The entire National League plays six games this week.

The Reds leave home, but they should find success at the plate in Arizona and Wrigley ... The Cubbies stay in Chicago for six ... Even without Minute Maid, the Astros' bats should find the stands at Wrigley and Citizens Bank ... Arizona stays home for six.

The Mets stay in Shea all week, and New York gets Washington to take batting practice against for one of those series.  The Nationals face the strong staffs of Atlanta and New York … The Rockies have a week-long road trip in LA then Arizona … The Dodgers stay home all week.

FAVORABLE

Cincinnati Reds CIN: Going to Arizona to face young Edgar Gonzalez and Micah Owings.Then to the North Side of Chicago to face Wade Miller.

Chicago Cubs CHC: Stay home and face some weak competition such as Chris Sampson, Wandy Rodriguez and Kyle Lohse.

Atlanta Braves ATL: There is never reason to complain when a team can play three at home vs. Washington.

UNFAVORABLE

Pittsburgh Pirates PIT: The pitchers the Bucs face this week include Chris Carpenter, Adam Wainwright, Barry Zito and Matt Cain...Good luck.

St. Louis Cardinals STL: Facing Pittsburgh and Milwaukee doesn't seem that bad -- However, matchups include Ian Snell, Tom Gorzelanny, Ben Sheets, Chris Capuano and former Card Jeff Suppan.

Colorado Rockies COL: Clint Hurdle takes his crew on the road to face strong NL West pitching staffs in LA and Arizona.

FIELD GRUMBLINGS

Layne Nix hopes to have a role on the BREWERS when he returns from sore ribs -- hopefully as soon as this week ... DIAMONDBACKS OF Carlos Quentin has a slim chance of returning from a shoulder injury ... The DODGERS have no idea whether Rafael Furcal's sprained ankle will allow him to return this week  ...GIANTS Mark Sweeney could return from a toe injury ...The MARLINS could have Jeremy Hermida back from his knee injury by next weekend … PHILLIES Chris Coste could return from a hamstring injury and to his backup catcher role this week …PIRATES Freddy Sanchez (knee) was taken off the DL and will get reps as soon as Monday.

MOUND GRUMBLINGS

BRAVES SP/RP Lance Cormier is eligible to return from a sore shoulder April 15 ... CARDINALS ace Chris Carpenter hopes to start Tuesday after experiencing some swelling his elbow ... PHILLIES SP Freddy Garcia (biceps) is eyeing an April 15 return... REDS SP Eric Milton is returning from the DL this weed, for better or worse -- let's label it the latter.

BULLPEN GRUMBLINGS

MARLINS RP Taylor Tankersley wasn't considered a candidate to close for Florida with the teams acquistion of Julio Jorge from Arizona. but if Jorge continues to experience 9th inning melt downs, he could return from his shoulder injury this week and the to closer role later in the month ... PHILLIES SP Jon Lieber could return from a rib injury this week but will he start? … REDS RP Bill Bray could return from a finger injury by mid-week.

FAVORABLE TWO-START ARMS

The Pirates Ian Snell has continued what he started in 2006, dominating opposing lineups and racking up strike out totals; he gets the SG two-start approval for Week 2

I Snell -STL, SF

T. Hudson – WAS, FLA

J. Maine -PHI, WAS

C. Hamels – NYM, HOU

C. Young – SF, LAD

J. Schmidt – COL, SD

M. Cain – SD, PIT

NEUTRAL TWO-START ARMS

B. Arroyo – ARI, CHC

J. Suppan -FLA, STL

T. Lilly – HOU, CIN

W. Williams -CHC, PHI

B. Looper -PIT, MIL

A. Sanchez – PHI, ATL

J. Francis - LAD, ARI

D. Davis -CIN, COL

UNFAVORABLE TWO-START ARMS

M. Chico – ATL, NYM