Izzy's health will play a major factor in the Cardinals starting rotation

Each big league team has at least one positional battle, some more. Whether it's rookie versus rookie, veteran against veteran or a fistfight for the final spot in the starting rotation, the March gavel has sounded. The sharp fantasy manager who bellies up to the spring training buffet will be one step ahead when Opening Day arrives.

Unlike fantasy football, baseball leagues are won and lost on draft day, and success is based primarily on reliable and timely information. For Better, for Worse runs down the fights that have fantasy implications and those that are simply fillers on the card.

For Better

1. Boston Red Sox Closer (Joel Pineiro versus Mike Timlin and Craig Hansen)
Pineiro was the favorite coming in, but he has struggled this spring (10.80 ERA after three outings). While Timlin and Hansen are both sidelined with minor injuries, the job is still Pineiro's to lose. But if the ex-Mariner continues to struggle, expect the Sox to go with Timlin as the Opening Day closer. Timlin strained his oblique on Feb. 25, but threw 40 pitches against live hitters on Wednesday and reportedly "declared himself fit to pitch." If Timlin is healthy and begins the season as the closer, his fantasy value will skyrocket.

2. Florida Marlins Closer (Taylor Tankersley versus Kevin Gregg, Matt Lindstrom and Henry Owens)
Coming into the spring Tankersley was considered the favorite to begin the season as the Florida fireman. That was before he was sidelined with a case of shoulder tendonitis. Another sidebar in the Miami mess is Josh Johnson's elbow injury, which keeps Ricky Nolasco in the starting rotation and out of the closer mix. All things being equal, that leaves Gregg as the favorite to start the season as the closer, making him a potential draft-day steal.

3. Kansas City Royals Third Baseman/Outfield (Alex Gordon versus Mark Teahen, Emil Brown and Reggie Sanders)
This situation is far from a conventional camp battle, but it is important for fantasy owners. The current plan for manager Buddy Bell is to move Teahen to rightfield, leaving Brown and Sanders to fight for the starting role in left. Sharp fantasy owners typically put a big circle around rookies because the intelligent move is to be skeptical, but Gordon is something special. Eventually his minor league numbers should translate to the next level, but expecting the No. 2 pick in the 2005 draft to make an immediate impact while never playing at the Triple-A level is optimistic at best. In 130 games at Wichita, Gordon hit .325/.427/.588 with 29 homers and an oh-so-attractive 22 steals. The steals don't make sense since Gordon lacks major league speed, but there's little doubt he's among the top hitting prospects in baseball. Gordon needs to break out of his spring training struggles. He is batting .267 with only one extra base hit and one RBI in 16 at-bats.

4. Milwaukee Brewers Third Baseman (Corey Koskie versus Ryan Braun, Tony Graffanino and Craig Counsell)
The veteran Koskie is still recovering from post-concussion syndrome and has yet to resume baseball-related activities. His return date is unknown. The Brewers had initially intended to go with a Graffanino-Counsell platoon, but a strong spring by Braun has created a change in plans. Braun's Grapefruit league numbers (three home runs and eight RBIs in 10 at-bats) make him the favorite to begin the season as the starting third baseman. He wasn't supposed to play this well this quickly, and his defense remains a concern. However, he's been working closely this spring with infield coach Dale Sveum and the practice is paying off. If Braun can overcome is current elbow injury, don't be surprised if he not only wins the spring battle but also contends for NL Rookie of the Year honors.

5. St. Louis Cardinals Fourth and Fifth Starters (Brad Thompson, Adam Wainwright, Braden Looper and Ryan Franklin)
The four righties are in a free-for-all for spots at the back of the rotation. However, Jason Isringhausen's health will play a major factor. If Izzy's surgically repaired hip is sound and he receives enough March work, he'll be the Opening Day closer, making Wainwright a lock as the No. 4 starter. If Isringhausen can't answer the bell, then Wainwright likely will return to the bullpen. While Looper has been more impressive this spring, Franklin is more experienced as a starter. Thompson, however, who last Sunday punched out three perfect innings on only 25 pitches, is likely to win the final rotation spot when the team needs a fifth starter in mid-April.

Honorable Mention

Reds Closer: Until Eddie Guardado returns, David Weathers and Mike Stanton are fighting it out. Expect Weathers to pick up a number of cheap saves in April.

Yankees Fifth Starter: This spot is Carl Pavano's by default, but can one simply ignore his string of freak injuries since arriving in New York? Less than 48 hours old into spring training, Pavano was hit in the foot by a line drive. However, he returned to the mound this past weekend and pitched without incident. Prospect Phil Hughes is waiting in the wings.

Angels Fifth Starter: Until the final word is in on Jered Weaver's biceps tendonitis, both Hector Carrasco and Dustin Moseley will fill in. While the team is hopeful that Weaver will be ready to return by mid-April, owners should be concerned. Carrasco is the favorite to begin the season as the fifth starter and is an early-season pickup for owners who have Weaver.

Chicago Cubs Outfield: It's difficult to believe the Cubs signed Cliff Floyd as a mentor, but regardless, the odds of the ex-Met making it through spring training without an injury are long, which benefits Matt Murton.