The National League Central looked like a three-team race at the beginning of the season, and not much has changed two months into the campaign. The Brewers, Cubs and Cardinals – the most hyped clubs in the division coming into the year – are at the top. After winning the division a year ago, the Brewers are 39-29, a half-game better than the Cubs. The Cardinals are a less impressive 33-33, five games back, though they’re certainly not out of the race. Meanwhile, the Reds and Pirates are eight and nine games behind, respectively. Neither looked likely to challenge for the NL Central at the outset of the season. They haven’t done anything to change anyone’s mind yet.
Led by reigning MVP right fielder Christian Yelich, brilliant free-agent acquisition Yasmani Grandal and offseason re-signing Mike Moustakas, the Brewers boast one of the majors’ most valuable groups of position players. Their pitching hasn’t been as useful, on the other hand, as a rotation that was devoid of an ace entering the season has dealt with ineffectiveness and injuries throughout the year. However, the team still features elite reliever Josh Hader, with Jeremy Jeffress and Adrian Houser among those supporting him.
The Cubs’ position player mix has been even better than the Brewers’ this year, largely because Javier Baez, Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Willson Contreras and David Bote have each offered strong production. Chicago’s rotation is probably better equipped, too, as Kyle Hendricks, Cole Hamels, Jose Quintana and Jon Lester are all proven commodities. Although, Yu Darvish hasn’t rebounded as hoped in his second year as a Cub. Darvish & Co. have handed off to a bullpen that hasn’t been lights-out this year, but it’s about to welcome all-time great closer Craig Kimbrel, whom the Cubs signed to a three-year, $43MM contract last week. Kimbrel would have been a match for the Brewers, making it all the more beneficial for the Cubs that they landed him (on paper, at least).
As for the Cardinals, they’ve fallen short of expectations after trading for ex-Diamondback Paul Goldschmidt, one of the premier position players in recent memory, and signing reliever Andrew Miller in the offseason. Both players have logged somewhat disappointing production to date, though Goldschmidt’s still an imposing presence and Miller has improved after a rocky start. Regardless, neither the Cardinals’ cast of hitters nor their relief corps is their most pressing issue. It’s their rotation, which hasn’t gotten high-end numbers from anyone. Jack Flaherty and Miles Mikolas have gone backward after impressive showings in 2018, while Dakota Hudson’s peripherals portend trouble. Adam Wainwright’s much closer to average than ace-like these days (and he’s now on the injured list with a hamstring issue), and nobody has nailed down the fifth spot in the Redbirds’ starting staff.
Considering the talent peppered throughout the Cardinals’ roster, it would be foolhardy to rule them out as potential division winners this season. Furthermore, with the trade deadline still yet to occur, St. Louis or anyone else in the division could put itself over the top with a shrewd acquisition(s) leading up to July 31. For now, though, the edge clearly belongs to the Cubs and the Brewers. FanGraphs currently projects the NL Central to finish in this order: Cubs (91-71), Brewers (87-75), Cardinals (83-79), Reds (78-84), Pirates (75-87). How do you expect it to shake out?
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Brewers! But Cubs are good too. I don’t see St Louis being there at the end this year, Pittsburgh is ehh and cinci not great either.
I’ll say Brewers. Cardinals just don’t look good.
Agree Brewers.
Cubs are NOT good.
Cardinals certainly have the talent but need to put things together. If they can get over this entire team slump I like their chances.
Brewers have dealt with more hardships than the cubs at this point and are 1st. And they have a better farm system than the cubs and will likely get MadBum/Smith because the Braves are cheap. Brewers win the division, Cardinals or Cubs get WC #2 and Braves/Phillies get WC #1
omg I am sick and tired of fans whining about how their team has suffered more hardships than all the other teams. We went into the season with our only closer injured followed by our best back up closer, which is why we blew so many saves. Yes, every team has a sob story about injuries and hardships. And guess what, we’re still neck in neck with the Boohoo Crew. The only difference is that we are about to shore up the weakest part of our team. we’re gonna win the division by at least 5.
