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Cardinals, Brewers or Cubs? Which NL Central team lineup is best?

By Noah Yingling

Sep 30, 2022; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) hits a one run single against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the fifth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 30, 2022; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) hits a one run single against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the fifth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /
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Christian Yelich, Brewers
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – OCTOBER 01: Christian Yelich #22 of the Milwaukee Brewers celebrates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run against the Miami Marlins in the fourth inning at American Family Field on October 01, 2022 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /

2023 Cincinnati Reds projected lineup and wRC+

  1. Friedl, LF (100)
  2. India, 2B (105)
  3. Votto, DH (103)
  4. Stephenson, C (102)
  5. Myers, 1B (107)
  6. Fraley, RF (109)
  7. Steer, 3B (99)
  8. Newman, SS (84)
  9. Senzel, CF (87)
  • Team Average: 99.6

Note: The Reds don’t actually have a bad lineup. It’s not great (as noted by their wRC+) but they have two other bigger issues: their pitching (or lack thereof) and their health. In 2022, they had only had one player play more than 110 games … and that player (Kyle Farmer) is not with the team anymore. He is now with the Minnesota Twins. Stephenson is probably their best bat but he only played in 50 games in 2022. If they can rotate him between catching, DH, and first base (as they plan on doing), then he has a better chance of being healthy for the entirety of the season.

2023 Milwaukee Brewers projected lineup and wRC+

  1. Yelich, LF (116)
  2. Adames, SS (115)
  3. Tellez, 1B (122)
  4. Contreras, C (111)
  5. Winker, DH (122)
  6. Urias, 3B (111)
  7. Mitchell, CF (94)
  8. Taylor, RF (102)
  9. Turang, 2B (84)
  • Team Average: 108.6

Note: The Brewers get a bit of a jump with the additions of Contreras and Winker. Their lineup would also be even stronger (in projections) when considering that their two weakest hitters (Garrett Mitchell and Brice Turang) would be in platoons with Brian Anderson (not the Brewers TV broadcaster of the same name) and Keston Hiura. They have a projected wRC+ of 98 and 105. Last year, overall, the Brewers had a 104 wRC+. But will the additions be enough to overcome the Cardinals in the division?

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