Welcome to week 3 of our 2026 NL Central Power Rankings — let’s rank some teams!
1. Pittsburgh Pirates (9-6); 3-3 this week; 61.2% chance to make postseason (FanGraphs)
After a strong 5-1 week against the Reds and Orioles last week, the Pirates fell back to Earth a bit this week, but they now sit atop the division. They dropped two of three to the Padres to begin the week, but bounced back for a series win over the Cubs this weekend.
Brandon Lowe had a pair of homers on Sunday afternoon, including a grand slam, while Oneil Cruz and Bryan Reynolds added a homer each this week. Cruz led
the team with nine hits, including a trio of doubles, while also swiping six bases.
Braxton Ashcraft had a great start this week, leading the team with nine strikeouts as he allowed one run across five innings. Mitch Keller went six scoreless with four strikeouts, Carmen Mlodzinski went 5 1/3 scoreless with two strikeouts, and Paul Skenes allowed one run with six strikeouts over 6 1/3 frames. Mason Montgomery and Gregory Soto both had scoreless weeks for the bullpen, while Dennis Santana picked up the only save of the week.
The Buccos return to Pittsburgh this week, as they’ll welcome the Nationals and Rays for seven games in seven days through the upcoming weekend.
2. Cincinnati Reds (9-7); 3-4 this week; 19.0% chance to make postseason
The Reds had an up-and-down week against what you’d think are inferior opponents in the Marlins and Angels. They extended their win streak to five games with two wins to open their series in Miami, but they dropped the final two of that four-game set before returning home for a series loss at the hands of the Angels.
Elly De La Cruz and Sal Stewart each slugged a pair of homers, with De La Cruz adding three doubles and four steals to his line. Spencer Steer and Tyler Stephenson each added a solo homer.
Brandon Williamson made a pair of starts spanning 10 2/3 innings this week, allowing three runs and striking out a team-high seven. The rest of the rotation got roughed up this week, but Pierce Johnson, Tony Santillan, and Emilio Pagán all had scoreless weeks for the bullpen, with Pagán picking up the only save and Johnson striking out five across three innings.
Cincinnati wraps up the homestand with three games against the Giants after an off day on Monday. They’ll then head to Minnesota to take on the Twins.
3. St. Louis Cardinals (8-7); 3-3 this week; 8.9% chance to make postseason
The Cardinals visited Washington to begin the week, taking two of three from the Nationals before an off day on Thursday. Now back home, they won Friday’s series opener over the Red Sox but dropped the final two of the series for a .500 week.
Jordan Walker kept up his great start to the season, slugging five homers and driving in six as part of a nine-hit week, as he slashed .360/.407/.960 over 25 at-bats. Alec Burleson, Nathan Church, and Ramón Urías each added a homer, while Thomas Saggese picked up seven hits, including a pair of doubles.
Dustin May went six innings in a winning performance for St. Louis, allowing two runs (one earned) with four strikeouts, while Michael McGreevy went six frames with one run allowed but just one strikeout in his win. JoJo Romero and George Soriano both allowed no runs for the bullpen, while Riley O’Brien went 2-for-2 in save opportunities with three strikeouts and one unearned run allowed over three innings.
St. Louis wraps up the homestand against the Guardians to begin the week before a road trip takes them through Houston and Miami.
4. Chicago Cubs (7-8); 3-3 this week; 42.2% chance to make postseason
The Cubs started the week in Tampa Bay for the first series at Tropicana Field since 2024, as they took two of three over the Rays. After an off day on Thursday, they welcomed the Pirates to Wrigley, where they dropped two of three, winning Sunday in walk-off fashion.
Moisés Ballesteros led the offense with a pair of homers, while Pete Crow-Armstrong, Nico Hoerner, Matt Shaw, and Dansby Swanson each added a homer. Hoerner led the team with 10 hits, including two doubles, as he drove in seven. Carson Kelly had the walk-off knock on Sunday, finishing the week with six hits in 15 at-bats.
Shota Imanaga went six no-hit innings in his start for Chicago, striking out nine and allowing just a walk. Javier Assad went 5 2/3 scoreless innings with three strikeouts in his start, and Colin Rea went five innings, allowing one run and striking out two in his outing. The bullpen was a strong point for Chicago, as Hunter Harvey, Riley Martin, Hoby Milner, Daniel Palencia, Ethan Roberts, and Jacob Webb combined for 13 2/3 scoreless innings this week, striking out 12.
The Cubs now take a quick three-game trip to Philadelphia to begin the week before returning home for three games with the Mets and four games with the Phillies in Chicago.
5. Milwaukee Brewers (8-7); 1-5 this week; 42.9% chance to make postseason
The Brewers have fallen all the way down our rankings, which means they only have one way to go: UP! The Crew moved to 8-2 on the season with an 8-6 victory over the Red Sox to begin the week, but they followed that up with five consecutive losses to the Red Sox and Nationals as they’re now in 8-7 on the season and tied for third in the division standings.
Jake Bauers and Brice Turang each slugged a pair of homers this week, with Turang adding a pair of steals. William Contreras and Gary Sánchez also homered, while Contreras led the team with five hits in what was a very rough week offensively for Milwaukee.
Jacob Misiorowski had the makings of a solid start in Boston until it fell apart late, as he went 5 1/3 innings with 10 strikeouts but three runs allowed as he got roughed up in the sixth. Brandon Sproat and Chad Patrick both looked good in relief appearances, as Sproat allowed one run and struck out three over 3 2/3 innings and Patrick allowed no runs over three innings. The bullpen’s lone bright spots came in the form of Grant Anderson, DL Hall, and Easton McGee, who combined for 6 2/3 scoreless innings in six appearances this week.
After an off day on Monday, the Brewers will look to reclaim some of their mojo against the Blue Jays in Milwaukee before taking a road trip through Miami and Detroit.
