NL CENTRAL
(in order of last season’s finish)
Milwaukee Brewers
2021: 95-67, first place
Manager: Craig Counsell (eighth season)
Opening Day: April 7 at Chicago Cubs
Outlook: The Brewers have reason to believe they can earn a fifth straight playoff berth thanks to their exceptional pitching. Milwaukee’s starting rotation features three 2021 All-Stars in Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff and Freddy Peralta. Josh Hader remains the game’s premier closer. The concern for the Brewers is whether they can get more production from a lineup that produced a total of six runs in a 3-1 Division Series loss to eventual World Series champion Atlanta. The Brewers would love Christian Yelich to recapture his 2018-19 form after two straight disappointing seasons. They’re also hoping Willy Adames builds on the success he had after coming over from Tampa Bay last May.
St. Louis Cardinals
2021: 90-72, second place
Manager: Oliver Marmol (first season)
Opening Day: April 7 vs Pittsburgh
Outlook: The Cardinals return virtually intact with the exception of Oliver Marmol taking over for Mike Shildt, who was fired for what team president John Mozeliak called “philosophical differences” despite a late-season surge and a third straight playoff appearance. The veteran cast of characters should help Marmol in his first goround as a big league manager. Corey Dickerson is the only major addition to the everyday lineup, and erstwhile slugger Albert Pujols is back to provide a few DH at-bats. The biggest issue for the Cardinals is rotational depth, and getting both those arms back sooner than later would bode well for another run at the NL Central and a spot in the playoffs.
Cincinnati Reds
2021: 83-79, third place
Manager: David Bell (fourth season)
Opening Day: April 7 at Atlanta
Outlook: The Reds are a little banged-up already. Right-hander Luis Castillo and lefty Mike Minor experienced shoulder soreness this spring, which will delay their first appearances. Relief pitcher Tejay Antone likely is out for the season, and third baseman Mike Moustakas hurt his shoulder diving for a grounder and might not be ready for opening day. Joey Votto returns for a 16th season after one of the best years of his career. The Reds have high hopes for rookie pitchers Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo, who have been brought along methodically in the minors and likely are ready. But offense is going to have to come from new and different sources for Cincinnati to contend in the NL Central.
Chicago Cubs
2021: 71-91, fourth place
Manager: David Ross (third season)
Opening Day: April 7 vs. Milwaukee
Outlook: Better than the end of last season, but still murky at best. Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and Javier Báez were shipped off ahead of last year’s trade deadline, and the Cubs stumbled to their worst record since they went 66-96 in 2013. The offseason additions of right-hander Marcus Stroman and left-hander Wade Miley should help a pitching staff that finished with a 4.87 ERA last year. While shortstop Andrelton Simmons isn’t much of an offensive threat at this point in his career, he could provide a boost with his glove while playing behind a more contact-oriented rotation. David Ross has several new options for his bullpen, and lots of question marks — especially after Codi Heuer was lost for the season to Tommy John surgery.
Pittsburgh Pirates
2021: 61-101, fifth place
Manager: Derek Shelton (third season)
Opening Day: April 7 at St. Louis
Outlook: The Pirates remain very much in the early stages of a top-to-bottom rebuild. Pittsburgh’s farm system is now littered with high-end prospects like 2021 top overall pick catcher Henry Davis, 2019 first-round pick pitcher Quinn Priester and 2020 first-round pick infielder Nick Gonzales. That’s the good news. The bad news is their arrival is still likely at least a year away, meaning 2022 could look an awful lot like 2021, when the offense sputtered and the pitching was wildly inconsistent. Centerfielder Bryan Reynolds was one of the few bright spots while making his first All-Star Game. He figures to be the fulcrum around which the rest of the lineup swings. Towering 6-foot-7 shortstop prospect Oneil Cruz appears close to reaching the majors after a solid spring. Righty reliever David Bednar, a Pittsburgh native, was a feel-good story a year ago and figures to open as the team’s closer. He just may not have a ton of opportunities as the front office keeps its eyes firmly on the future rather than the present.