Morning LineUp

The Cardinals are hungry and want to get back into the playoffs after narrowly missing the Wild Card last season. MLB.com's Bill Ladson speaks with Mike Matheny, Yadier Molina and Tommy Pham to find how the club has improved and just how badly they want to be playing in October this season.

The Miami Marlins think they enough firepower and pitching to compete in the National League East division. MLB.com's Bill Ladson caught up with Dee Gordon, Martin Prado, President of Baseball Operations Michael Hill and radio play-by-play broadcaster Dave Van Horne to find out how they are coping with the loss of Jose Fernandez, what they worked on this offseason and why Don Mattingly is so fun to play for.

The Houston Astros added some extra firepower this offseason in an effort to get them into the playoffs in 2017. MLB.com's Bill Ladson talked with A.J. Hinch, Carlos Beltran, and Josh Reddick to find out why Houston was a hot destination for free agents this winter and what they expect to accomplish this season.

On the latest episode of the Newsmakers Podcast, Bill Ladson caught up with Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper to discuss the upcoming season, his pending free agency in two years and getting married this offseason. Harper expects to have a big season with table setters Trea Turner and Adam Eaton hitting ahead of him and be a title contender once again in 2017.

The Washington Nationals are looking to repeat as NL East Champs and advance deep into the playoffs. Bill Ladson catches up with Trea Turner, Adam Eaton and Nationals radio play-by-play announcer Dave Jageler to find out how the team is shaping up so far in Spring Training.

The Rockies appear to be a team that is ready to take the next step and make the playoffs. MLB.com's Bill Ladson caught up with the Rockies' Ian Desmond, Carlos Gonzalez and Charlie Blackmon to discuss why they think this team could be one of the biggest surprises in the league and if they are capable of making all of the way to the title.

The Giants have a brand new closer and are gearing up for another championship run in 2017. MLB.com's Bill Ladson catches up with their new stopper in the 'pen Mark Melancon, outfielder Denard Span and executive vice president of baseball operations Brian Sabean to find out if the team has enough to make a run for a World Series title.

The Cubs were finally able to break the curse and win the World Series for the first time since 1908. Now they begin the long process all over again looking to repeat as champions. MLB.com's Bill Ladson caught up with Ben Zobrist, Kris Bryant, Jon Jay and Theo Epstein to find out how they plan on pulling off another championship season.

On this episode of Newsmakers, MLB.com's Bill Ladson is joined by author Hal Bock. Bock's new book "Banned'' covers well-known episodes like the Black Sox and Pete Rose and less well-known ones like Lipman Pike, baseball's first real slugger, and Dr. Joseph Creamer, team physician for the New York Giants, both thrown out of baseball for life. Also odd suspensions like Dickie Kerr, one of the clean players on the 1919 Black Sox, who wound up mentoring one of baseball's greatest hitters, and Ray Fisher, a beloved college coach who worked at that level while banned from Major League Baseball. There are some interesting stories that are not widely known.

The Dodgers are gearing up for a successful, healthy season and hoping for a deep playoff run. MLB.com's Bill Ladson caught up with Dave Roberts, Kenley Jansen and Sergio Romo to find out how they're planning on being difference makers this season.