Preview/Prediction

At long last, MLB spring training has taken hold in Arizona and Florida.

As position players trickle in early to join the pitchers and catchers, full-squad workouts are just around the corner. Looking ahead to 2014, we have a good idea of who will be contending for playoff spots come September.

When Brett Lawrie made his major league debut in 2011, the baseball world was stunned by his performance.

Sure, the then-21-year-old Canadian native out of British Columbia was a top prospect in the Toronto Blue Jays’ system ever since he had been acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers.

The 2014 Chicago Cubs broke camp in Mesa, Ariz. this week with several unanswered questions in regard to their final 25-man roster. There are several position battles which will involve players who are on the cusp of making the major league squad. 

Which players currently on the roster bubble are going to have a tough time making the team?

Let's take a few moments to examine the players that project to be locks to make the team. 

The New York Yankees roster consists of a flurry of stars and a vast collection of bubble players who will need to fight during spring training to crack the final 25-man squad.

With depth in the middle infield, manager Joe Girardi will have to make some tough decisions throughout the spring. Each middle infielder offers similar versatility and skills at the plate, though it might come down to who performs best as camp closes and the regular season begins.

Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Matt Kemp is poised for a major comeback next season following two injury-marred campaigns. Less than two years ago Kemp had emerged as one of MLB’s top five players. Now some may argue that he’s merely the fifth best player playing for the Dodgers.

It's been a big week for the Philadelphia Phillies. More specifically, it's been a big last couple of days for the Phillies.

Those with a vested interest in such things surely never actually expect spring training to go according to plan. That's just not how spring training rolls.

But hope that things go according to plan? Oh yeah, there are most definitely hopes that maybe, just maybe spring training will go just...perfectly.

Spring training has arrived, as players around the league are making their way to sunny Arizona or Florida to gear up for the 2014 MLB season.

Teams will now go to work evaluating their talent and determining who will make up their 25-man roster when Opening Day rolls around.

For some teams, there's a big decision to be made, be it a battle between two everyday guys at the same position or a number of guys for the No. 5 starter job. For others, it's just a matter of rounding out the bench or picking the final bullpen arm.

For teams like the Seattle Mariners and Tampa Bay Rays, deciding which starter will take the mound on Opening Day 2014 is nothing but a formality. 

However, for most MLB clubs around the league, the process of selecting an Opening Day starter can be far more complex. Some teams simply have a ridiculous abundance of options, while other teams are noticeably lacking in viable candidates. 

So, here's a look at the projected Opening Day starting pitchers for all 30 MLB teams in 2014. 

Two of the three divisions in the American League housed at least three winning teams in 2013. The AL West was the one that didn't, and also had the dishonor of being home to MLB's worst team.

But since spring training is pretty much here, it's really no longer too early to look at the projections. And to this end, the AL West is looking pretty good for 2014. Quite good, in fact. Shoot, very good.