The 2011 Major League Baseball season begins on Friday (Australian time) and like most other US sports, there will be plenty of coverage on ESPN and Fox Sports. Of course, you'd better be a fan of the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers, because those glamour teams will show up most weeks. If you're a Cleveland Indians fan or (like me) support the Seattle Mariners, you're probably out of luck.

The San Francisco Giants are the defending World Series champions, but few experts believe they can go back-to-back. The smart money - like most years - rests with the big market teams like Boston, Philadelphia, the Yankees and the Los Angeles Angels.

The Australian interest again will be with pitchers. Reliever Grant Balfour has left Tampa Bay for Oakland, having signed an $8 million contract with the Athletics. Hard throwing Peter Moylan of the Atlanta Braves continues to be one of baseball's best relievers, while Ryan Rowland-Smith, who endured a horror season with Seattle last year has moved to the Houston Astros. Other Aussies starting the season on big league rosters are pitchers Brad Thomas (Detroit Tigers) and Rich Thompson (LA Angels).

2011 Storylines:

*Philadelphia's golden arms: Many are calling this year's Philadelphia pitching rotation the best ever assembled in modern baseball. Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay are Cy Young award winners, Cole Hamels is a World Series MVP, and Roy Oswalt has never had a losing Major League season. Add fifth starter Joe Blanton, 25-14 in his Phillies' career, and you've got a serious pitching staff.

*The Red Sox reload: After missing the playoffs last year, the American League East's other big spenders splashed some cash on OF Carl Crawford and 1B Adrian Gonzalez. If the pitching staff - led by Jon Lester and John Lackey - can have a big year, the Sox should be right back in the thick of things.

*"Let Timmy smoke": The San Francisco Giants went on an amazing run last year behind long-haired superstar Tim Lincecum, the best pitcher in baseball. Lincecum, a two-time Cy Young award winner, was arrested on a misdemeanour marijuana charge in 2009 and is a folk hero in the Bay Area, where fans wear t-shirts that say "Let Timmy smoke." Lincecum spearheads a superb pitching staff that could once again lead San Francisco deep into the post-season.

*Injuries: The season starts with questions over a number of star players. Phillies 2B Chase Utley (knee) and closer Brad Lidge (shoulder) are out, while Angels 1B Kendry Morales (toe), Brewers P Zack Greinke (rib) and Yankees OF Curtis Granderson (oblique) will also miss time.

*Albert Pujols: After a protracted negotiation process, Pujols, who many consider the best player in the game, and the St. Louis Cardinals could not reach an agreement on a new contract. Therefore, he will be a free agent next season. Generally, players in "contract years" play well, since they have something to prove. It will be fascinating to see how Pujols - with nothing to prove - performs this season.

*Is this Baltimore's year? No, not to make the playoffs, but to finish with more wins than losses. The once-mighty franchise hasn't had a winning season since 1997, but fans think veteran manager Buck Showalter and an improved roster might bring some success.

Ed's predictions

AL East

Boston

*NY Yankees

Tampa Bay

Toronto

Baltimore

AL Central

Minnesota

Detroit

Chicago White Sox

Kansas City

Cleveland

AL West

LA Angels

Texas

Oakland

Seattle

*Wildcard

ALCS

Boston over LA Angels

NL East

Philadelphia

Atlanta

NY Mets

Florida

Washington

NL Central

Cincinnati

*St. Louis

Chicago Cubs

Milwaukee

Houston

Pittsburgh

NL West

San Francisco

Colorado

LA Dodgers

San Diego

Arizona

*Wildcard

NLCS

Philadelphia over San Francisco

World Series

Philadelphia over Boston