NL PREVIEW

Teams in order of predicted finish; records from 2016

West Division

1. Los Angeles (91-71, 1st) Manager: Dave Roberts, 2nd season (managed and lost one game with 2015 Padres) The skinny: It’s the depth that separates L.A. from S.F. The Dodgers signed all their key free agents, acquired 2B Logan Forsythe and are showing the benefits of keeping top prospects (Cory Seager, Julio Urias) out of trades . ... Yasiel Puig has to be centered and productive, or he’s dealt in midseason . ... Led by Clayton Kershaw and Rich Hill — and fingers crossed with often injured Hyun-Jin Ryu — the rotation looks as stable and healthy as it has been in years.

2. Giants (87-75, 2nd) Manager: Bruce Bochy, 23rd season (1,789-1,757), 11th with Giants (838-782) The skinny: Matt Cain will get a chance to reward the team’s loyalty — but Ty Blach and Tyler Beede loom in the wings, and it’s time for a change . ... There’s uncertainty throughout the bullpen, but new closer Mark Melancon should make a world of difference . ... It’s the prime of life for Buster Posey, Brandon Crawford, Madison Bumgarner, Brandon Belt and Hunter Pence. Good times likely at China Basin.

3. Colorado (75-87, 3rd) Manager: Bud Black, 10th season (649-713), 1st with Rockies The skinny: Alarming rash of spring injuries seemed an ominous sign . ... The pitching is said to be improved, with high hopes for Jon Gray, but that’s the springtime hope every year — and results prove otherwise . ... For viewing purposes, a treat with Ian Desmond (still recovering from a broken hand)joining Nolan Arenado, Trevor Story, Charlie Blackmon, Carlos Gonzalez and potential star David Dahl in a very solid lineup.

4. Arizona (69-93, 4th) Manager: Torey Lovullo, 1st season The skinny: This franchise changes leadership and philosophy at a disturbing rate — no way to do business, as the Giants illustrate in contrast . ... If the D’backs don’t contend, reports say Paul Goldschmidt, A.J. Pollock or Zack Greinke could be available in trade . ... Defense and bullpen will bring this team down . ... Ex-Giants outfielder Gregor Blanco starts at Triple-A . ... Challenge: Seventeen of the first 20 games are against 2016 playoff teams.

5. San Diego (68-94, 5th) Manager: Andy Green, 2nd season The skinny: No hope. That’s a sad admission, but it comes from the source. Asked what he’d tell the fans, managing partner Peter Seidler told the L.A. Times, “We look ’em in the eye and say 2019 is probably the earliest you’ll see our strategy working.” ... Inspiring moments ahead for Wil Myers and powerhitting RF Hunter Renfroe, but there’s no masking baseball’s worst rotation, including what remains of Jered Weaver.

Central Division

1. Chicago (103-58, 1st) Manager: Joe Maddon, 14th season (981-852), 3rd with the Cubs (200-123) The skinny: No reason they won’t repeat. The curses have vanished and it’s a young, exciting team on the rise . ... Here’s how good they are: Feared hitter Kyle Schwarber returns from knee surgery, and Javier Baez, a shining star, can’t move ahead of SS Addison Russell or 2B Ben Zobrist. They’ll find room for him, though . ... New: Closer Wade Davis (replacing Aroldis Chapman) and platooning CFs Albert Almora and Jon Jay (Dexter Fowler).

2. St. Louis (86-76, 2nd) Manager: Mike Matheny, 6th season (461-349) The skinny: Fowler is a solid addition, on the field and in the clubhouse . ... Kolten Wong now platoons at 2B with Jedd Gyorko and has made his displeasure known . ... A treat to watch: SS Aledmys Diaz and Stanford alum Stephen Piscotty . ... Departed LF Matt Holliday replaced by Randal Grichuk . ... First-rate prospect Alex Reyes has been lost to Tommy John surgery, but the rotation (including ex-Giants right-hander Mike Leake) still looks respectable.

3. Pittsburgh (78-83, 3rd) Manager: Clint Hurdle, 15th season (1,043-1,087), 7th with Pirates (509-462) The skinny: Much has been lost, including (apparently) the prime of Andrew McCutchen and third baseman Jung Ho Kang, dealing with DUI and sex-assault issues in Korea, with an indefinite return . ... David Freese moves into the mix at third . ... The pitching staff misses C Russell Martin, but there’s promise with Gerrit Cole, Jameson Taillon and Tyler Glasnow . ... Outfield will lead the way if a revived McCutchen joins Gregory Polanco and Starling Marte.

