The Cincinnati Reds, final within the NL Central getting into Wednesday, have a greater file than all however three American League groups.
By the primary quarter of the 2026 MLB season, no division has been higher, with all 5 NL Central groups exhibiting in some unspecified time in the future why they’ll make the playoffs.
Beneath, we take a better take a look at one of the best division in baseball and decide what we like and dislike concerning the 5 groups.
What we like: Outfield
What we dislike: Beginning pitching depth
Every Cubs outfielder fills his position nicely. Ian Happ, batting cleanup for almost all of the season, has a team-high 9 house runs. Seiya Suzuki has a team-high .918 OPS, whereas Pete Crow-Armstrong, who has been probably the most restricted on the plate, has blossomed into the majors’ greatest defensive centerfielder. Veteran Michael Conforto has been glorious as a spot starter and in-game substitute. In 24 video games (13 begins), Conforto is slashing .344/.448/.617. Solely Washington Nationals infielder Jose Tena has extra pinch hits.
Chicago would not have practically the identical depth in its pitching employees, which experiences a major drop-off from ace Shota Imanaga. Edward Cabrera, Jameson Taillon and Colin Rea have mixed to go 9-5 with a 4.16 earned run common. The fifth starter position is at present unaccounted for with Matthew Boyd on the injured record after undoing knee surgical procedure. He has a 6.00 ERA in 5 begins.
What we like: Plate self-discipline
What we dislike: Left infield
The Brewers make up for an absence of energy — they’ve hit an MLB-low 27 house runs — by forcing pitchers to work when on the mound. Milwaukee batters have seen 3-1 counts at a league-high charge of 10.9 %, per Baseball Reference, which additionally reveals they see 3.97 pitches per plate look, probably the most amongst NL groups.
In response to Baseball Savant information, Milwaukee has a below-average 25.7 chase charge and above-average contact charge (59.7 %) when swinging on pitches outdoors of the zone. The Brewers do not swing at unhealthy pitches typically, however once they do, they make extra out of the alternatives than most.
As a lot because the Brewers excel at maximizing their plate appearances, they’ve an enormous weak spot at third and shortstop. Luis Rengifo and Joey Ortiz have acquired the majority of the at-bats and each are hitting sub-.200 with one house run and 34 strikeouts mixed.
What we like: Proper fielder Jordan Walker’s breakout
What we dislike: Pitchers taking part in tee-ball
Walker, a 2020 first-round pick of highschool, has been one of many 12 months’s greatest tales, breaking out in a giant approach after a tough stretch from 2024-25. Over the previous two seasons, Walker, who debuted in 2023, slashed .211/.270/.324 with 176 strikeouts, 39 walks and 11 house runs in 162 video games. He is performed a 180-degree flip this season, producing a .298/.378/.570 slash line in 40 video games with 11 house runs. His strikeout charge (27.9 %) remains to be excessive, however for somebody who’s displaying elite power-hitting traits, that is a good commerce.
As exhausting as Walker’s been hitting the ball, Cardinals opponents have been squaring up in opposition to St. Louis pitchers, who’ve allowed the NL’s highest hard-hit rate (44.4 %), simply as typically. As with the Cubs, past ace Michael McGreevy, the Playing cards’ beginning rotation depth is suspect, with no different pitcher having a sub-4.00 ERA.
What we like: Paul Skenes getting run assist
What we dislike: Center aid
It is exhausting to really feel unhealthy for Skenes, who in recent times has gained an NCAA title, been chosen No. 1 general within the MLB Draft, began an All-Star Recreation and acquired his first Cy Younger Award, however the Pirates made it potential final 12 months by solely giving him a mean of three.41 runs in assist of his 32 begins. That is modified this season, with the Pirates averaging 6.59 runs in video games Skenes has began.
The 2-time All-Star put a disastrous Opening Day begin in opposition to the New York Mets behind him, permitting simply three earned runs over his final 5 begins, and appears poised to earn back-to-back Cy Younger honors. However in contrast to final 12 months, Skenes is not doing all of it by himself.
Pirates nearer Gregory Soto has been nice this season, posting a 1.69 ERA in 21 video games, however attending to him has been a problem. Total, Pittsburgh relievers have a 4.17 ERA, per FanGraphs, whereas permitting 35 % of their inherited runners to score. (League common is 30 %.)
What we like: Shortstop Elly De La Cruz
What we dislike: Situational hitting
De La Cruz has been one of many league’s extra thrilling younger gamers since debuting in 2023, however his energy numbers are even stronger this 12 months. The 2-time All-Star has 10 house runs In 42 video games (his career-high is 25 house runs in 2024) whereas hitting .292, offering a steady presence for an in any other case lackluster offense.
Cincinnati has an MLB-low .220 workforce batting common, with the struggles most pronounced with runners on base. Per Baseball Reference, Reds batters have superior runners on second with no out at a 35.9 % charge, the bottom within the league. Runners on third with lower than two outs have solely scored 44.2 % of the time, the league’s second-lowest charge.
