MLB

NL preview: Young stars rise in senior circuit

There are still too many teams just along for the ride, but the National League is getting a little more muscle, especially the NL East, thanks to an infusion of young talent such as the Braves’ Jason Heyward and the Nationals’ Stephen Strasburg come June. Include the Phillies acquisition of Roy Halladay and ladder-climbing A-list stars such as the Marlins’ Hanley Ramirez, who hits the ball harder than anybody in the game, and you have some Twitter-inspiring talk, and it’s all in the Mets backyard. Too bad, Mets.

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NL EAST

1. PHILLIES: After seeing Roy Halladay several times this spring, one Yankee said he thinks the righty might win 30 games this year. Mark him down for 20 and the NL Cy Young award. The lineup is good top to bottom with the addition of No. 2 hitter Placido Polanco. Big question marks in the bullpen with Brad Lidge and J.C Romero.

2. BRAVES: Rotation has some sweet and heat. Derek Lowe was a weak link last year and still posted 15 wins. Jair Jurrjens’ shoulder must be watched. Tim Hudson, Tommy Hanson and Kenshin Kawakami round out the staff. Bullpen is stronger with rebuilt Billy Wagner. Chipper Jones and underrated Brian McCann have hitting help with Jason Heyward.

3. METS: Jose Reyes’ return makes the Mets a scary lineup. Now it’s up to the What If 4? That’s Ollie Perez, Mike Pelfrey, John Maine and Jon Niese. Jason Bay is a calming influence for David Wright, who will use his legs more hitting, and the bullpen has K-Rod and K-Rod Jr. in Jenrry Mejia.

4. MARLINS: Josh Johnson and Ricky Nolasco are jamming at the top of the rotation. Marlins can score runs, finishing fifth in NL last season. If closer Leo Nunez falters, there is no backup plan, though, and owner Jeffrey Loria will be bringing Bobby Valentine in for work. Can’t wait to see slugger Mike Stanton.

5. NATIONALS: Stephen Strasburg already has my Hall of Fame vote. Drew Storen will help, too. Wait until next spring and No. 1 pick Bryce Harper is the 2011 Phenom. GM Mike Rizzo is building a baseball-first organization. Growing pains will be difficult because the starting pitching stinks for now.

NL CENTRAL

1. BREWERS: This is Mets Central with Willie Randolph, bench coach, and Rick Peterson, pitching coach. The 1-2 punch of Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder is tough to beat. Expect bounce-back year for Rickie Weeks. Rotation is stronger with lefties Randy Wolf and Doug Davis. Alcides Escobar is a Rookie of the Year candidate at shortstop.

2. CARDINALS: Tony La Russa remains managerial madman. Albert Pujols is king. Cardinals fans see only goodness in Mark McGwire’s PED past. Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright combined for 36 wins last year. Young outfielder Allen Craig is a hitting machine.

3. CUBS: There are better ways to spend $142 million. Things have been going wrong since 1908. Catcher Geovany Soto lost 40 pounds in the offseason to try to get back to 2008 production. It’s all about Carlos Zambrano & Co., a group that includes Carlos Silva.

4. REDS: Their pitching is projected to be the best it has been in 10 years, especially the starting staff that includes Aaron Harang, future Met Bronson Arroyo and Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman with youngsters such as Travis Wood and Mike Leake ready to step in quickly. Still no Big Red Machine, though.

5. ASTROS: Most unathletic-looking bunch in baseball. Series of bad drafts have caused terrible problems. Closer situation is up in the air between Matt Lindstrom and Brandon Lyon, who had a shoulder cyst issue. Roy Oswalt has hamstring problems, but he’s the least of this team’s woes.

6. PIRATES: Trying to re-invent the baseball wheel. Lastings Milledge is trying to find a place where he can grow up. Andrew McCutchen is a future star in center field, but we’ve heard a lot of this before with this perennial losing franchise. All five starters are 27-and-under, now can they pitch?

NL WEST

1. ROCKIES: Ubaldo Jimenez anchors a solid rotation that needs Jeff Francis (shoulder) to pick up the No. 5 spot. Rotation was second in majors last year with 94 quality starts. Huston Street (DL) and Rafael Betancourt, the two primary late relievers, both battled right shoulder stiffness. Got to love lineup that has Carlos Gonzalez, Dexter Fowler, Todd Helton and Troy Tulowtizki in top four spots.

2. GIANTS: They have the deepest staff in the league 1 through 12 led by Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain. Lineup needs Freddy Sanchez, who is coming back from shoulder surgery. Pablo Sandoval, the third baseman, is the most entertaining position player around. Team is too old in key positions. Bay Area native Brandon Crawford is the shortstop of the future.

3. DODGERS: Russell Martin is another player who spends too much time in weight room, and his groin injury is a huge setback. Dodgers Divorce will affect the team even though the McCourts say it will not. This team has no true No. 1 starter. Vicente Padilla leads the majors in hit batters (98) since 2002. Lefty Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley and Hiroki Kuroda follow Padilla. Manny Ramirez may be on way to Japan.

4. DIAMONDBACKS: Brandon Webb (shoulder) still has a long way to go. His replacements last year were 7-17 with a 6.50 ERA. New first baseman Adam LaRoche will help, but he is a .250 hitter the first half of season in his career and a .300 hitter the second half. Catcher Miguel Montero hit .316 with 11 homers, 40 RBIs and a .900 OPS in 65 games after All-Star break.

5. PADRES: Payroll for the 25-man roster is $38 million. There is a core of good young pitchers for a big ballpark. Chris Young has returned from shoulder surgery. Jon Garland will give them innings, but the lineup is a little too young and little too soft, aside from Adrian Gonzalez. No big bangers. America’s most beautiful city, though.

kevin.kernan@nypost.com