BOOSTED BY ARENADO, CARDS HAVE STACKED DECK IN IFFY DIVISION

1 ST. LOUIS CARDINALS O/U WINS: 86.5 PLAYER WHO’LL NEED TO STEP UP: Jack Flaherty is the

Cardinals’ ace, but took a step back last year in the shortened season. If the right-hander gets back to his 2019 form, he’ll be the rotation anchor they need. NAME YOU’LL GET TO KNOW: Dylan Carlson had a pair of stints in St. Louis last season, struggling in the first (23 games) before hitting his stride in the second (12 games)

— to the point where he was batting cleanup in their playoff series. The outfielder seems poised to break out with an extended shot this season.

BIGGEST QUESTION MARK: How dependable is the rotation behind Flaherty? The Cardinals brought back 39-year-old Adam Wainwright , but Carlos Martinez has durability concerns and Miles Mikolas and

Kwang Hyun Kim are sidelined coming out of spring training. HOW IT’LL GO DOWN: The NL Central appears to be open for the taking, but the Cardinals may have the best pieces in place to make a run for it. A mix of veterans (Arenado, Paul Goldschmidt, Wainwright, Yadier Molina) who can still bring it and young talent (Flaherty, Carlson) make for a promising season in St. Louis. If the Cardinals can solidify the rotation and get flame-throwing closer Jordan Hicks back to his pre-Tommy John surgery form, they could be back on top of the division.

PROJECTED LINEUP

2B Tommy Edman 1B Paul Goldschmidt 3B Nolan Arenado SS Paul DeJong LF Tyler O’Neill C Yadier Molina CF Dylan Carlson RF Justin Williams

ROTATION

RHP Jack Flaherty RHP Adam Wainwright RHP Carlos Martinez RHP Daniel Ponce de Leon RHP John Gant

KEY PLAYER: Nolan Arenado. The Cardinals appeared to fleece the Rockies in February when they traded for the stud third baseman without giving up any of their top prospects and even getting some money back in return. Now it’s up to Arenado to play up to his hefty contract and give the Cardinals a jolt with a bounce-back season.