Today I want to look at, what I think are, the best starting lineups in MLB and therefore in MLB 14: The Show. We're going to focus on the top five most dangerous lineups to face as a pitcher. We'll look at the strengths and also any potential weaknesses of the lineups. So without further ado, let's go!

5. New York Yankees – With an off-season shopping spree in New York that included new starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka, the Bronx Bombers also spent a lot of money to improve their starting lineup. The additions of Jacoby Ellsbury, Carlos Beltran, Brian McCann and Brian Roberts headline the improvements. Here is the Yankees 2014 starting lineup, as projected by ZIPS on March 3, 2014.

OF Jacoby Ellsbury
SS Derek Jeter
OF Carlos Beltran
1B Mark Teixeira
C Brain McCann
DH Alfonso Soriano
OF Brett Gardner
3B Kelly Johnson
2B Brian Roberts

That leaves Ichiro Suzuki as the best pinch hitter off the bench. That's a pretty good lineup when you consider what kind of season each player is capable of having. Obviously the departure of Robinson Cano leaves a huge void. The addition of Brian Roberts adds gap-to-gap power, but can't possibly make up for the power and RBI ability that Cano brought. Curtis Granderson also departs while Ellsbury comes over to fill his offensive void. The loss of Alex Rodriguez's bat can't be ignored. Kelly Johnson will have his hands full trying to produce at the hot corner.

4. Los Angeles Angels – This off-season saw the addition of Raul Ibanez, David Freese, and Carlos Pena to a roster that was already a nightmare for opposing pitchers. Every baseball fan knows Mike Trout, but so much of this team's fortunes rely on Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton having strong campaigns. Last year, this team looked poised to set offensive records, but Pujols was bogged down by injuries, and Hamilton's numbers were down across the board. Here is the Angels 2014 starting lineup, as projected by ZIPS on March 3, 2014.

SS Erick Aybar
OF Mike Trout
1B Albert Pujols
OF Josh Hamilton
3B David Freese
DH Raul Ibanez
2B Howie Kendrick
OF Kole Calhoun
C Chris Iannetta

That makes Pena the best option off the bench for a pinch-hit at bat. If everyone plays as well as they are capable of, the Angels will be underrated at No. 4 on this list. The departure of Mark Trumbo certainly hurts from a loss of power perspective, but the Angels hope the 42-year-old Ibanez can fill that void. Top prospect Kole Calhoun also looks to make a splash for the Halos, as he's expected to be an everyday player.

3. Atlanta Braves – While the Atlanta Braves didn't make any significant additions to the lineup for 2014 -- and they loss of McCann -- this team still has the potential to be one of the best lineups in all of baseball. Much of that will depend on the ability of Evan Gattis to play every day behind the plate, and the capability of both B.J. and Justin Upton to have bounce-back seasons after struggling in 2013. The Braves have potentially, one of the best outfields in the big leagues. Chris Johnson's emergence last season at third base helped soften the blow from the retirement of Chipper Jones, and Freddie Freeman is becoming one of the best young hitters in the game. Here is the Braves 2014 starting lineup, as projected by ZIPS on March 3, 2014.

OF Jason Heyward
OF Justin Upton
1B Freddie Freeman
C Evan Gattis
3B Chris Johnson
SS Andrelton Simmons
2B Dan Uggla
OF B.J. Upton
Pitcher's Spot

That leaves Ryan Doumit as the the first option off the bench for Atlanta. Jason Heyward's health will also be a hot topic for Braves fans. This lineup has everything you fear if you are an opposing pitcher: Great L/R balance, power and speed. If Andrelton Simmons continues to improve as he's expected to, this lineup gets that much scarier as an opposing pitcher. Uggla is a bit all-or-nothing in his approach but he can give you that homer you need in the clutch.

