Fansided

NL Central monthly check-up: Cardinals, Cubs, Brewers and more

By Scott Roche |
Apr 9, 2023; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) laughs with first baseman Paul Goldschmidt (46) during warmups before game against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 9, 2023; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) laughs with first baseman Paul Goldschmidt (46) during warmups before game against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
2 of 3
Next

The American League East is the top division in baseball in 2023, but all five teams are flirting with a .500 record, that is not the case with the National League Central. Along with the American League Central, the NL Central is having a tough season and things didn’t get any better in the month of May.

There was some movement within the standings, but one thing remains clear two months into the season — the most likely only path to October baseball will come from winning the division. As June begins, let’s do a check in on how things fared in the month of May in the NL Central.

Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers did little to separate themselves in the division from the rest of the pack and are just one of two teams sitting over .500 and they did despite having a losing month. They won just 11 out of their 26 games and suffered an injury when Willy Adames went down after getting hit in the head with a foul ball. Losing one of their key contributors is less than ideal right now for Milwaukee.

Their rotation continued to struggle and was a big reason why they finished the month with a losing record by five games. Owen Miller had a good month, hitting .363 with seven doubles, four home runs, and 12 RBI. Christian Yelich had four home runs himself with a team-high 13 RBI. Rowdy Tellez had a down month hitting just .240.

Freddy Peralta and Colin Rea were the only two starters to win two games, while Corbin Burnes lost three of his five starts, but his best outing of the month was his final start against the San Francisco Giants where he allowed just four hits and one run over seven innings in a 3-1 loss. Getting more from their pitching and offense is going to be key in June for the Brewers.

GOODYEAR, ARIZONA – MARCH 10: Spencer Steer #7 of the Cincinnati Reds throws to first base in the second inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks during a spring training game at Goodyear Ballpark on March 10, 2023 in Goodyear, Arizona. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
GOODYEAR, ARIZONA – MARCH 10: Spencer Steer #7 of the Cincinnati Reds throws to first base in the second inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks during a spring training game at Goodyear Ballpark on March 10, 2023 in Goodyear, Arizona. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds

The feel-good story of the league was the Pittsburgh Pirates, who started the season 20-9. Then May hit and things spiraled backward rather quickly. They won just eight games out of 26 in the month. They did not win a single series until they took the first two games of their series in San Francisco to end the month on a good note.

Just what do we make of the Pirates? They looked like a team that was going to be an issue for the rest of the division and NL this season, but they took a step back in May to what were are used to with them. Andrew McCutchen led them with a .293 average and Jack Suswinski led them in home runs with five, but also struck out 35 times. Overall it was a frustrating month offensively. Mitch Keller was the only reason they won eight games as he won four of his five starts with a 3.00 ERA and 53 strikeouts. After that, there’s very little to get excited about.

Don’t look now, but the Cincinnati Reds finished the month with a winning record at 14-13 after taking the final two games of the month at Fenway Park against the Boston Red Sox. They begin June just three games out of first place, but let’s be honest, are they really a contender? No, they’re just taking advantage of the worst division in baseball to hang around.

One bright spot in May and through the first two months of the season continues to be Spencer Steer. The power-hitting first baseman had eight doubles, six home runs, and 19 RBI. He finished the month slashing .318/.372/.573. Jonathan India had a good month with four home runs and 13 RBI and had a two-homer game against the Chicago Cubs on May 27. If we’re being honest, and why not, Cincinnati’s pitching staff is not very good. Ben Lively went 3-2 with a 1.99 ERA, however, after that, no other hurler won more than one game.

Between these two teams, the Pirates are the only one of the two that can turn things around and make a run at the Brewers, but the Reds are still the Reds, a team that will finish closer to the basement than the top of the division. Pittsburgh needs to stay afloat until they can get Oneil Cruz back from his injury.

Apr 3, 2023; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson (7) reacts after hitting a single against the Cincinnati Reds in the first inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 3, 2023; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson (7) reacts after hitting a single against the Cincinnati Reds in the first inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports /

Cardinals and Cubs

Talk about hitting rock bottom. Both the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs end the month bringing up the rear in a division that is very winnable.

The Cardinals looked to turn a corner in mid-May when they swept the Boston Red Sox on the road and climbed out of last place, but they are still stuck in the mud and finished May going 5-5. Nolan Arenado (21 RBIs) and Nolan Gorman (23 RBIs) each had seven home runs in the month and Arenado finished the month hitting .290. The key to getting the Cardinals going offensively is Paul Goldschmidt who had six home runs, but they need more consistency from him.

On the mound Miles Mikolas was 3-0 with a 1.89 ERA with 29 strikeouts in 38 innings, allowing just eight runs. The key to their rotation is Jordan Montgomery who came over from the New York Yankees last summer in a trade deadline deal. He was not good in his five starts, allowing 17 earned runs in 25.1 innings with a 6.04 ERA. Getting him back on track will go a long way toward them getting back in contention in a weak division.

Things with the Cubs have gone from not good to bad. They find themselves passing the Cardinals for last place, they released Eric Hosmer and they went 10-18 in May, which allowed them to slide in the standings. It’s been a combination of offense and pitching that led to them finishing the month with eight more losses than wins.

Seiya Suzuki led the way offensively with five home runs and a .319 average, Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner had solid months at the plate. On the pitching side, Marcus Stroman won three of his six starts and his next start came against the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays when he tossed a complete-game one-hitter with eight strikeouts in a 1-0 victory at Wrigley Field. After that, Drew Smyly won three games, but Jameson Taillon’s struggles continued after signing last winter as a free agent. He finished the month with a 10.90 ERA and 23 runs allowed, 21 earned. If he doesn’t turn things around, then David Ross’s group will be in trouble.

Overall, the NL Central had the month that you thought they would have, a division where everyone is stuck on no man’s land, and the only way to the postseason is by winning the division. A good June, even from the bottom teams can help give their teams a jump-start as the summer approaches in full, even for the Cardinals and Cubs.

Next. 3 things to know as June schedule begins. dark

Next
Home / Chicago Cubs