Milwaukee Brewers
Besides 2022, which the Brewers missed the playoffs by one game, they’ve made playoff appearances in every season since 2018, with four of those postseason berths being as the victor of the NL Central. Though each year Milwaukee sees turnover from their roster, the club continues to find a way to be one of the best teams in the NL.
Back injuries sidelined 2018 NL MVP Christian Yelich for more than half the season, but when he was active, he looked to be on pace to recreate his numbers from his peak. After working through early season woes, Jackson Chourio found his groove and rode his hot bat to a podium finish for NL Rookie of the Year. After a solid first season with the Brew Crew, William Contreras pieced together his best professional season, earning an All-Star nomination and a top five NL MVP finish. In his first season removed from injury and in Milwaukee, Rhys Hoskins had spurts of his old self, though his offensive numbers took a dip. Second year second baseman Bruce Turang was a menace on the base paths, swiping 50 bases, while earning his first Gold and Platinum Glove awards of his young career. Though not a base stealing demon like Turang, Sal Frelick was a one-man no fly zone in the Milwaukee outfield, clinching his first Gold Glove.
For the second straight campaign, Freddie Peralta will be tasked with being the ace of the rotation, after a strong 2024 in the role. Though his final memory as a Yankee is issuing a game losing home run, Nestor Cortes looks to enter his era in Milwaukee as a viable starting arm. Tobias Myers looks to be the next breakout starter that Milwaukee developed, tossing an impressive first season. Though there’s a good chance he won’t start the season 100%, Brandon Woodruff is expected to return and make an impact for the Brewers rotation, after missing the entirety of 2024. The late inning work has a major void, since Milwaukee dealt Devin Williams to the Bronx. However, the same way they did after shipping Josh Hader away, the Brewers develop high leverage relievers easily, with Craig Yoho drawing attention as the next lights out closer. As for proven relief arms, Trevor Megill, Joel Payamps, Jared Koenig and Elvis Peguero all tossed masterful frames last season.
Despite the loss of Williams and Willy Adames, while not replacing their voids with outside options, Milwaukee enters 2025 in a great position to keep the recent trend going.
St. Louis Cardinals
2023’s finish is more representative of St. Louis’ outlook for 2025, with that season being the lone sub .500 year since 2008.
Even with 2024 being his worst season since his rookie year, 10-time Gold Glove third baseman Nolan Arenado had his name tossed around in trade talks all offseason, though it seems he’ll start the year in The Lou. After two lackluster years with the Cards, Jordan Walker enters camp with high expectations to achieve the level of success that he’s been expected to achieve. Earning everyday reps, Masyn Winn showed promise as the long term shortstop option. Willson Contreras missed more than half the season with fractures to his left arm and right middle finger, which shortened what seemed to be one of his best seasons of his career. Alec Burleson showed off his pop in 2024, while finding his long term position, making the switch as the everyday first baseman for 2025, with the departure of Paul Goldschmidt. Utilityman Brendan Donovan bounced all over the field to get his bat into the lineup, taking advantage by smacking 34 doubles. Left fielder Lars Nootbaar continues to be an underrated bat in the St. Louis lineup, while Nolan Gorman looks to return to his 2023 form, following a subpar season.
Ace Sonny Gray couldn’t replicate his NL Cy Young runner up success from 2023, with his second half stunting a solid opening to 2024. Trade deadline acquisition Erick Fedde looks for an encore of a career year, posting a mid-three ERA across a career high 177.1 innings pitched. Andre Pallante successfully transitioned from reliever to starter, tossing 20 excellent starts. Michael McGreevy will battle for one of the final starting spots, as Miles Mikolas and Steven Matz looked awful in 2024, though the latter was hindered with a back injury. Cardinals third ranked prospect Tink Hence is on the verge of breaking into the rotation, after an exceptional season in Springfield. Once the ninth inning rolled around, Ryan Helsley was untouchable, leading the MLB in saves (49), earning him a ninth place finish in NL Cy Young voting. Ryan Fernandez, John King and JoJo Romero dazzled as the bridge from starters to Helsley.
St. Louis has talent throughout their roster. Yet, expectations aren’t entirely high and will only continue to be lessened if Arenado is dealt.
Chicago Cubs
After multiple splashes this offseason, as well as prospects on the verge of joining the big club, the Cubs could be closing in on returning to the level of success that the mid-2010s crew put together.
The first of the big splashes was scoring outfielder Kyle Tucker from Houston, who would’ve been an AL MVP finalist, if not for a three-month long shin injury. Playing alongside Tucker will be defensive whiz Pete Crow-Armstrong, who posted 11 defensive runs saved and 14 outs above average. Slugger Seiya Suzuki had his second straight sensational season in the heart of the Chicago lineup. Dynamic double play duo Nico Hoerner and Dansby Swanson saw regression in their offensive production in 2024, though still stealing hits away from opponents. 2023 first round pick Matt Shaw is knocking on the door of being with the North Siders, dominating AA and AAA in 2024. Kevin Alcántara tasted the bigs in 2024, making three late season appearances, following a solid 2024 year in Iowa, with fellow Cubs top 100 prospect Owen Caissie set to join Chicago at some point. Moisés Ballesteros could club his way into, while James Triantos could steal his way into the Cubs lineup.