2. Baltimore Orioles – Very few teams in MLB can match this lineup on paper. The addition of Nelson Cruz and Delmon Young to an already stacked roster should sound air raid alarms for opposing pitchers. Third baseman Manny Machado had a horrific injury late last season, but he's expected to make a full recovery and be back for the 2014 season at some point. That's great news for any fan of baseball. Looking over this lineup, there are no real holes if they get healthy and stay healthy. Here is the Orioles starting lineup, as projected by ZIPS as of March 3, 2014.

OF Nick Markakis
3B Ryan Flaherty
1B Chris Davis
OF Adam Jones
OF Nelson Cruz
C Matt Wieters
SS J.J. Hardy
DH Nolan Reimold
2B Jemile Weeks

That leaves Young as the best bat off the bench. Once Machado heals and joins the lineup, Flaherty will also be a great bench bat. Chris “Crush” Davis has potential to go after the home run record again this season with the added protection of Cruz in the lineup. One of the weaknesses of this lineup, lack of speed, was somewhat addressed with the addition of Jemile Weeks. He and Adam Jones still represent the only real speed threats on the bases for Baltimore and that's a potential problem. Baltimore has strong roster depth, and once Machado is healthy, they will be a force to be reckoned with.

1. Los Angeles Dodgers – When you're lineup is so stacked that Matt Kemp could actually come off the bench, you know you have one of the best lineups in baseball. The Dodgers made headlines last season with the additions of Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, and Hanley Ramirez and the emergence of rookie phenom Yasiel Puig. This season doesn't bring the same roster turnover excitement and the Dodgers main players are now known commodities. However, the money was spent and this team is loaded with stars. Let's look at the Dodgers 2014 starting lineup, as projected by ZIPS on March 3, 2014.

OF Yasiel Puig
OF Carl Crawford
SS Hanley Ramirez
1B Adrian Gonzalez
OF Matt Kemp
3B Juan Uribe
C A.J. Ellis
Pitcher's Spot

That leaves Andre Either to platoon in the outfield and be maybe the best bench bat in the league assuming that Kemp does start, as ZIPS projects. Seriously, where is the weakness here? Speed? Check. Power? Check. Guys that can get on base and set the table? Check! The Dodgers are one of the favorites to make it to the World Series in 2014, and the amazing starting pitching isn't the only reason. This lineup looks like an All-Star team and Uribe is a very capable hitter (ZIPS projects a .293 average this season). Only the very best pitchers in Major League Baseball will be able to consistently compete with this starting lineup.

1a. Texas Rangers – When a playoff team that was in the World Series two seasons ago goes out in the off-season and adds Prince Fielder, Shin-Soo Choo, and J.P. Arencibia you know they are serious about winning it all. Considering the Rangers already had one of the most feared lineups in all of baseball last season, this season's edition is legit scary. Texas lost Ian Kinsler in the trade to acquire Fielder, but they have Jurickson Profar armed and ready to take over at second base full time in 2014. Mitch Moreland will be a strong and steady DH. The loss of Nelson Cruz will be more than made up for by Choo and Fielder's added production. This is in my opinion, the best lineup in MLB. Here is the Rangers 2014 starting lineup, as projected by ZIPS on March 3, 2014.

OF Shin-Soo Choo
SS Elvis Andrus
1B Prince Fielder
3B Adrian Beltre
OF Alex Rios
DH Mitch Moreland
C Geovany Soto
2B Jurickson Profar
OF Leonys Martin

Wow. That leaves Texas with Michael Choice and J.P. Arencibia as option 1a and 1b off the bench. Power, speed, a great mix of veterans and younger players, hitting from both sides of the plate, I mean how do you attack this lineup? Alex Rios seems to be back in form if last season's run with the Rangers is any indication and Choo brings an incredible ability to get on base whether by hitting, taking a walk, or being hit by pitch.


OK, so I cheated and gave you six lineups. I honestly can't decide which lineup is more dangerous; the Dodgers or the Rangers? So Operation Sports, help me out. Which offensive starting lineup do you think is the best? Dodgers or Rangers? Or maybe I totally missed the mark and one of the other teams has the most dangerous lineup?

You tell me, sound off in the comments and let me know what I missed!