The NL Central was the best division in baseball last season. Tey sent three teams to the playoffs with 100, 98, and 97 wins respectively. No other division in baseball had more than one team with more than 90 wins, and AL West actually had no teams with 90 wins. With this division it isn’t a question of who can make the playoffs, it is a matter of what team will win the division and which two are fighting it out for the wildcard spots.
5. Cincinnati Reds
The Reds came into spring training realizing that they are no threat to make it to the playoffs this season which is why they have already traded away Todd Frazier, Aroldis Chapman, and are looking to deal Jay Bruce. The Reds have a young and unproven pitching staff, and a lineup that ranked 26th last year and has lost one of its best hitters heading into this year. This year may not be a fun one for Reds fans, especially the great teams at the top of the division, but if they can trade a few more pieces and get some prospects the future may once again be bright for the Reds.
4. Milwaukee Brewers
Last season was a rough one for the Brewers, and while they may not contend right now, there is hope in the near future. They have a decent, young starting rotation, and a solid bullpen which is an extremely important piece when trying to build a championship caliber team. The lineup could use some work though.
The Brewers still have all-stars in their lineup, but Ryan Braun hasn’t been the same hitter over the last couple of seasons, and took a big step back last year. Outside of those two, the Brewers don’t have a lot going for them in the hitting department. Jean Segura is looking more like a one half wonder, and outside of Braun this team has next to no power. The Brewers to need to get some power in their bats if they have any intentions of keeping up with the Cubs, Pirates, and Cardinals.
3. St. Louis Cardinals
Despite being a very good team, and one that tends to overcome adversity better than anyone else, they may only end up in third place in a very tough division. The Cardinals lost some key pieces from their team last year in John Lackey, and Jason Heyward. For a team that already was at the lower end of the spectrum in runs scored at 24th it is a big blow to lose Heyward, and to a division rival no less.
Matt Holliday, and Yadier Molina are clearly past his prime, and Matt Adams is not the answer at first base as he has already been replaced by Brandon Moss on the early depth charts. At this point we know the kind of player Kolten Wong is, solid but nothing special, leaving Matt Carpenter as the only real threat in the Cardinals lineup. Fortunately, the Cardinals have a strong starting rotation, and bullpen.
Their closer is one of the better ones in the game and with a healthy Adam Wainwright they have a true ace and a stopper in the rotation should they hit a losing streak. The Cardinals have a good run in the last 10-15 years but we may be seeing the back end of that run as the team ages and the Pirates, and Cubs get stronger each year.
2. Pittsburgh Pirates
After what was a down year by Andrew McCutchen’s standards look for him to rebound in a big way now that he is healthy, and carry that Pirates offense. The Pirates need McCutchen to return to his former self if they are to compete because the offense was weaker last year (although still ranked 11th) with his drop in production. The Pirates don’t have a ton of offensive depth, but their three outfielders are all pretty solid, and Josh Harrison has the potential to be a solid number two or number five hitter in the lineup.
Like the Cardinals though it is with the Pirates pitching and good defense that they are able to compete without a top notch offense. Gerrit Cole, and Francisco Liriano line up well with just about any other teams’ top two starters, and they have a very good bullpen to go along with that starting staff. The Pirates ranked second in baseball in terms of ERA with a 3.21 team ERA, and 10th in WHIP with a 1.24. It also, doesn’t seem to matter who the Pirates bring in. Every time they bring in a new starter he puts up career numbers such as A.J. Burnett, and J.A. Happ. With such great coaching and overall talent on this roster they have hit potential to make a deep run in the playoffs.
1. Chicago Cubs
The story of the season last year, the Cubs are not going to sneak up on anybody this year. Last year the Cubs went from 73 wins to 97 wins. Cubs might be one of the youngest teams in baseball, but you wouldn’t know it based upon how they composed themselves last season. The Cubs made a huge run in the second half, and when players would slump or the team would hit a losing streak they composed themselves like veterans. The Cubs have a potent offense that is strongly based on the long ball. Between Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber, and Jason Heyward, there arguing to be some monster homeruns hit this season.
However, it isn’t the young hitting prospects that are coming around for the Cubs that make them so dangerous. It is their great manager in Joe Maddon, and their unbelievable pitching staff that makes them so good. The Cubs ranked third in team ERA last season with a 3.36 ERA, first in WHIP with a 1.15, and first in batting average against with a .233. With a very strong starting rotation, and a bullpen that is highly underrated, the Cubs have what it takes to win the World Series this year.