N.L. Central preview: Cardinals and sinners

St. Louis should have little trouble winning it again.

Jack Flaherty

ST LOUIS CARDINALS

2022 Record: 93-69.

Rank in NL runs: 4th.

Runs Allowed: 12th.

Manager: Oliver Marmol.

Rotation: Miles Mikolas, Jack Flaherty, Jordan Montgomery, Jake Woodford, Steven Matz.

Bullpen: Giovany Gallegos, Jordan Hicks, Drew VerHagen, Andre Pallante, Packy Naughton, Chris Stratton, Zack Thompson.

Closer: Ryan Helsley.

Lineup: ;1B Paul Goldschmidt, 2B Brendan Donovan, SS Tommy Edman, 3B Nolan Arenado, LF Lars Nootbaar, CF Tyler O’Neill, RF Jordan Walker, C Willson Contreras, DH Nolan Gorman.

DL: RHP Adam Wainwright, SS Paul DeJong.

Fun Fact: Nine years after MVP Goldschmidt led the league in slugging and OPS, he did it again in 2022 and had his seventh 30-homer season.

Projection:: First. Cardinals took a 2-0 lead into the ninth inning of their first playoff game with the Phillies. Had they won, who knows? 

MILWAUKEE BREWERS

2022 Record: 86–76.

Rank in NL Runs: 6th.

Runs Allowed: 8th.

Manager: Craig Counsell.

Rotation: Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff, Freddy Peralta, Eric Lauer, Wade Miley.

Relief: Matt Bush, Peter Strzelecki, Hoby Milner, Javy Guerra, Gus Varland, Adrian Houser.

Closer: Devin Williams.

Lineup: 1B Rowdy Tellez, 2B Brice Turang, SS Willy Adames, 3B Luis Urias, LF Christian Yelich, CF Garrett Mitchell, RF Brian Anderson, C William Contreras, DH Jesse Winker.

DL: OF Troy Taylor, LHP Justin Wilson.

Fun Fact: Burnes led the N.L. in strikeouts but gave up 23 homers, 16 more than in his Cy Young season of 2021.

Projection: Second. Counsell, the senior manager in the league now, always has them playing above their weight.

CHICAGO CUBS

2022 Record: 74-88.

Rank in NL Runs:11th.

Runs Allowed: 10th.

Manager: David Ross.

Rotation: Marcus Stroman, Jameson Taillon, Drew Smyly, Justin Steele, Hayden Wesneski.

Relief: Adbert Alzolay, Keegan Thompson, Julian Merryweather, Michael Rucker, Tyler Duffey, Javier Assad. Mark Leiter, Brandon Hughes.

Closer: Michael Fulmer/BradBoxberger.

Lineup:1B Eric Hosmer, 2B Nico Hoerner, SS Dansby Swanson, 3B Edwin Rios, LF Ian Happ, CF Cody Bellinger, RF Seiya Suuki DH Trey Mancini/Patrick Wisdom, C Yan Gomes/Tucker Barnhart, DH Trey Mancini/Edwin Rios. 

DL: RHP Kyle Hendricks.

Fun Fact: Cubs were 39-31 after the All-Star break.

Projection: Third, maybe higher if they can put Bellinger in the Wayback Machine.

CINCINNATI REDS

2022 Record: 62-100.

Rank in NL Runs: 12th.

Runs Allowed: 12th.

Manager; David Bell.

Rotation: Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, Graham Ashcraft, Connor Overton, Luis Cessa.

Relief: Lucas Sims, Buck Farmer, Ian Gibaut, Joel Kuhnel, Tony Santillan, Derek Law, Alex Young, Fernando Cruz.

Closer: Alexis Diaz.

Lineup: 1B Wil Myers, 2B Jonathan India, SS Kevin Newman, 3B Spencer Steer, LF TJ Freidl, CF Will Benson, RF Jake Fraley C Tyler Stephenson/Curt Casali, DH: Stephenson/Fraley.

DL: 1B Joey Votto, RHP Tejay Antone.

Fun Fact: The ‘02 Reds lost 100 games for only the second time in a history that began in 1882.

Projection: Fourth. Diaz is a top closer, but he’ll be as idle as a landline.

PITTSBURGH PIRATES

2022 Record: 62-100.

Rank in 2022 Runs: 14th.

Runs Allowed: 13th.

Manager: Derek Shelton.

Rotation: Rich Hill, Roansy Contreras, Mitch Keller, J.T. Brubaker, Vince Velasquez.

Relief: Duane Underwood, Will Crowe, Colin Holderman, Robert Stephenson, Chase DeJong, Yerry De Los Santos, Jose Hernandez, Dauri Moreta.

Closer: David Bednar.

Lineup: 1B Carlos Santana, 2B Rodolfo Castro, SS Oneil Cruz, 3B Ke/Bryan Hayes, LF Bryan Reynolds, CF Jack Suwinski, RF Andrew McCutchen, C Austin Hedges, DH Ji-Man Choi.

Fun Fact: The Pirates had winning records against three teams: Washington, Cincinnati and the Dodgers.

Projection: Fifth. A walking argument for relegation.