MLB Storylines Halfway Through the Season || PART 5 || NL Central || Icee's Corner
Edition #117
INTRO:
The MLB is just fascinating. As simple as that. Just when you think you know what's going to happen, well, things go wrong. The one team that exhibits that the most? The Arizona Diamondbacks. Heck, even the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Long story short, the Diamondbacks were supposed to be #2 in the NL West chasing down the Dodgers after reaching the World Series. That hasn’t happened.
I’m starting a new series, reviewing every team in every single division. We’re going to continue this with the NL Central. This time, it’s me, Icee, doing it.
Let’s.
Get.
It.
NL Central
Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers come off an NL Central title last year and they look like they’re gonna do it again this season based on their first half. This team is comfortable at home and have a winning record against teams over .500. This is suitable for a run until at least the NLDS.
This team is only good against teams in the Central and are mostly bad against the West. The good side is that they have winning records in both day and night games.
Another thing in the standings that bothers Milwaukee is winning 1-run games. They’re 15-16 doing so.
ONE THING TO NOTE: The Brewers are 3-7 in their last 10.
St. Louis Cardinals
This team can still push for the NL Central title. With the Brewers going 3-7 in their last 10, it looks good so far. However, their run differential is -38.
This team has a losing record in teams greater than .500, so they are projected for a Wild Card exit for me. They currently hold the NL’s 2nd Wild Card spot. They also are .500 against the East, and have a winning record against the Central and the West, unlike Milwaukee, the Brewers are bad against the West once again. This is looking good for an NL Central push.
This team also can’t win day games. They’re 22-25 doing so.
ONE THING TO NOTE: The Redbirds have the 9th hardest schedule in the MLB for the 2nd half.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Somehow, this team has a better run differential than St. Louis. They’re doing all of this because of rookie phenom Paul Skenes. They can push for the postseason this year.
However, this team can’t win games at the best stadium in the MLB. They’re 22-24 in home games. They also can’t win games with teams over .500 (21-27). They have the 8th hardest 2nd half schedule, so this team will probably not make it out.
The good thing is that they’re 7-3 in their last 10 (as I’m writing this), but they’re currently playing a series against the best team in baseball, the Philadelphia Phillies, and they can drop from there. Before the break, they won a series against the division-leading Brewers.
ONE THING TO NOTE: This team is not good against teams in the AL.
Cincinnati Reds
They’re just three games back of a wild card spot. Elly De La Cruz is stealing bases. This might be another Wild Card push. The downside is that they can’t win extra-inning games and 1-run games.
They also can’t win day games, inter-conference games, and games against either their own division/AL Central. This can be a factor if they were to push for a wild card spot.
The bright side is that the Reds have a better run differential than the Pirates and the Cardinals, and they can still finish 2nd in their division. They just need to win some more games and they’ll do exactly that.
ONE THING TO NOTE: With this run differential, they should’ve been 53-44 right now.
Chicago Cubs
They nearly got a postseason berth last season. But because they sold postseason tickets early, they jinxed it. They ended up missing the postseason. And now, they’re last in the NL Central. This team is 4 GB from a Wild Card spot, but since the entire NL Central is currently pushing for a spot in the postseason, the Cubs probably won’t make it out.
This team is bad against teams in either the AL or NL Central, but they have the 2nd easiest schedule in the MLB. So this might be a push, so that means the entire NL Central will be pushing for at least, a Wild Card spot.
ONE THING TO NOTE: This team can win against AL teams.