NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL 2019 SEASON PREVIEW

Out of all the divisions in the game, the National League Central may be the most difficult to predict ahead of the 2019 MLB season.

Tanking may be all the rage across the league, but you would not be able to tell in the National League Central. Instead, each team in the division is eyeing a spot in the playoffs at the end of the 2019 MLB season, a surprising scenario given the way the division played out last season.

In 2018, every team excluding the Reds finished above .500. The Brewers and Cubs had to go to Game 163 to decide the division, which ended up going to Milwaukee. The Brewers then ended up a game away from the World Series, coming up just short in their quest for a title.

This year, every team in the division has a viable path to the postseason. Even the Reds, who only won 67 games last season, made moves to improve the roster and contend. This division will not be as top heavy as it was in recent years; instead, the NL Central appears to be the best division in the game as we head into the 2019 MLB season. Indeed, it would not be a surprise for all five teams to finish within ten games of each other by the end of the season.

Which team will emerge from the pack and realize their postseason dreams? Let us take a look around the NL Central.

5. CINCINNATI REDS

In a quest to become relevant once again. The Cincinnati Reds made a flurry of moves to improve the roster. They have certainly done just that.

Although the Reds were quiet in free agency, they were one of the more active teams in the trade market. The rotation received a major upgrade, with Sonny Gray, Tanner Roark, and Alex Wood all being added to the pitching staff. Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp were added to the outfield. Michael Lorenzen is the latest player to attempt to become a two way option, as the reliever is learning the outfield.

Even with these additions, there are plenty of questions around the Reds. With Billy Hamilton being let go, the Reds really do not have a true center fielder. Scott Schebler is listed as the starter, but top prospect Nick Senzel has been learning the position, as has Lorenzen. The rotation is certainly better, but Gray flamed out with the Yankees, and Roark has been inconsistent.

The Reds have a strong bullpen, and should be able to score enough runs with their impressive lineup. Their hopes for the 2019 MLB season come down to the success of those additions to the rotation. They are banking on a turnaround from Gray, to the tune of three years and $30 million, but Roark and Wood are one year rentals. Anthony DeSclafani, their one time top of the rotation starter, came back after missing nearly two years with injuries, and should be better this season. But is that enough?

The Cincinnati Reds have improved heading into this season. Unfortunately, it may not be enough to return to the postseason for the first time since 2013.

4. CHICAGO CUBS

If any team was criticized for a quiet offseason, it was the Chicago Cubs. However, there may be a reason for that inactivity.

Over the course of the offseason, the Cubs signed Brad Brach, Daniel Descalso, and Kendall Graveman. Drew Smyly was sent to the Rangers. Aside from a few minor league deals, that was the extent of the Cubs activity. Understandably, the fanbase was upset.

However, the Cubs may have reason for that minor tinkering. Anthony Rizzo posted a 121 OPS+ last season, his worst mark since 2013. Kris Bryant’s 118 OPS+ was the worst mark of his major league career. Yu Darvish is back healthy once again, and determined to prove that the Cubs were right to hand him that contract. His presence removes Tyler Chatwood from the rotation, a positive in its own right.

Right now, the Cubs are betting on track record. They are betting on a veteran team to overcome adversity and show that they still have enough left for another run at the postseason. They are betting on Joe Maddon, one of the best managers in the game, being able to coax one more postseason berth out of this roster. It is an understandable gamble.

That expected improvement may be enough at the end of the 2019 MLB season. Right now, it likely leaves the Chicago Cubs on the outside looking in.

3. MILWAUKEE BREWERS

The Milwaukee Brewers are still looking for that first World Series title. If it comes this year, they will have earned it.

It was a relatively quiet offseason for the Brewers in regards to the number of moves they made, but they made up for that with the quality of those transactions. They upgraded the black hole that was the catcher position by being the surprising destination of Yasmani Grandal, adding the top free agent catcher on a one year deal. Mike Moustakas came back after another disappointing trek through free agency, only as a second baseman this time.

While it is easy to criticize the Brewers for failing to upgrade their rotation, they do have reinforcements coming. Jimmy Nelson, who missed all of 2018 after looking like a potential ace the previous year, should be back sometime in the early part of the year. The Brewers still have their formidable bullpen, with the howitzer known as Josh Hader ready to set down the opposition at any given time.

Last year, that bullpen was more than enough to overcome a mediocre rotation, helping bring Milwaukee to the precipice of the World Series. This year, with the offense being that much deeper, and the return of their ace in Nelson, the Brewers have hope that they will be able to get that final game in October, and reach the Promised Land.

While the Milwaukee Brewers are better, the entire division should be as well. As it is, if the Brewers do reach the postseason, they may need to do so as a Wild Card entrant.

2. PITTSBURGH PIRATES

It is easy to decry the Pittsburgh Pirates quiet offseason while the rest of the division improved. However, their moves for the 2019 MLB season were made last year.

What moves were made during the offseason came early. Lonnie Chisenhall was signed as the Pirates fourth outfielder and backup at the corner infield spots. Jung Ho Kang returned as well, as the Pirates looked for someone to push Colin Moran for the starting job. However, the Pirates biggest additions came at the trade deadline last season, when they added Chris Archer and Keone Kela to the pitching staff.

The Pirates do have an intriguing roster heading into the season. With Jameson Taillon and Archer, they have a solid 1-2 punch atop the rotation. Trevor Williams outperformed expectations, and the Pirates are hoping that is the case in 2019. Kela and closer Felipe Vasquez are a formidable duo to close out games. The lineup should put some runs on the board.

However, the Pirates also have a lot of question marks. They are high on the potential for Jodan Lyles in their rotation, but he is not a given. The middle infield, long handled by the solid Josh Harrison and Jordy Mercer, is now being handed to the unproven Adan Frazier and Erik Gonzalez. The bullpen has potential, but also a few potential problem areas.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are not a bad team by any means, and would likely contend in the AL Central. However, given their division, they have the most difficult path ahead if they are looking to make the postseason. I still think that the Pirates can cause major trouble to the rest of this division. I see only one team coming out of this division for the post season that’s why I like the Pirates to finish in second place with a record of 87-75

1. ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

The St. Louis Cardinals had lost their way in the first half of last year. Heading into the 2019 MLB season, the Cardinal Way is back.

The team had fallen apart under former manager Mike Matheny, with infighting and disastrous performances. The unheralded Mike Shildt took over as the interim manager halfway through the season, and immediately improved the performance and culture of the team.

The Cardinals have not made many moves this offseason. They added Paul Goldschmidt, upgrading their offense and defense at first. Bud Norris, who clashed with hard throwing Jordan Hicks, is gone, replaced by Andrew Miller. Malcontent Dexter Fowler is still in town, with the thought that he will improve under a full season of Shildt at the helm. If not, Jose Martinez can replace him in the lineup.

Yes, there are questions with the Cardinals. Can Shildt really become the manager he appeared to be in the second half of 2018? Can Miles Mikolis and Jake Flaherty replicate their success from last season? Had Hicks improved his command enough to be the dominant closer that his stuff would make him seem to be?

Even with those questions, the St. Louis Cardinals appear to be the class of the NL Central. But if they slip up at all, they could be in for a long season.