MLB

The National League Central is filled with talent, and Chicago Cubs pitcher Jeff Samardzija leads the list of players who are going to have breakout seasons.

With the Houston Astros no longer in the division, teams in the NL Central will face each other 19 times this season. 

Last season featured Andrew McCutchen of the Pittsburgh Pirates as the breakout star of the division. There probably won't be a performance like that from any of the players on this list, but these players will certainly make a name for themselves this season.

St. Louis Cardinals closer Jason Motte began the 2013 season on the disabled list, and it's starting to look like he may end it that way. 

According to Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com, Motte underwent an MRI on Tuesday that showed a tear in his ailing elbow ligament and could have to undergo Tommy John surgery:

With the first series of the 2013 Minor League Baseball season now in the books, it’s time to reflect on some of the best and worst pitching performances thus far.

Because most of this year’s Opening Day starters are set to toe the slab either Tuesday or Wednesday, all stats in this first installment only reflect each pitcher’s inaugural start. Similarly, this series will focus primarily on minor league starters until relief pitchers log a sizable number of innings.

The Pittsburgh Pirates' difficult start to the 2013 season encountered another obstacle Monday night, as starting pitcher Wandy Rodriguez left the Bucs' 5-3 victory in the third inning with a tight left hamstring.

The 2013 major league regular season is barely a week old, but the Boston Red Sox are already facing their first major question. Should Jose Iglesias or Stephen Drew be the team’s starting shortstop?

Clayton Kershaw has picked a great time to enter into contract re-negotiations with the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

There's clearly something wrong with Roy Halladay. Your eyes say so, and so do the gory numbers.

The Philadelphia Phillies' veteran right-hander has made two starts so far in 2013, and neither of them have been good. His totals: 7.1 innings pitched, 12 hits, six walks, three home runs, one hit batsman and two wild pitches.

The 2013 MLB season is now in full swing, and the Rays haven't had very good start to their year. Tampa Bay stands at 3-4 after the first week of baseball, dropping a couple of tough games but showing some bright signs as well.

It's just the beginning of what should be an exciting year for this talented Rays team.

Here are five things I've taken away from the first seven games of the season.

It's been a surprising start to the MLB season, especially in the fantasy world.

Chris Davis, John Buck and Matt Harvey, players that most likely weren't the first players chosen on anyone's draft board, have taken the league by storm over the first week.

And a few other more recognizable names have let down their managers, both in major league and fantasy baseball.

Entering the second week of the Major League Baseball season, the Oakland Athletics find themselves in a comfortable spot.

Sitting atop the American League West, the A's continue their road trip against the formidable Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. This marks another early-season test for the Athletics: how will they fare against a team who many believe to be the prohibitive division favorites.