N.L. report.(Baseball)(National League)

SPOTLIGHT: Rotations

ASTROS With few free-agent starters available, the club may have to fill the fourth and fifth spots with some combination of LHP Carlos Hernandez and RHPs Tim Redding and Brandon Duckworth. None proved he belonged last season. BRAVES The club is not concerned about RHP Tim Hudson's recent injuries. Some people believe Hudson has a degenerative hip condition, but Hudson and the Braves insist he has had nothing more than a strained oblique muscle. BREWERS RHP Jose Capellan, acquired from the Braves for closer RHP Dan Kolb, is the power arm the team has long coveted, and he'll be given every opportunity to win a rotation spot. CARDINALS LHP Mark Mulder is the kind of pitcher the club favors: He's efficient, he induces ground balls, and he has a varied repertoire. Mulder's arrival means that less will be required of RHPs Chris Carpenter and Matt Morris, who both had arm problems last season. CUBS The team is eager to see if RHP Carlos Zambrano stayed in shape this winter. He shed more than 20 pounds last offseason and had fewer problems with his back as a result. DODGERS With RHP Brad Penny (arm) a question mark, the club is counting heavily on RHP Jeff Weaver, who was an innings eater last season and defied skeptics with his consistency. DIAMONDBACKS RHP Javier Vazquez has the stuff to be a No. 1 starter. RHP Russ Ortiz, the new No. 2 starter, might have trouble pitching in hitter-friendly Bank One Ballpark because of all the fly balls he allows. GIANTS There is competition for the No. 2 spot. LHP Kirk Rueter, the incumbent, is inconsistent but also is a big-game pitcher. RHP Jerome Williams is capable of 15 wins, and RHP Brett Tomko improved last season after becoming more aggressive. MARLINS The top four, when healthy, rank among the best in the league. RHP A.J. Burnett can be dominant. RHP Josh Beckett needs to stay off the D.L. LHP Dontrelle Willis should benefit greatly from the addition of veteran LHP Al Leiter. METS The rotation could be one of the East's best from top to bottom, but everything will have to break right. RHP Pedro Martinez has trouble pitching on average or short rest. RHP Victor Zambrano's elbow still is suspect. RHP Kris Benson had a tired shoulder late last season. NATIONALS If the club fails to sign a free agent, it will stick with young RHPs Zach Day, Tomo Ohka, Tony Armas and Jon Rauch and hope that prospects such as RHP Darrell Rasher and LHP Michael Hinckley eventually can work their way in. PADRES San Diego could have the best rotation in the West. ...