The rotation is headed by two stellar southpaws, with Shota Imanaga finishing fourth in NL Rookie of the Year and fifth in NL Cy Young voting and Justin Steele shutting down opposing offenses for his third consecutive low-three ERA season. Jameson Taillon recovered from a mediocre 2023, tossing for his second best ERA (3.27). Javier Assad was slowed down by a second half, though he proved to be a good end of the rotation arm. Twenty-five-year-old flamethrower Ben Brown will battle with Colin Rea and Jordan Wicks for the final rotation slot. Chicago’s other big splash in free agency was scoring their closer, landing Ryan Pressly from the Astros, after Hader took the closing role from him in Houston. The rest of Chicago’s bullpen has potential, with Porter Hodge, Keegan Thompson and Eli Morgan being three of the promising arms after solid 2024 seasons.
With Craig Counsell in his second year at the helm in the Windy City, Chicago has all the pieces to run the NL Central, not just for this season, but for the foreseeable future.
Cincinnati Reds
The Reds ended a lackluster five-year run with David Bell, opting to bring in Terry Francona. Though Tito’s World Series victories are nearly two decades removed, he enters an up-and-coming era in Cincy.
In his second season manning shortstop for Cincinnati, Elly De La Cruz flashed his five tool upside, popping 71 extra base hits, stealing a league-leading 67 bases and producing 15 outs above average. Catcher Tyler Stephenson proved to be one of the best hitters at the position, posting career bests in nearly every count stat. Matt McLain missed the entire 2024 season with a shoulder injury, after a great rookie year. A handful of Reds bats are looking to rebound from struggling 2024 years, most notably Noelvi Marté, Will Benson and Jeimer Candelario. Christian Encarnacion-Strand had his season ripped away due to a wrist injury, though he wasn’t showing much success before. After winning a World Series with the Dodgers, Gavin Lux was sent to the Reds, with a chance for a fresh start to reach his full potential.
Staggering starter Hunter Greene had his breakout campaign in 2024, tossing a sub-three ERA and earning his first All-Star nod. Nick Martinez switched to a full-time starter at the end of the year, dominating September with a 0.83 ERA. Andrew Abbott and Nick Lodolo are quality lefty options, with both having decent stats in 2024. In return for Jonathan India was Brady Singer, who bounced back from a tragic 2023 year. Reds second ranked prospect Rhett Lowder enjoyed a prosperous cup of coffee with the big club, with the potential to be Greene’s partner at the top of the rotation. In a down year, Alexis Díaz still clinched 28 saves, with expectations to bounce back. Brent Suter, Taylor Rogers and Tony Santillan will be a few of the top options to toss crucial innings.
Cincinnati could be a shocking team, with the loads of potential that the roster possesses. However, potential doesn’t always translate, so only time will tell if it gets wasted.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh has had just one season in the last decade with a winning record, tallying 82 wins in 2018. Success doesn’t seem imminent, though Pittsburgh does have talent sprinkled across the roster.
Switch-hitting outfielder Bryan Reynolds enjoyed another eminent season, earning his second All-Star appearance, while popping 24 home runs for the third time in the last four years. Staying healthy for the first time in his big league career, Oneil Cruz showed why he is a focal point of Pittsburgh’s future, with the new task of manning centerfield for 2025. Ke’Bryan Hayes remains as one of the premier defensive third basemen, with his bat yet to develop to where the Buccos have hoped. After 112 games with the Blue Jays, Spencer Horwitz was sent to Pittsburgh in a three-team deal, becoming the club’s new full time first baseman. In the twilight of his career, Andrew McCutchen will retain his mentor role for the Pirates for at least one more season. Following forgettable portions of the last four seasons, San Francisco shipped Joey Bart to Pittsburgh, where he finally showed the promise that the Giants drafted him for.
After dominating college and the minor leagues, Paul Skenes‘ success translated to the major league level, tossing for a sub-two ERA, starting the All Star Game for the NL, winning NL Rookie of the Year and finishing as second runner-up for the NL Cy Young. For the second straight season, a bad second half dampened Mitch Keller’s season. In his first season, Jared Jones showed signs of being Skenes’ running mate at the head of the Pirates rotation for the long run. Bailey Falter will man the fourth spot in the starting rotation, with the fifth starter spot being up in the air, as Johan Oviedo recovers from Tommy John surgery. Baseball’s 15th ranked prospect Bubba Chandler has the chance to break camp in the Pirates staff, after dominating two levels last season. David Bednar pitched his way out of the closing role in 2024, but returns to the position, in hopes of regaining his dominance. Colin Holderman, Carmen Mlodzinski and Dennis Santana are among the top contenders for late inning roles.
Pittsburgh is far from true team success, but the talent of their stars could catapult the crew to an exciting future, if the Pirates build around them.
All stats are from Baseball Reference and FanGraphs as of Feb. 20.
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