The NL Central is one of the more balanced divisions this season, with no truly great team or truly terrible team.
Heading into the 2024 season, the NL Central was the most up-in-the-air for the winner and a possible wild card spot. Entering Spring Training, most sportsbooks had the Pittsburgh Pirates as the favorite with no clear runner up. To date, the teams remain tightly bunched together, but three of the five have losing records.
Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers have reestablished themselves as frontrunners, with surprising hitters like C William Contreras and 2B Brice Turang providing firepower for an offense with great potential but unpolished play. OF Christian Yelich and 1B Rhys Hoskins remain solid hitters but must keep up their All-Star form in order to provide stability in the lineup.
Pitching is the team’s biggest weakness, as no starter has an ERA under three, and the bullpen is mediocre but with solid numbers. A youthful team with loads of talent is always difficult to manage, but their high-energy roster looks to bring the first World Series to Wisconsin. The Brewers can be confident in their abilities at the break but know there is still work to do. By the deadline, this team needs to focus on improving the rotation. As of now, they are the solid favorite in the NL Central.
St. Louis Cardinals
For a team with two future Hall of Famers, the Redbirds certainly know how to keep a fanbase waiting for another Fall Classic. The Cardinals are four games above .500 and 4.5 games back in the NL Central. Like the Brewers, new leaders have emerged this year in the form of SS Masyn Winn and OF Brendan Donovan. Veteran DH Matt Carpenter is no longer the utilityman he once was, and injuries are taking their toll.
Fixtures C Willson Contreras and OF Alec Burleson are viable threats after the trade deadline. Speaking of which, let’s talk about the rotation! Former Cy Young contenders SPs Lance Lynn and Sonny Gray have been up and down, particularly Lynn, who only has nine decisions in 19 results. Gray is still a solid option with a 3.34 ERA and nine wins. If the offense can become more consistent and give the bullpen a lead, the Cardinals will be in the postseason hunt. Thus, while the future, is bright, pitching additions at the deadline will make or break their season.
Pittsburgh Pirates
The three-way battle for the bottom of the NL Central is led by the preseason favorites. What more can be said that hasn’t already been said about the Pirates? Their only star hitter is OF Bryan Reynolds, as DH Andrew McCutchen is passed his prime. C Yasmani Grandal has had limited production for a former All-Star. Pittsburgh must get better offensive players at the deadline, as the current direction is a sinking prospect. The Buckos need someone to fire the cannons at opposing managers.
Pirates pitching is a classic case of good news and bad news. The good news is SP Mitch Keller looks like an ace, with ten wins and 105 strikeouts. Likewise, rookie SP Paul Skenes is having a fantastic breakout at 6-0 with a 1.90 ERA and 89 strikeouts. This Strasburg-like performance makes him the Rookie of the year favorite. The last time a pitcher won the award in the NL was SP Jacob deGrom in 2014. Skenes can replicate that accomplishment.
The bad news, of course, is that the Pirates have little pitching otherwise. All other starters have an ERA above 3.50. and none have a winning record. In the bullpen, RP Aroldis Chapman has lost his form, as he is 1-4 with a 4.15 ERA. At 36, this might be his final contract. Thus, adding hitters who can give pitchers some rest is a priority. Perhaps .500 is in the cards this year, but let’s not get carried away.
Cincinnati Reds
Four letters define the Reds: EDLC. The man leading the NL in steals with 46 and leading the team in home runs at 17 is on track to have one of the greatest seasons in the last ten years. SS Elly De La Cruz is to the Reds what DH Shohei Ohtani is to the Los Angeles Dodgers: team leader, superstar, inhuman talent, and infectious personality all wrapped into one. He alongside 1B Spencer Steer and C Tyler Stephenson are the bright spots in an otherwise quiet lineup.
The starting pitching, while imperfect, remains decent, as three starters have winning records and ERAs under 3.50. SP Hunter Greene ranks in the top 15 with a 130 ERA+ and 126 strikeouts. SP Nick Lodolo leads the rotation with a 3.38 strikeout-to-walk rate. The bullpen could certainly use improvement, as CP Alexis Diaz has only 19 saves. This will be the area to address at the deadline in order to finish with a winning record.
While one player does not define a team, it is easy to see the hype around De La Cruz. He deserves fan respect and is earning plenty of attention. But his teammates need to ensure he does not carry the team on his back.
Chicago Cubs
Craig Counsell’s squad is young indeed, with only one starter over thirty and the team leader being 1B Cody Bellinger at 28. He is second on the team in hits and third in average. DH Michael Busch has provided the fireworks for a squad four games under .500 seeking comfort. Priority #1 at the deadline is getting some offensive weapons to provide stability.
The second order of business is rotation help, as the current group is half good and half losing. SP Shota Imanaga is the unquestioned ace and frontline starter of the near future. A faulty bullpen is not helping matters, and CP Hector Neris is unreliable despite winning seven games. With better pitching, the Cubs would be in the thick of the NL Central race.
The trade deadline cannot provide all the answers, but the Cubs need to form their own identity the way the Pirates and Reds have within the last year.
Featured Articles
Featured Writers
