We all hear the yearly smack talk about what division in MLB is best. We’re going to be answering that question today, breaking down each division and evaluating how successful each team has been so far this season.
Which is the strongest of all of the MLB divisions? We start our ranking at the bottom
6. NL Central
At #6, we have the NL Central, which is an absolute mess right now. You have the Milwaukee Brewers in the driver’s seat, a team that has suffered major losses in Freddy Peralta and Brandon Woodruff hitting the injured list. Has their offense gotten worse since losing star outfielder Avasail Garcia? I wouldn’t say so, but it certainly hasn’t shown enough improvement for me to see them as a legit deep playoff contender.
With the Brewers, I am very impressed with rookie pitcher Aaron Ashby, and first baseman Rowdy Tellez has been unexpectedly awesome.
Right behind the Brewers are the St. Louis Cardinals, which have been fortunate enough to receive valuable production for Albert Pujols, Juan Yepez, and star rookie Nolan Gorman. Gorman looks really legit, and Cardinals fans should be pumped to see his excellent display of hitting so far. Outfielder Tyler O’Neill has been incredibly disappointing so far this season, hitting .215 with three home runs. However, he has improved since coming off the injured list.
If the Cards want a shot at the NL Central and be solid contenders, O’Neill’s production is vital.
One thing we can positively reflect on is St. Louis pitching staff. Miles Mikolas and Dakota Hudson have both bounced back with solid numbers this year. Let’s not forget 40-year-old starter Adam Wainwright, who is still somehow getting batters out and pitching effectively at such a young age. Let’s also not forget the big guns, MVP candidates Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado, who have performed at an elite level.
Aside from the Brewers and Cards, the Reds, Cubs, and Pirates will all be selling at the trade deadline. The once mighty NL Central is now the worst division in baseball.