Making the predictions..... Part II

We now take a look at the National League Central division, jammed up with no less than 4 contenders.


Thank God for the woeful Pirates, otherwise it would be all 5.






First, the Chicago Cubs,

CUBS
1) Nico Hoerner, 2B
2) Kris Bryant, 3B
3) Anthony Rizzo, 1B
4) Javier Báez, SS
5) Kyle Schwarber, LF
6) Willson Contreras, C
7) Jason Heyward, RF
8) Ian Happ, CF

And their starting rotation should be...

 

1) Jon Lester, LHP
2) Yu Darvish, RHP
3) Kyle Hendricks, RHP
4) José Quintana, LHP
5) Tyler Chatwood, RHP

Closer: Craig Kimbrel, RHP

Not much of a rotation, is it? A good everyday line up but it will all come down to the pitching.

 

PIRATES

1) Kevin Newman, SS
2) Adam Frazier, 2B
3) Bryan Reynolds, LF
4) Josh Bell, 1B
5) Gregory Polanco, RF
6) Colin Moran, 3B
7) Jacob Stallings, C
8) Guillermo Heredia, CF

Pitchers
1) Joe Musgrove, RHP
2) Chris Archer, RHP
3) Trevor Williams, RHP
4) Mitch Keller, RHP
5) Steven Brault, LHP

No closer is needed as the Pirates will lose most of their games

 

REDS
1) Shogo Akiyama, CF
2) Joey Votto, 1B
3) Nick Castellanos, RF
4) Mike Moustakas, 3B
5) Jesse Winker, LF
6) Nick Senzel, 2B
7) Tucker Barnhart, C
8) Freddy Galvis, SS

Third baseman Eugenio Suárez (right shoulder surgery) is expected back soon after Opening Day.

Pitchers

1) Luis Castillo, RHP
2) Sonny Gray, RHP
3) Trevor Bauer, RHP
4) Wade Miley, LHP
5) Anthony DeSclafani, RHP

Closer: Raisel Iglesias, RHP

BREWERS

1) Lorenzo Cain, CF
2) Christian Yelich, RF
3) Keston Hiura, 2B
4) Justin Smoak/Ryan Braun, 1B
5) Avisaíl García, LF
6) Omar Narváez, C
7) Eric Sogard/ Jedd Gyorko, 3B
8) Orlando Arcia, SS

The Brew Crew need a big bat to go along with Yelich, but their cupboard is empty, so they better hope Yelich plays every game.

Pitchers
1) Brandon Woodruff, RHP
2) Adrian Houser, RHP
3) Eric Lauer, LHP
4) Brett Anderson, LHP
5) Josh Lindblom, RHP

Closer: Josh Hader, LHP

CARDINALS
1) Dexter Fowler, RF
2) Kolten Wong, 2B
3) Paul Goldschmidt, 1B
4) Paul DeJong, SS
5) Yadier Molina, C
6) Matt Carpenter, 3B
7) Lane Thomas, LF
8) Harrison Bader, CF

Pitchers

1) Jack Flaherty, RHP
2) Miles Mikolas, RHP
3) Dakota Hudson, RHP
4) Adam Wainwright, RHP
5) Carlos Martínez, RHP

Closer: LHP Andrew Miller or RHP Giovanny Gallegos

 

  The Cards are favourites , but just barely beating out the Brewers, and that is mainly due to their superior starting rotation. Flaherty & Mikolas ae two of the top pitchers, not only in the division, but in the game.

Next up..on Friday, the NL East.