NL CENTRAL
CHICAGO CUBS
2020: 34-26, first place, lost to Marlins in first round of playoffs. Manager: David Ross (second season). Outlook: Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant and Javier Báez are coming off down years, and are eligible for free agency after this season. The rotation took a hit when Yu Darvish was traded, and it remains to be seen if Craig Kimbrel can carry over his strong finish in 2020. But the rest of the NL Central isn’t imposing, so it’s not hard to imagine the Cubs contending for another playoff appearance. While the loss of Darvish is a big blow, Zach Davies is coming off a strong season in San Diego. Jake Arrieta is looking to regain the form he showed during his first stint in Chicago, and Trevor Williams was a 14-game winner with Pittsburgh in 2018.
CINCINNATI REDS
2020: 31-29, third place, wild card, lost to Braves in first round of playoffs. Manager: David Bell (third season). Outlook: Despite more offseason subtractions than additions, confidence is high. Bell believes the team was hitting its stride last September when it won 11of its last 14 to make the playoffs for the first time in seven years. There are questions about pitching without Trevor Bauer and Raisel Iglesias. But the Reds feel they have a solid staff. Freddy Galvis left, leaving Kyle Farmer, Dee Strange-Gordon and others -- including third baseman Eugenio Suarez -- to compete at shortstop. Cincinnati hit an MLB-worst .212in 2020 and will need better performances out of Joey Votto, Suarez, Nick Castellanos and Mike Moustakas to make another run.
MILWAUKEE BREWERS
2020: 29-31, fourth place, wild card, lost to Dodgers in first round of playoffs. Manager: Craig Counsell (seventh season). Outlook: Brewers’ chances of reaching the playoffs for a fourth straight season depend on whether they can get more offense. They’re counting on Christian Yelich, 2018NL MVP, to regain his All-Star form. Keston Hiura, Avisaíl García and Omar Narváez also must rebound. Milwaukee should benefit from having Lorenzo Cain after he sat out most of 2020. The additions of Jackie Bradley Jr. and Kolten Wong – both lefty hitters and Gold Glove winners – should balance the lineup and help the pitching. Brandon Woodruff and Corbin Burnes provide a solid 1-2, but the Brewers must get more consistency from the rest of their rotation. PITTSBURGH PIRATES 2020: 19-41, fifth place.
Manager: Derek Shelton (second season). Outlook: Pirates are in the midst of a massive reset as general manager Ben Cherington enters his second season. While the future looks (sorta) bright, the present figures to be bumpy. Pirates finished with the worst record in the majors in 2020and head into 2021with a roster that has even less major league experience. Ke’Bryan Hayes was even better than advertised and finished sixth in NL Rookie of the Year voting. He and Mitch Keller are the linchpins whose individual development could be far more important than anything that happens in the win/loss column. Bounce-back seasons from Brian Reynolds and Gregory Polanco (likely in his final months with the team) would help the offense.
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
2020: 30-28, second place, lost to Padres in first round of playoffs. Manager: Mike Shildt (third season). Outlook: Cardinals thought they were missing one big piece last season and they landed it when they made a stunning trade for Nolan Arenado to play third base. He provides protection in the order for Paul Goldschmidt while also adding another Gold Glove winner to what could be the best defense in the National League. Rotation returns intact from last season with the exception of RHP Dakota Hudson, who had Tommy John surgery, and the bullpen is deep. Adam Wainwright and Yadier Molina are back as one of the longest-tenured batterymates in history, providing plenty of experience for a team that will have a relatively young outfield.