Three way race heating up National League Central
The National League Central division has become the toughest division in major league baseball in the first half of the season.
In the majors, there are five teams that have won at least 40 games and three of those five plays in the NL Central.
Many baseball aficionados might say that the American League East, from first to last place is stronger, but the race between the top three in the NL Central is as intriguing as any.
Currently, the St. Louis Cardinals are leading the division and the majors with a record of 43-24. The Cardinals however have not played that well of late, as they are just 5-5 over their past 10 games played.
In second place in the division are the Cincinnati Reds. The Reds have an overall record of 41-27 and have gone 5-5 over their past 10 games played. The Reds are just 2 ½ games behind the Cardinals.
In third place, only three games behind the Cardinals are the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates are 40-27 on the season and are 5-5 over their past 10 games played. The next closest team in the division, the Chicago Cubs, is 15 games behind the Cardinals.
Facing an uphill battle in the division is Pittsburgh. They defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night 3-0 giving them their 24th win at home, the best in the majors.
The Pirates were helped when the Cardinals lost to the last place Miami Marlins on Friday 5-4.
It looked as though Pittsburgh would also pick up a full game on the Reds on Friday, but Cincinnati recorded a walk off home run in the 10th inning to defeat Milwaukee.
Over the last few seasons, the Pirates have played very well in the first half of the season, only to fall off in the second half. However, this season could be different and that difference could be due to the team’s pitching staff.
Offense is what separates the three teams in the NL Central. The Cardinals are second in the NL in runs scored, while the Reds are third, but the Pirates are a mediocre 10th.
That stat stands out when you look at run difference. The Cardinals own a +101, while the Reds are +65 and the Pirates just +17.
The pitching staff for the Pirates will give them an advantage in the plus minus scoring as they might have closer games, but the bullpen will help them win many of those close games.
However, for the Pirates to compete for the division title or even one of the wildcard spots, they need to add at least one bat to their lineup on offense.
It will most likely take 95 wins at least to win the division and without a new strong bat in the lineup, the Pirates will be hoping to hang on for a wildcard spot.
What looks like will happen is the Pirates will finish their season with their first above .500 season in 21 years, but will end up no higher than third place.
No wonder the NL Central is considered one of the best, if not the best, in major league baseball.
