The National League Central has produced a different division winner in each of the last three years. In 2011, the Milwaukee Brewers won the crown, while 2012 and 2013 belonged to the Cincinnati and St. Louis respectively. But, the St. Louis Cardinals have made the playoffs in each of the last two seasons. The NL Central has produced seven playoff teams in the last three seasons.
The Brewers currently lead the division with an 11-5 record as they have been able to tear the cover off the ball in April, but the Cardinals are one of the best teams in the major leagues and will always be there in September.
The Pirates and the Reds are also vying for the division crown, so do not count them out. The NL Central race could be one of the tightest races in baseball this year.
So, who wins the NL Central in 2014?
Chicago Cubs
The beloved Cubbies are only 4-10 so far in this young season, and the franchise has a long way to go to get back to being contenders, but the market is trending up for Chicago.
With youngsters like Anthony Rizzo and Starlin Castro cemented in the major leagues, the Cubs have a core to build around. Junior Lake and Mike Olt also look like they could be good ball players in this league as well considering they have combined for four home runs already. But the focal point of the Cubs lineup is currently in the minor leagues.
Top prospects Javier Baez and Kris Bryant are not too far away from the big leagues. Once those two come up the Cubs lineup will be young and hungry, which is always a recipe for success. Baez is the next power hitting shortstop, with no real holes to his game and Kris Bryant has the potential to hit 30 home runs at the hot corner.
Surprisingly enough, the Cubs starting pitching has actually been good so far this season. Led by Jeff Samardzija, Chicago’s top-three starters have a combined 16 earned runs in 60 innings of work. Jason Hammel and Travis Wood have been very good so far, but behind them is where it begins to become a problem.
The rest of the pitching staff (excluding the top-three starters) have allowed 42 earned runs in 70 innings for an ERA of 5.4o. Can the Cubs come together and make a run for the division crown? Not likely, but we have seen crazier things happen in baseball.
Milwaukee Brewers
Ryan Braun and Carlos Gomez lead the Brewers charge ahead. Photo by Howard Smith, USA Today Sports Images
The Brew Crew is leading the NL Central with a scorching-hot lineup and some adequate pitching.
Ryan Braun, Carlos Gomez, Aramis Ramirez and Jonathan Lucroy have been tearing the cover off the ball. Between the four of them they have scored 35 runs and driven in 39. Add in Scooter Gennett and Khris Davis and this Brewers lineup has the power to make a run for the division crown.
Can the pitching staff hold their own? Before the season, many experts pegged the Brewers rotation to be a serious weak spot. But so far this year the rotation has been excellent. The Brewers staff has 12 quality starts in 16 games and Yovani Gallardo is pitching like an ace again with a 1.46 ERA. As a team, the Brewers ERA is a stout 2.73, but even that is inflated with two pitchers that own a 27.00 ERA.
The Brewers are for real so far, and should they keep it up, you could see Milwaukee heading back to the playoffs.
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pirates are coming off their first trip to the playoffs in what seems like forever, but they did nothing to improve the team in the offseason. Can they win with what is in place?
The Pirates lineup features two of the best young outfielders in the game today in Andrew McCutchen and Starling Marte. In addition, Neil Walker and Pedro Alvarez can provide some pop in the Bucco’s lineup. But, apart from those four there is not much else in the lineup. The Pirates will need guys like Travis Snider and Russell Martin to step up in order to contend in the NL Central.
Last year, the Pirates pitching staff was very good with a 3.26 ERA as a team. But, they lost A.J. Burnett to free agency and replaced him with Edinson Volquez. So far, that has proven to be an excellent move as Volquez leads the Pirates with a 1.71 ERA in 21 innings.
If the Pirates rotation can pitch as well as they did last year, the Buccos will be in contention again in September.
Why? The bullpen. The Pirates’ bullpen has been incredible so far this season, allowing just 14 runs, but six of them from one player who does not project to see a lot of innings this season. Last year, the Buccos produced six players in the bullpen with less than a 3.00 ERA. That’s an incredible feat.
Editor’s Note: After submission of this article, it was reported that the Pirates have acquired Ike Davis from the New York Mets in a three-player deal.
Cincinnati Reds
If the Cincinnati Reds talent pool can come together and play up to their capability, the Reds could take the division home each and every year. But, something drags them down it seems, and no one can pinpoint it.
The Reds’ lineup boasts names like Joey Votto, Brandon Phillips, Jay Bruce, Ryan Ludwick and now with rookie speedster Billy Hamilton. Cincinnati has the potential to score at will, but everyone needs to hit consistently at the same time. When they do, watch out.
The Reds can bring as good of a pitching rotation as anyone in baseball, and that could propel them to the top of the division. With Johnny Cueto being atop the rotation, every fifth day seems like a walk in the park as he is truly one of the better pitchers in the game when healthy.
Behind him is Mike Leake and Tony Cingrani who each have a sub-three ERA, and even Homer Bailey who has been off to a terrible start, but will get it right before too long. That makes up four, who is the fifth? Once healthy, Mat Latos will return to the Reds’ rotation and cement Cincinnati as one of the best pitching teams in the major leagues.
St. Louis Cardinals
Matt Carpenter marvels at a hit. Photo by Greg M. Cooper, USA Today Sports Images
The scary part is, the lineup is not even the best part of the Cardinals team. The pitching is. Talk about a lineup that goes on forever, how about a pitching staff? Adam Wainwright pitches once every five days. Michael Wacha pitches once every five days. How about the other three? Lance Lynn, Shelby Miller and Joe Kelly (when healthy) or Carlos Martinez. When the hitting is slumping, the pitching steps up. When the pitchers are getting hit, the hitters bail them out. The Cardinals have a great recipe for success, can they follow it and get back to the postseason?
Who wins the NL Central?
Photo: Jeff Curry, USA Today Sports Images