Not a brewers fan. Just stating facts. Cubs have been without their closer you say? Corey Knebel is out the whole year… fans like you only look at things one way. Great teams can persevere even with injuries and bad performances, as the brewers have done with their injuries and unexpected regression from guys like Jesus Aguilar.
unexpected? you really thought he was going to repeat last season’s numbers. Brewers fans are delusional the team will finish 4th in the central
He has no numbers as he is out for the year. Any true baseball fan that thinks the brewers will finish fourth clearly doesn’t know very much about the game.
One man (Yelich) can only carry a team so far. He got injured for a week due to his back and the Brewers sucked. An injury or a reality check with Yelich and the crew doesn’t stand a chance. Until then it will be neck and neck but I am keeping in mind that the cubs always do wayyyy better after the all-star break so the fact there only 1 game behind right now is amazing to me. Players like Rizzo usually go on 2nd half of the season tears… he’s just warming up. And please don’t complain about Knebel ahaha, you have Hader. Knebel was decent but Hader certainly is better!
When Yelich missed 5 games the Brewers actually went 3-2. You do realize the Cubs fell off a cliff in September last year right? So to say they are always better after the break is not correct. Also, outside of average Rizzo is not a better hitter in the second half. His power numbers the last three years have either been even or better in the first half. Basically everything you just said is wrong lol
Go cubbies. Rinkly pickle
Your facts are very opinionated.
Oh and your cubs also have over 100 million dollars in payroll so when Knebel went down they couldn’t just go buy another arm like the big market teams can. Brewers will improve via trade and win the division again because cubs have more issues than just the closer.
Payroll has nothing to do with anything. That’s a losers lament.
Money has everything to do with everything.. What planet are you on?
“Loser’s lament” doesn’t apply when said small market team is in first place.
surely the Brew Crew spend some prospect capital, to acquire MadBum or Stroman or Boyd.
If Stearns is convinced Boyd is for real that’s the one you would have to think he will go for imo. It would take something close to the Yelich deal but could be worth it.
i think a more feasible comparison is Quintana last season for Boyd
No doubt the Pirates
2 team fight for 1st (Brewcrew and scrubbies). Cards will fight for 3rd and 4th place. Tuff for me to say that, and I’m hoping for far better than that from the Cards. However they just seem off. I’m all for prove me wrong but I just do not see it.
Astros, they haven’t won the NL Central in a while and are past due.
what’s the over/under on how many ppl correct you on this, thinking you’re serious?
Dogs from the future don’t play baseball! And when did he get his own team?
I get the feeling team Thed is not done yet. They gave up nada but coin for Kimbrel, so they can still make a strong move. Cubs will be there!
I don’t really see that much difference in the trade packages other than a higher profile pitching prospect in cease. Even though it hasn’t worked out so far for Brinson etc they were top prospects in the Brewers system at the time.
The team with the better record. It’s friggin June who the hell knows?
What a satirical ‘dad joke’ answer. It is interesting to see people’s perspectives on where the different teams stand now and where people believe they will end up. What people vote and say on here doesn’t mean anything in terms of who will actually win, it allows all of us to engage in conversation about what is/will happen.
Brewers or Cubs probably. Although I’d rather see the Brewers win especially with the emergence of Christian Yelich as a true superstar.
The Cubs will win the NL Central. According to the top analytics websites, the Cubs should have 2 more wins and the Brewers should have 4 less wins based on team performance metrics. That would put the Cubs ahead of the Brewers by 5.5 games. The Cubs have also played the entire season so far without a closer, which has resulted in 12 blown saves. This will not be an issue going forward due to the signing of Craig Kimbrel, who will be closing games before the end of the month.
How did all those ‘top’ analytics sites work last year? Just wondering.
Yeah i mean its not like the brewers have been without their closer, Corey Knebel. Jeez cubs fans are delusional. Weren’t they supposed to win last year as well? Perhaps if they turn all of that potential into kinetic energy they will win the central, but seeing as the brewers have had the 3rd hardest schedule and are in 1st right now, your metrics mean very little.
You pick and chose what you read. The original poster stated that they didn’t have a closer BUT now going forward they have someone that the original poster believes will be able to close games. Yes the Brewers lost Knebel, but they have not added a replacement for him, while the Cubs have.
