYER

Chase Utley is poised to become a major run producer. He likely will bat sixth, so he should get plenty of at-bats with men on base. He has a short, quick-hitting stroke, and he seems to be able to adjust to pitches in mid-swing. He produced in limited at-bats last season, and the Phillies think it's time for him to play every day. He should be up to the challenge.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS

WHAT WE KNOW One of the worst hitting teams last season, the club believes the offense should improve because it signed 3B Vinny Castilla (Rockies) and SS Cristian Guzman (Twins) and traded for RF Jose Guillen (Angels). Last year, Castilia and Guillen each had more than 100 RBIs; Guzman hit .274, but the club wants him to improve his on-base percentage. The bullpen should be a strength. RHPs Chad Cordero and Luis Ayala, expected to split the closer job, had ERAs under 3.00 last year. RHPs Gary Majewski and TJ. Tucker and LHPs Joe Horgan and Joey Eischen are solid.

WHAT WE DON'T KNOW Castilla has a reputation of not hitting well outside of Coors Field; his average on the road was .218 last year. Guillen was suspended for the last eight games of the regular season and the postseason for what the Angels termed "inappropriate conduct." The team hopes Guillen can control himself this year. He took anger management classes in the offseason. Pitching coach Randy St. Claire said he doesn't know why RHP Zach Day gets off to slow starts in games. The team is preparing to look for another starter in case Day doesn't improve, perhaps RHPs John Patterson or Jon Rauch. Manager Frank Robinson has complained about his bench, saying it has been overloaded with young and/or lefthanded hitters the past two years. There were a bunch of righthanded hitters in camp, and Robinson must decide who starts the year on the bench. Only C Gary Bennett and IF Jamey Carroll have guaranteed jobs.--Bill Ladson

PROJECTIONS

LINEUP

CF Endy Chavez

SS Cristian Guzman

2B Jose Vidro

RF Jose Guillen

LF Brad Wilkerson

3B Vinny Castilla

1B Nick Johnson

C Brian Schneider

ROTATION

RH Livan Hernandez

RH Tony Armas

RH Esteban Loaiza

RH Tomo Ohka

RH Zach Day

CLOSER

RH Chad Cordero

TSN FANTASY TIP

The Nationals plenty of support in D.C., but they're not fantasy favorites: In TSN's recent mock draft Jose Vidro was the first National taken. He went in the 11th round.

BREAKOUT PLAYER

Brad Wilkerson whiffed 152 times last season, but he has been working this spring to keep his weight more balanced at the plate. Endy Chavez and Cristian Guzman are at the top of the order, so Wilkerson won't be batting leadoff much. Batting fifth, he'll get a chance for 100 RBIs. Last season, he was the only big-league player to hit at least 27 home runs and drive in fewer than 70 runs.