N.L. Central

CHICAGO CUBS

Rookie LHP Sean Marshall is close to his innings total from last season in the minors and will be watched in the second half. He was pulled after 102 pitches last week against the Astros, and 100 might be his maximum range.... Expect Angel Pagan to play more. The switch hitter can fill in at all three outfield spots. Pagan has improved as a righthanded hitter and is healthy after tearing a hamstring in mid-April. FIRST HALF GRADES: Offense: D Losing 1B Derrek Lee for two months really hurt. Pitching: C- Injuries to RHPs Kerry Wood (shoulder, out for season) and Mark Prior (elbow) and ineffectiveness by LHP Glendon Rusch and RHP Jerome Williams have forced the club to rely on rookies. Defense: C There have been too many brain cramps.--Carrie Muskat

CINCINNATI REDS

With the bullpen in trouble, the club acquired LHP Eddie Guardado from the Mariners to close games. Guardado doesn't have overpowering stuff, but he isn't afraid to go after hitters. RHP Todd Coffey will return to a setup rote after struggling as a closer.... RHP Elizardo Ramirez, who was optioned to Class AA last week, doesn't have tremendous stuff but locates his pitches consistently and is smart. FIRST HALF GRADES: Offense: B Though the club has tried to infuse small ball into the attack, the home run still reigns. Pitching: C The rotation gives the Reds opportunities to win games; way too often, the bullpen takes them away. Defense: C It is slowly improving but still gives away outs and hurts pitchers who have little room for error.--Mark Sheldon

HOUSTON ASTROS

SS Eric Bruntlett likely will play more when the team faces lefthanders. He hit near .400 against them for much of the first half; Adam Everett hit below .200.... C Eric Munson usually only starts when LHP Wandy Rodriguez pitches, but that could change in the second half. Entering the week, C Brad Ausmus had one more RBI than Munson in 143 more at-bats. FIRST HALF GRADES: Offense: D 1B Lance Berkman is in a vacuum, surrounded by hitters who rarely perform well on the same day. Pitching: C LHP Andy Pettitte has struggled, but the young pitchers have exceeded expectations. The bullpen has been disappointing. Defense: B- The play at shortstop has been great; elsewhere, it has been erratic.--Alyson Footer

MILWAUKEE BREWERS

All-Star RHP Derrick Turnbow, the closer, is working with pitching coach Mike Maddux to fix his slider. Turnbow lost command of the pitch last week and was hit hard. He needs the slider to complement his fastball, especially now that hitters finally are getting a read on his funky delivery.... Gabe Gross is emerging as the starter in center field over Brady Clark. Gross' strong arm probably is more suited to the corners, but the team wants his bat in the lineup. FIRST HALF GRADES: Offense: B The team has shown resilience, coming from behind in 23 of its first 28 home wins. Pitching: B- LHP Chris Capuano has developed into the ace of a rotation that has been mostly injured or inconsistent. Defense: D The team has one of the league's highest errors totals. 2B Rickie Weeks still needs work.--Adam McCalvy

PITTSBURGH PIRATES

LHP Tom Gorzelanny, the team's top pitching prospect, likely will stick in the rotation, having replaced LHP Oliver Perez. The hard-throwing Gorzelanny, 24, has worked to improve his pitch selection and location.... Perez's demotion to Class AAA Indianapolis was a sign the team had finally tired of his inconsistency. The club is hopeful the move will be a wakeup call for Perez, who was a dominant starter before arriving at spring training in 2005 out of shape. FIRST HALF GRADES: Offense: C-The stats are padded by meaningless runs in blowouts. Pitching: D The young starters have been battered early and often. Only a decent bullpen prevented a lower grade. Defense: D SS Jack Wilson and 2B Jose Castillo have been uncharacteristically inconsistent.--Ed Eagle

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

Newly acquired RHP Jeff Weaver will replace departed RHP Sidney Ponson in the rotation--and the Cardinals believe Weaver has a lotto offer. Weaver is durable, and his ability to eat innings will help an overworked bullpen.... A concussion slowed C Yadier Molina last week, but he has been coming on at the plate. He has hit for average and power recently. The lineup has a different look when Molina can pose a threat in the seventh spot. FIRST HALF GRADES: Offense: B The power hasn't been quite there, so production is down compared with the first half of 2005. Pitching: C- A staff ERA in the bottom half of the N.L. isn't what the club had expected. Defense: B The expectations were high, and they have been met for the most part.--Matthew Leach

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