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