We have about a week of action under our belts, so let's introduce The Bible Belt Baseball Report. Each week we'll get you up to date and look ahead to what's to come for your favorite MLB teams throughout your favorite area of the country. We'll start in the N.L. Central, where dreams are big and rivalries are bigger for the St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, and Chicago Cubs for the 2015 season.

The Cardinals' season began this week with a dominant performance by Adam Wainwright. He looked to be in October form as he out-dueled the Cubs' Jon Lester on Opening Night in Wrigley Field. Coupled with the 3-for-4 debut by Jason Heyward, the Cardinals look to be the division favorites again. Yadier Molina is about 25 pounds lighter, and he vows to play 150+ games. This is a big week in front of the Redbirds. They have their home Opening Day in Busch Stadium on Monday vs. the division rival Milwaukee Brewers, and they will also host the N.L. Central Reds next weekend. This weekend, they are in Cincinnati. The Cardinals have 11 divisional games to start 2015.

The Cubs are starting a brand new type of baseball in the Windy City. Joe Maddon breathes new life into this organization, and the acquisition of top free agent Jon Lester tells fans they are "in it to win it." A split versus the Cardinals was a good start, especially since Jake Arrieta shut out St. Louis in game two after Lester had a sub-par outing on Opening Night. After returning from Colorado this weekend, the Cubbies host the division rival Reds and N.L. West favorite San Diego Padres. We'll have a good litmus test by next weekend as Chicago awaits the arrival of rookie Kris Bryant the following week.

The Reds are a dark horse but a good one to ride in the N.L. Central. That offense is arguably the best in the league, and Joey Votto appears to have embraced the number two spot in the lineup. The offense will be there, and Johnny Cueto and Homer Bailey will be solid. The question will be the back of the rotation and getting to the 'lights-out' closer that is Aroldis Chapman. Playing the first four series vs. the Pirates, Cardinals, at the Cubs, and at St. Louis will tell the baseball world a lot about this year's squad.

The Braves are on fire. They have started off 5-0. Good pitching, timely hitting, and a great 1-2 punch of Jim Johnson and Jason Grilli in the back of the bullpen has slammed the door on the victories to start the season. It has made fans feel a lesser blow from the Craig Kimbrel trade.

The A.L. Central sees the Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Indians starting off behind the defending champion Kansas City Royals. The Indians' Trevor Bauer and company fell one out short of a combined no-hitter Thursday, and Corey Kluber has looked solid to begin 2015. However, bullpen woes have derailed a good start. The White Sox, on the other hand, have underachieved after a spending spree in the offseason brought in high-priced free agents and All-Stars via trade.

The Tampa Bay Rays are in a straight rebuilding phase. Losing Maddon and a number of upper-tier Major Leaguers has made the expectations for 2015 temper a bit. Two strong outings by now ace pitcher Chris Archer might turn those fortunes by the Bay around more quickly than expected.

We are just getting started here with the 2015 Bible Belt Baseball Report. We will keep you up to date with anything and everything important in the world of MLB in this neck of the woods. Every team that is relevant around here we will continue to cover. So, if the Rays go on a run, we are there, and if a team tanks midseason, we will focus more on the ones that are in it. Stay tuned and stay on top of what is important in the region as the Bible Belt Baseball Report comes your way every Sunday!

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