N.L. Central

CHICAGO CUBS

SS Nomar Garciaparra (torn groin) is sidelined for at least the next two months, and SS Neifi Perez is back in the lineup full time. A Gold Glove winner in 2000, Perez still is solid defensively and has been hitting more to the opposite field, but he's no Garciaparra.... 1B Derrek Lee will take over the No. 3 spot in the order for Garciaparra. Lee found his stroke this spring, and at the end of last week, he had 17 RBIs.... Entering the season, lefthanded hitters had batted .200 against RHP Chad Fox in his career, which gives the Cubs a fourth bullpen option against them. But he can't pitch too many days in a row. FEARLESS FORECAST: The Cubs' depleted bench could pose a big problem because they have to compensate for the injuries to regulars. 2B Jerry Hairston is a bit of a hot dog and needs to be reined in at times. SS Ronny Cedeno will be asked to contribute without getting regular playing time.--Carrie Muskat

CINCINNATI REDS

RHP Danny Graves remains the closer, but RHP Ryan Wagner has the stuff to be the team's closer of the future. Wagner, 22, has thrived in late relief, dominating with a nasty slider and fastball.... Austin Kearns was expected to be the everyday right fielder, but his early struggles and the hot hitting of Wily Mo Pena have created more of a platoon situation.... The loss of Class AAA OF Rob Stratton (Achilles') has diminished the already small chance of the Reds trading Pen& Stratton would have been the first call-up if the team needed an outfielder, but losing him makes Pena all the more valuable.... CF Ken Griffey simply isn't the power hitter he used to be. Batting in the No. 2 spot, Griffey has been been limited to singles and gap doubles. FEARLESS FORECAST: Look for utilityman Ryan Freel to get more starts at second base. Freel is a better leadoff hitter than D'Angolo Jimenez, whose struggles at the plate should open the door for the speedy Freel.--Anthony Castrovince

HOUSTON ASTR0S

Lance Berkman could return in early May after making good progress in his knee rehab. He has practiced bolting out of the batters box and running hard on the bases. That's good news because his absence is hurting 1B Jeff Bagwell's effectiveness. 3B Morgan Ensberg is striking out regularly, and Bagwell is being pitched around.... SS Adam Everett's lack of production in the leadoff rote isn't a huge concern, but if his on-base percentage doesn't improve, manager Phil Garner might have to experiment with CF Willy Taveras in the leadoff spot. Everett is a good contact hitter, but he isn't drawing enough walks, which keeps him from stealing-the best part of his game. FEARLESS FORECAST: LF Luke Scott will be optioned to Class AAA when Berkman returns. The other candidates for demotion have made better cases for staying. Taveras is an anchor in center field, and Chris Burke is doing well as a backup outfielder. Scott has struggled offensively.--Alyson Footer

MILWAUKEE BREWERS

LF Carlos Lee never has struck out 100 times in a season, but he's on an alarming pace in his first year in the National League. Lee is waving at a steady diet of breaking balls and joked with hitting coach Butch Wynegar that he may never see a fastball again.... The offense looks disturbingly similar to how it looked last season, when the team's batting average with runners in scoring position was .220. Wynegar fears that Lee and others are pressing.... Manager Ned Yost is being more aggressive with hit-and-run plays than he has been in the past. Part of the reason is a lack of team speed. CF Brady Clark and 2B Junior Spivey are the only speed threats in the regular lineup. FEARLESS FORECAST: RHP Matt Wise will notch his first career save. Closer RHP Mike Adams hasn't been aggressive, RHP Derrick Turnbow hasn't been consistent, and RHP Ricky Bottalico is better in setup work, So Wise could become the closer. His change-up is among the staff's best pitches.--Adam McCalvy

PITTSBURGH PIRATES

SS Jack Wilson and 3B Ty Wigginton have been pressing as the offense's early slump has gone on. Rather than being patient at the plate and working the count, they are chasing pitches out of the strike zone and swinging for the fences.... Benito Santiago (viral infection)'is on the D.L., so C Humberto Cota has an opportunity to play regularly for the first time in his big-league career. Cota, 26, is strong defensively and has decent power, but he must show that he can hit for a decent average to stay in the lineup. He entered this season with a .241 lifetime average. David Ross, another power threat, is Cota's back-up. FEARLESS FORECAST: Despite persistent rumors that he is on the hot seat, manager Lloyd McClendon will not be fired. The responsibility for the Pirates' awful start lies solely with the players. Many fans would like to see McClendon take the fall, but the organization does not create scapegoats.--Ed Eagle

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

It has been hard to find innings and at-bats for IF/OF Hector Luna. He has some impressive tools, but he's not as good defensively as IF Abraham Nunez. And the team's all-righthanded infield gives a righthanded batter such as Luna fewer opportunities to pinch hit.... RHP Al Reyes has been racking up strikeouts and is rapidly emerging as a go-to pitcher in the sixth and seventh innings, occasionally providing a bridge to RHP Julian Tavarez, a setup man.... If the starters continue to pitch a lot of innings, the team will go with 11 pitchers and keep an extra position player. FEARLESS FORECAST: If the offense continues to fall short of its run production of recent seasons, the lineup likely will be shaken up. Manager Tony La Russa already has switched CF Jim Edmonds and 3B Scott Rolen in the order, but more changes Could follow-perhaps replacing RF Larry Walker in the No. 2 spot with Edmonds or maybe LF Reggie Sanders.--Matthew Leach

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