The 2015 MLB season is upon us, check out how the NL Central looks this season.
The National League Central Division has come to be somewhat of a powerhouse over the past few years.
Last season, St. Louis and Pittsburgh made it to the postseason and the year before Cincinnati joined them in October. After many offseason moves and injuries, the 2015 season has signs of being like the others.
Chicago Cubs
A season ago, Chicago again struggled to put wins in the win column, but as the season progressed, it got better. Over the last three seasons, the Cubs have continued to increase their wins and this could be their year to be a leader.
For the last several seasons, the national media has been talking about the Cubs’ farm system and how one day that would make an impact. Well, last season they began to show that and during this year’s spring training, it became apparent.
Addison Russell, Javier Baez, Kris Bryant and Arismendy Alcantara are names baseball fans have been hearing for some time now. Only Alcantara will break camp with the big league roster this season, but Bryant, who hit eight homeruns this spring, should see plenty of playing time later in the season.
As the season begins and progresses, the Cubs will start opening day with John Lester on the mound and Miguel Montero behind the plate, two big name players they acquired during the offseason. Alongside them will be Anthony Rizzo, Starlin Castro and Mike Olt, three players who made a significant impact for Chicago in seasons past.
The Cubs are starting the season with just one serious injury, for starting pitcher Jacob Turner will miss a minimum of 4-6 weeks of the regular season while dealing with a shoulder injury.
Right fielder Chris Denorfia looks ready for opening day but may miss a few games while dealing with soreness in his hamstring. For a team that hasn’t made a postseason run since 2008, Chicago’s promising roster and “ready-and-waiting” in Triple-A Iowa have the makeup to end the drought this year.
Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee is another team that made improvements last season, finishing third place in the division. The Brewers made a mid-season deal last year by attaining the stocky, right-handed reliever Jonathon Broxton from the Reds. Broxton has proved to be a clutch late-inning guy throughout his career, but the Brewers already have a closing pitcher in Francisco Rodriguez. Broxton has and will primarily play the role of the set up guy, similar to what he did in Cincinnati.
The Brewers roster looks fairly similar to what it did a year ago, for they made no big moves to obtain anyone new. Ryan Braun, Carlos Gomez, Aramis Ramirez and Jean Segura are all returning for Milwaukee and will again be called upon to lead the team in the offense. The Brewers are fortunate to not have any injuries, giving them the slight advantage in the division.
Cincinnati Reds
The Reds did not finish last season on a good note. After finishing the first half of the season near the top of the standings, they plummeted in the second half and ten games under .500 after Brandon Phillips and Joey Votto were hurt for a good portion of the year.
Cincinnati was anything but quiet this offseason, dealing two of its starting pitchers away, while bringing in a new outfielder to play the role Ryan Ludwick filled for the last three seasons. The Reds traded away Mat Latos to Miami and Alfredo Simon to Detroit. Latos was big for the Reds for the last few seasons after getting picked up from San Diego. Simon came up big last season, filling a hole in the starting rotation while Tony Cingrani was injured.
Marlon Byrd was acquired by the Reds this offseason from Philadelphia. He will start in left field and bat in the middle of the lineup this season. Byrd has struggled throughout his career, but should be a great fit in Cincinnati.
Cincinnati is beginning the season with three different starting pitchers than last season. Behind Johnny Cueto and Mike Leake will be Anthony DeSclafini, Raisel Iglesias and Jason Marquis. One of the three new starters will be sent to the bullpen when Homer Bailey returns from the disabled list. The bullpen will also look different for the Reds this season as Cingrani will be in there, rather than the rotation.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Over the past two seasons, Andrew McCutchen and the Pirates have become a dominant power in the National League. This season looks no different, though they made no big offseason moves. While Pittsburg lost Russell Martin to Toronto, the team has Chris Stewart, a veteran catcher who can replace Martin. Stewart will likely miss the opening of the season, dealing with a hamstring sprain. The most likely return for Stewart is mid-April, though he could make a return sooner. The Bucs will be playing without starting pitcher Brandon Cumpton who underwent Tommy John surgery in early March.
Pittsburgh’s opening day lineup looks similar to last season with McCutchen in center, Neil Walker at second, Pedro Alvarez at first and Josh Harrison at third. The starting rotation is similar too, led by Francisco Liriano and Gerrit Cole.
The Pirates know what it takes to win games and this season shouldn’t be any different than the last two, as long as McCutchen can stay healthy and lead offensively.
St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals have been one of the biggest, if not the biggest, powerhouses in the National League for a decade. They have been in the postseason each of the last four years and won the World Series in 2011.
During the offseason, the Cardinals acquired Jason Heyward — previously with the Atlanta Braves — to play right field. Heyward become a star in Atlanta and should do the same in St. Louis. The difference? St. Louis has a roster filled with players that have postseason excellence and confidence — something that Atlanta lacked.
St. Louis has John Jay and Matt Holiday returning to its outfield, as well as Yadier Molina behind the plate, and four other position players. The Cardinals’ starting rotation is almost the same, with their fifth starter who is Carlos Martinez. Martinez is filling in for the injured Jaime Garcia, who is on the 15-day disabled list with arm fatigue and should make his season debut in mid to late April.
The Cardinals should continue their dominance this season.
Prediction
With all of this information taken to heart, I think it is safe to say that this season will end very similar to last season. I believe the Cardinals will finish first and win the division, with the Pirates right behind them in a wild card spot. I think the Reds and Cubs will tie for third place and the Brewers will round out the division.
Each team in the Central Division should finish with a record above .500, but injuries may alter team intentions.
@Dannyjjo
dj240613@ohio.edu
