MLB Divisional Previews: NL Central, is this the Cubs’ Year?
April 7, 2016
This is the second of six divisional previews from Impact 89FM, stay tuned for the rest of the previews throughout the opening week of the MLB season.
The NL Central may be the toughest division in baseball with the most questions heading into the season. Is this the Cubs’ year? Could the Cardinals and Pirates both claim Wild Card spots? Will the Reds or Brewers be relevant?
Zachary Swiecicki, Zach Barnes, and Will Thiede break down the National League Central Division and let the Chicago fans know what to expect in 2016.
Last year, the NL Central became the first ever division to have the top three records in the MLB, with St. Louis, Pittsburgh, and Chicago leading the way. It was also only the second time that three teams in the same division had 95 or more wins.
| Team | W | L | W-L% | GB |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 100 | 62 | 0.617 | — |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 98 | 64 | 0.605 | 2.0 |
| Chicago Cubs | 97 | 65 | 0.599 | 3.0 |
| Milwaukee Brewers | 68 | 94 | 0.420 | 32.0 |
| Cincinnati Reds | 64 | 98 | 0.395 | 36.0 |
If there was ever a division that could go back-to-back seasons with three teams making the playoffs, the NL Central would be it.
Our 2016 NL Central Projected Standings.
*National League Lineups will be not include the pitcher’s spot*
- St. Louis Cardinals
Rotation
| 1 | Adam Wainwright |
| 2 | Michael Wacha |
| 3 | Mike Leake |
| 4 | Jaime Garcia |
| 5 | Carlos Martinez |
Opening Day Lineup
| 3B | Matt Carpenter |
| LF | Tommy Pham |
| 1B | Matt Holliday |
| CF | Randal Grichuk |
| RF | Stephen Piscotty |
| C | Yadier Molina |
| 2B | Kolten Wong |
| SS | Jedd Gyorko |
- Chicago Cubs
Rotation
| 1 | Jake Arrieta |
| 2 | Jon Lester |
| 3 | John Lackey |
| 4 | Jason Hammel |
| 5 | Kyle Hendricks |
Opening Day Lineup
| CF | Dexter Fowler |
| RF | Jason Heyward |
| 3B | Kris Bryant |
| 1B | Anthony Rizzo |
| 2B | Ben Zobrist |
| LF | Kyle Schwarber |
| C | Miguel Montero |
| SS | Addison Russell |
- Pittsburgh Pirates
Rotation
| 1 | Francisco Liriano |
| 2 | Garrit Cole |
| 3 | Jonathon Niese |
| 4 | Jeff Locke |
| 5 | Juan Nicasio |
Opening Day Lineup
| 1B | John Jaso |
| CF | Andrew McCutchen |
| 3B | David Freese |
| LF | Starling Marte |
| C | Francisco Cervelli |
| RF | Gregory Polanco |
| 2B | Josh Harrison |
| SS | Jordy Mercer |
- Cincinnati Reds
Rotation
| 1 | Rasiel Iglesias |
| 2 | Brandon Finnegan |
| 3 | Alfredo Simon |
| 4 | Robert Stephenson |
| 5 | Tim Melville |
Opening Day Lineup
| SS | Zack Cozart |
| 3B | Eugenio Suarez |
| 1B | Joey Votto |
| 2B | Brandon Phillips |
| RF | Jay Bruce |
| C | Devin Mesoraco |
| LF | Adam Duvall |
| CF | Billy Hamilton |
- Milwaukee Brewers
Rotation
| 1 | Wily Peralta |
| 2 | Jimmy Nelson |
| 3 | Matt Garza |
| 4 | Taylor Jungmann |
| 5 | Chase Anderson |
Opening Day Lineup
| RF | Domingo Santana |
| SS | Jonathan Villar |
| LF | Ryan Braun |
| C | Jonathan Lucroy |
| 1B | Chris Carter |
| 3B | Aaron Hill |
| 2B | Scooter Gennett |
| CF | Keon Broxton |
