O's and Ray's

LINEUP:

1. 2B Brian Roberts

2. CF Adam Jones

3. RF Nick Markakis

4. 3B Miguel Tejada

5. DH Luke Scott

6. 1B Garrett Atkins

7. C Matt Wieters

8. LF Nolan Reimold

9. SS Cesar Izturis

ROTATION:

1. RHP Kevin Millwood

2. RHP Jeremy Guthrie

3. LHP Brian Matusz

4. RHP Brad Bergesen

5. RHP Chris Tillman

THE ORIOLES WILL CONTEND IF ...: The young pitchers blossom a year early and the young bats continue to advance. Young starters Brian Matusz, Chris Tillman and Brad Bergesen have impressed.

Matusz is close, but he is still a rookie. Matt Wieters, Adam Jones, Nolan Reimold and Nick Markakis are talented, but none is the cleanup hitter the Orioles desperately seek. The Orioles are close, but not quite ready to pop in 2010.

PRIMED FOR A BIG SEASON: RF Nick Markakis worked harder this off season than in years past, and the ball was carrying off his bat with impressive loft at Ed Smith Stadium. The club's No. 3 hitter has a good chance to elevate himself to All-Star status in 2010.

ON THE DECLINE: RHP Jeremy Guthrie seems a tad young to be on the downhill side of his career, but he has struggled through spring training, reminiscent of his homer-filled 2009. The two-time opening-day starter led the American League in losses and home runs allowed last year.

LINEUP:

1. SS Jason Bartlett

2. LF Carl Crawford

3. 3B Evan Longoria

4. 1B Carlos Pena

5. 2B/RF Ben Zobrist

6. DH Pat Burrell

7. CF B.J. Upton

8. C Kelly Shoppach or Dioner Navarro

9. RF Matt Joyce or 2B Sean Rodriguez

ROTATION:

1. RHP James Shields

2. RHP Matt Garza

3. RHP Jeff Niemann

4. LHP David Price

5. RHP Wade Davis

THE RAYS WILL CONTEND IF ...: CF B.J. Upton finally realizes his potential and approaches the .300-30-30 numbers long forecast for him to go along with his Gold Glove-caliber defense. After saying all of last year Upton was fine, the Rays now acknowledge he was never 100 percent following November 2008 left shoulder surgery. He has meshed well with new hitting coach Derek Shelton, and the spring returns are good as he shows improved mechanics and more pop in his bat.

PRIMED FOR A BIG SEASON: RHP Matt Garza pitched better than his 8-12 record showed last season, and he plans to make up for it. Garza's 3.95 ERA was more indicative of his work, and after an extensive off season workout program, and a $3.35 million arbitration settlement, he seems ready to take the next step to the elite level the Rays project for him.

ON THE DECLINE: DH Pat Burrell's first season with the Rays was miserable, as he struggled with the adjustments to AL pitching and the designated hitter role and batted just .221 (lowest of all AL players with at least 450 plate appearances) with 14 homers and 64 RBIs. Now 33, Burrell didn't show anything in spring training to convince any observers it was going to get any better.