The Cards SHOULD and NEED mad max. His acquisition would make them legitimate WS contenders. I’d also take a good look at Puig. But we need Scherzer.
There’s about 10 potential playoff teams that “need” mad max.
Had their chance on Max a few years ago, but Mozeliak was too busy shopping at Eddie Bauer and Starbucks.
Brewers. They have more capital than the Cubs for midseason additions this year.
Umm…nope. That farm system is pretty poor…just don’t tell Brewers fans as they don’t realize it.
Brewers don’t have a great system anymore but the Cubs have an even worse one.
Can easily see STL getting hot. Young core with lots of untapped potential.
Young core? Goldschmidt, Carpenter,Ozuna, Fowler, Molina, Miller, Wainwright, Mikolas, Martinez x 2. what young core are you excited about? Wong? Funny. Dejong? Yawn. Shall I go on?
Yawn on DeJong? That’s rich.
Answer: NOT the Cardinals.
And certainly NOT the Cubbies
Clearly the Pirates. No questions about it.
Agee. The Bucco’s are waiting for Dave Parker, Davey Cash, The candy Man, Pops Stargell to get suited up and then cruise to the title.
I’m a Brewers fan but I think we still need that strong starter maybe acquire one at the trade deadline as for the division there’s still a lot of games left but it’ll probably be Brewers or cubs
The Brewers gained a significant psychological edge over the Cubs down the stretch last year. I believe in intangibles, and I think the edge has to be given to Milwaukee. Cubs watched it slip away, and that will play on their fears once again.
Can anyone in their right mind seriously say that the Pirates (or Reds) will win this division this season? Lol.
The St. Louis Blues, maybe.
Make no mistake, even then the Pirates odds of winning the division topped out at 2%, but…for the record…before they lost their top 3 starters, their 8th inning guy, their starting catcher and their CF/best defender/best base runner/best all around position player (while already being without both of their starting corner OF’ers) to injury, the Pirates were in first place.
And, while also unlikely, IF the Reds bats had come together as they hoped, they might have been able to stay in it, as well.
Yeah, I wish they’d stop crapping on the Pirates and Reds. Their bias is fairly obvious. Reds are still rebuilding, and the Pirates have suffered injuries literally to every roster spot except the right side of the infield and a couple of bench spots.
But you won’t get even that much on MLBTR most of the time. Always about winning today.
The pirates will make another blockbuster trade in which where they give marte, bell, and Reynolds for another pitcher with a 4.50 ERA
A little early to count the Red Birds out. They have played a tougher schedule than the Cubs. Surprisingly their defense and baserunning, once an issue is now a strength. Hudson’s peripherals will always look rough cause he is a ground ball specialist, and many pitchers like him have that issue. He has been terrific in his last 7 or so starts. I look for Mikolas and Flaherty to be better in the second 2/3 of the season. Waino has been decent and is passable as a number 5 innings eater. The #4 spot is an issue. They have options, but somebody like Boyd might be a possible addition. A lefty in the rotation would be a help. I have faith in the pitching. Offense has been mediocre at best. Goldy and Carpenter have to be weapons. History is on their side. A left-handed RF with thump would really help balance a too right-handed line-up. Dickerson? But an intra-divisional move is unlikely. Still it is the spot that is the most glaring weakness. I’m not as optimistic about the offense as the pitching. Perhaps another quality lefty out of the bull pen, like Will Smith would create a bull pen that is lights out. It IS still early, but the offense needs to show some signs of life for the management to go after needs.
Pirates will win worst record!
Toughest part of Brewers’ schedule behind them, including all of their Dodgers games and most of their Cards games, for what it’s worth. And roster of position players is strong — with room to improve at Shaw’s and Aguilar’s positions.
Agree with the other comments here that Brewers will trade for a starter in the next month — their bullpen is in okay shape but the rotation is a bit ragged beyond Davies and Woodruff. The others (Chacin, Anderson, Peralta, and now Nelson) just too inconsistent from start to start.
I wouldn’t pull the “toughest schedule behind us” argument out just yet.
13 against the Cubs
Series with ATL
Two 2-game series with MN and HOU
Agular Thames and braun are all juicing. because Braun can manipulate the system they managed to do the same.
Brewers might get lucky to finish 3rd.