4. Milwaukee (73-89, 4th) Manager: Craig Counsell, 3rd season (134-165) The skinny: The “Brew Crew” is looking entirely too faceless, and even announcer Bob Uecker can’t paint a glowing portrait . ... Good things expected from 2B Jonathan Villar (.285, 19 homers, 62 steals) . ... Ryan Braun, forever on the trading block, still has something left . ... Ex-Giants catcher Andrew Susac (neck, back) opens on the disabled list. ... Eric Thames, who played in Korea the past three seasons — and belted 124 homers — returns to play 1B.

5. Cincinnati (68-94, 5th) Manager: Bryan Price, 4th season (208-278) The skinny: It’s been a lonely road since manager Dusty Baker (three postseason appearances) left town . ... Swift Billy Hamilton and studious Joey Votto are likely All-Stars . ... Ex-Giant Adam Duvall got a chance to play regularly last year and crushed 33 homers . ... With rotation pitchers Homer Bailey and Anthony DeSclafani not due to return until June, 40-year-old Bronson Arroyo is making a comeback and promises to “pull off the impossible.”

East Division

1. New York (87-75, 2nd) Manager: Terry Collins, 13th season (925-925), 7th with Mets (481-491) The skinny: So much depends on rotation health, and Steven Matz is already sidelined with elbow issues. But behold the depth: Noah Syndergaard, Jacob deGrom, Matt Harvey, Robert Gsellman and Zack Wheeler (coming off a two-year Tommy John rehab) . ... Yoenis Céspedes, somehow even more physically imposing than ever, will make a serious run for MVP . ... Mets figure they got a break when closer Jeurys Familia (domesticviolence charges) drew only a 15-game suspension.

2. Washington (95-67, 1st) Manager: Dusty Baker, 22nd season (1,766-1,571), 2nd with Nationals The skinny: Management didn’t give Baker a reliable closer, an issue that might need fixing at the trading deadline. It’s Blake Treinen’s job for now, but Baker has hopes for Koda Glover, the man with the mohawk, the bearclaw tattoo and an attitude . ... Bryce Harper crashed to earth too heavily last year (injuries a factor) to be called a preseason MVP candidate . ... Pressure’s on the top of the order with new CF Adam Eaton and SS Trea Turner, potentially one of the most exciting players in either league.

3. Miami (79-82, 3rd) Manager: Don Mattingly, 7th season (525-445), 2nd with Marlins The skinny: It won’t be easy forgetting the loss of Jose Fernandez, wildly talented and popular but shown to be an impaired driver in the tragic boating accident . ... Ace of the staff for now: Wei-Yin Chen (5-5, 4.96, 1.28 WHIP) . ... If you watched the WBC, you saw a great young hitter in Christian Yelich. And nobody hits the ball harder than Giancarlo Stanton . ... Uncertain: Whether Dee Gordon, suspended for 80 games last year, returns in top form.

4. Atlanta (68-93, 5th) Manager: Brian Snitker, 2nd season (59-65) The skinny: The Braves discard ballparks like stale lettuce, and sure enough, another one opens this year . ... The team could be quite entertaining, though. Picture phenom Dansby Swanson at shortstop and 43-year-old Bartolo Colon on the mound . ... R.A Dickey, 42, is also part of the rotation plan . ... Freddie Freeman is a pure hitter. The lineup looks decent if Matt Kemp and Brandon Phillips have some vintage moments in store.

5. Philadelphia (71-91, 4th) Manager: Pete Mackanin, 5th season (161-195), 3rd with Phillies (108-142) The skinny: The pitching just won’t be there; that’s a given. And it remains hard to picture this team without stars in all directions . ... On the rise: SS J.P. Crawford and C Jorge Alfaro, impressive for his native Colombia in the WBC . ... Don’t hit the concession stands when 3B Maikel Franco (25 homers) is hitting. You might miss something . ... Ex-Giant Tommy Joseph (Hunter Pence trade) apparently has won the 1B job.