In a game that loves defined bullpen roles, it’s pretty rare for a club to use a committee for an extended period of time. However, since 2005, at least 12 teams have made the playoffs without having one pitcher collect at least 60 percent of their total saves.

Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw is gearing up for Opening Day after he and his wife welcomed their first child during the offseason.

Any number of factors can conspire to decide a division. But at the dawn of a new season, these are the five factors that look like they’ll loom largest in the National League West.

Wild Card teams have shown they are capable of winning the World Series, but every team still starts the season with the goal of winning its division.

With another perfectly unpredictable season on the horizon, we polled dozens of MLB.com and MLB Network experts to put together a consensus of which teams will be claiming division titles, Wild Card berths, and ultimately, the game’s greatest prize — the World Series title.

To get ready for the push that will take us into October and to officially put our opinions on virtual paper before the first pitch is thrown, we polled dozens of experts from MLB.com and MLB Network to give us their predictions for who will win the most significant individual awards when this season is all said and done.

Looking back, nary a bracketologist went 63-0 with their March Madness picks last year. And, for the 14th straight season, Beat the Streak went champion-less. But despite never crowning a winner in a game that debuted the same year as Albert Pujols, the prospects for BTS success have never been better.

The National League West is the only division housing a World Series champion (Giants) and a division king (Dodgers). The eternal rivals are ready to get after it again, with the resurgent Padres crowding into the picture and the D-backs and Rockies confident that they will be improved as well. Stars abound out West, making it difficult to identify the best player at each position in the division.

It’s time for MLB.TV. The Internet’s first OTT product returns on Opening Day for its 13th season of streaming live Major League Baseball games, and MLB.TV will conclude its Spring Training broadcast schedule with a two-day free preview on Friday and Saturday.

Wandy Rodriguez exited Braves camp shortly after being informed that he was being released. Though the club has not officially announced their plan, Stults is now slated to team with veteran right-hander Trevor Cahill to fill the final two rotation spots.

Josh Hamilton will not be disciplined or suspended for violating his drug treatment program, as an arbitrator has ruled that the Angels outfielder did not violate the program.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy and general manager Brian Sabean have come to terms on contract extensions that would keep them in San Francisco through at least the 2019 season.

The Yankees are strongly considering going into the regular season without naming a set closer, enticed by the flexibility of having right-hander Dellin Betances and left-hander Andrew Miller share the ninth-inning duties.

Carlos Rodon got his share of publicity, but it was mild and toned down compared to Bryant. But make no mistake, Rodon has raised some eyebrows with his electric stuff and his mature poise and mound presence. He will be a force in the White Sox rotation for years to come.

Yordano Ventura and Joe Panik are just the latest examples of how crucial rookies can be in a team’s drive toward a championship. We’ll see many more in 2015, when several fledgling big leaguers should have an impact on pennant races.

How does the American League West stack up, position by position? Here’s a stab at predicting who will be the best player at each position in the division this season. Think of it as the preseason all-AL West team.

Any number of factors can conspire to decide a division race. At the dawn of a new season, these are five factors that look like they’ll loom largest in the American League West.