The National League Central is consistently one of the more exciting divisions in baseball, and even though the Brewers have found themselves on top each of the last three and four of the last five seasons,
there are still plenty of doubters. While the Brewers have mostly stood pat this offseason, their NL Central foes have also not done much to this point. With that in mind, let’s take a look at every team at this point, and provide a way-too-early standings prediction for 2026.
Note: I’ll cover each team in order of 2025 standings, with a 2026 prediction at the end.
Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers enter 2026 in a familiar place: never the biggest spender, rarely the preseason favorite, yet consistently the team with the clearest organizational identity. The only big question marks at this point in the offseason are at shortstop and in the starting rotation. Will they make a change at shortstop after Joey Ortiz’s dismal season? Signs point to no. Will they send Freddy Peralta out in a trade? Unclear, but the Brewers are certainly listening to offers. At this point, I’d say Peralta will be a Brewer come the end of March unless somebody gives them an offer they can’t refuse.
With that in mind, they’ll likely return a strong pitching infrastructure, even if the roster shuffles a bit this winter. Regardless, Milwaukee has more pitching depth than most clubs, a habit of squeezing value out of role players, and a front office skilled at navigating middle-market realities.
Offensively, the Brewers probably need one more middle-order anchor (probably not Akil Baddoo) to avoid the streakiness that has defined them in recent seasons. If one of their young outfielders or infielders breaks through, à la Brice Turang, that alone could keep them in pole position. They aren’t a high-variance team — and in a division full of volatility, stability wins.
Chicago Cubs
As we’ve come to learn over the last few seasons, the Cubs are probably the division’s biggest wild card. Their spot in next year’s standings will likely come down to if they make a splashy move — recent reports connect them with Alex Bregman, Eugenio Suarez, Zac Gallen, Ranger Suárez, and Tatsuya Imai. They were also connected with Pete Alonso and Robert Suarez before they signed this week, and outfielder Kyle Tucker is also a candidate to re-sign with them, though I think the Cubs would be just as happy taking the compensatory pick associated with him leaving after he declined their qualifying offer.
Looking at the current roster, the talent is undeniably there, as this is a team that competed in the division the entire year until Milwaukee surged in August. The risk? They still lack roster consistency. Some years the lineup clicks, and other years it disappears for weeks at a time. Their rotation has strong pieces but hasn’t stayed consistent or healthy. And their aggressive roster-building approach has occasionally produced mismatched pieces.
Their floor is lower than Milwaukee’s, but their ceiling is probably higher, especially if they add another piece or two this offseason.
Cincinnati Reds
The Reds’ youth movement promised fireworks, but 2025 didn’t deliver the full breakout many expected. Still, the young pitching core is too talented to ignore, especially if they can stay healthy. Cincinnati’s challenge is on offense. Their lineup is anchored by Elly De La Cruz, Matt McLain, and Spencer Steer, but beyond those guys, there isn’t much. Gavin Lux, Tyler Stephenson, and Noelvi Marte have had flashes of success, TJ Friedl is a power-speed threat, and prospect Sal Stewart could surpass Sal Frelick as the best Sal in the division. Ke’Bryan Hayes isn’t a reliable offensive threat either, though his defense makes him an above-average all-around player.
With another year of experience under their belts, this team is a threat to win the division, especially if Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, and Andrew Abbott stay healthy atop the rotation. Their ceiling is high if the stars align, and adding another offensive piece or two could be key to another postseason appearance.
St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals are stuck in a rut, and they appear to be ready to go into full teardown mode after trading Sonny Gray to the Red Sox this offseason. Fellow veterans Willson Contreras, Lars Nootbaar, Brendan Donovan, and Nolan Arenado are likely next, and that would seem to indicate a last place finish for St. Louis in 2026. I won’t say much more about the Cardinals here — unlike the Cardinals of the 2000s and 2010s, the franchise hasn’t been a threat the last few seasons, and I expect more of the same next year.
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pirates seem to always go on mini hot streaks, but they aren’t a team that’s been able to put a full season together since the mid-2010s, when they eked into the playoffs in three consecutive years from 2013 to 2015. Unfortunately for Pittsburgh, they’re stuck with Bob Nutting as their owner.
Even so, with a generational talent in Paul Skenes leading the rotation and young arms like Braxton Ashcraft, Bubba Chandler, and Jared Jones behind him, this could be one of the best top to bottom rotations in the division, with the caveat of health. Dennis Santana proved to be a formidable closer after David Bednar was traded at the deadline, and that gives Pittsburgh something to build around.
Offensively, the Pirates are in the same boat as the Reds. Joey Bart and Henry Davis are serviceable at best behind the plate, the best infield bat is Nick Gonzales, which isn’t saying much, and Bryan Reynolds and Oneil Cruz anchor the outfield as the best bats on the roster as it stands now. They did add prospect Jhostynxon “The Password” Garcia in a recent trade with the Red Sox, and they’ve also been connected with the Rays’ Brandon Lowe and free agent Willi Castro after losing out on the Kyle Schwarber sweepstakes. Another bat or three, and this Pirates team could be a threat in the division.
Prediction
- Chicago Cubs
- Milwaukee Brewers
- Cincinnati Reds
- Pittsburgh Pirates
- St. Louis Cardinals
Just like everyone else, I keep picking against the Brewers, even though they’ve given me a million reasons not to.
But I never love being wrong as much as I do when Milwaukee wins the division.
This should be another great battle in 2026, as the Reds and Pirates could suddenly be real threats with some added offense. The Cardinals are really the only true weak spot, especially if they unload the rest of their veterans. Who do you think takes home the division crowd in 2026? Weigh in in the comments!
