Welcome to week 25 of our 2026 NL Central Power Rankings — let’s rank some teams!
1. Milwaukee Brewers (93-57); 5-1 this week; 100.0% chance to make postseason (FanGraphs)
The Brewers locked up their postseason spot and have a magic number of just two to clinch the NL Central after they swept the Cubs and took two of three from the Reds in a strong homestand.
William Contreras led the offense with three homers and 12 RBIs, while Jake Bauers, Jackson Chourio, Garrett Mitchell, and Brice Turang added two homers each. Chourio also led the team with 13 hits overall, including three doubles.
Most of the Brewers’ rotation had a strong week, as Robert Gasser, Logan Henderson, Jacob Misiorowski, and Dustin May combined for 27 innings across five starts (Gasser made two), allowing just three earned runs and striking out 31. Garrett Stallings picked up a save with three shutout innings in Milwaukee’s 20-0 win over the Reds, while JoJo Romero, Chad Patrick, and DL Hall also turned in scoreless
Milwaukee now departs for their last road trip of the season, as they’ll visit the Pirates, Orioles, and Phillies for three games each over the next week and a half.
2. Chicago Cubs (83-67); 2-4 this week; 99.0% chance to make postseason
The Cubs are hanging in the fight for the top NL Wild Card spot, as they’re currently tied with the Phillies at 83-67 this season. Chicago was swept by the Brewers to begin the week but bounced back to take two of three at Wrigley against the Pirates.
Pedro Ramírez led the offense with two homers and two doubles this week, while Alex Bregman led the team with eight hits, including a homer and three doubles. Michael Busch, Miguel Amaya, and Pete Crow-Armstrong also homered.
Shota Imanaga had the only quality start of the week, going six innings with two runs allowed and four strikeouts. David Peterson went 4 1/3 innings with one run allowed and four strikeouts, while Javier Assad, Aaron Civale, Colin Rea, Ryan Rolison, and Trent Thornton combined for 11 1/3 scoreless innings for the bullpen, striking out 11.
Chicago now hosts the Braves for three games before visiting the Reds for three games over the weekend.
3. Pittsburgh Pirates (75-75); 4-2 this week; 0.1% chance to make postseason
The Pirates had a solid week as they’re on pace to finish at (or above) .500 for the first time since 2018. They spent the entire week in Chicago, sweeping the White Sox and dropping two of three against the Cubs.
Five players had a homer this week, including Oneil Cruz, Rafael Flores, Ryan O’Hearn, Bryan Reynolds, and Esmerlyn Valdez. Cruz led the team with nine hits and drove in five, while Flores added eight hits.
Jared Jones turned in another strong start, going seven scoreless with just a hit and two walks allowed, striking out eight. Lake Bachar continues to function as an opener, going 1 2/3 scoreless innings, while Paul Skenes went seven frames, allowing two runs and striking out four. Mason Montgomery led the bullpen, picking up three saves over three scoreless innings.
Pittsburgh now returns home for their final homestand of the season, hosting the Brewers, Royals, and Cardinals for three games each over the next week and a half.
4. St. Louis Cardinals (74-76); 2-4 this week; 0.0% chance to make postseason
The Cardinals had a rough week, as they were swept by the lowly Giants in San Francisco before taking two of three from the White Sox at home.
Leo Bernal led the squad with two homers as part of a six-hit week, adding a double and driving in seven. Alec Burleson had the only other homer, also doubling twice and driving in six. Joshua Báez and Nathan Church each added three doubles.
Michael McGreevy made a pair of solid starts, spanning 12 2/3 innings with four runs allowed (three earned) and 10 strikeouts. Quinn Mathews went six innings with two runs allowed and four strikeouts, Andre Pallante went five innings with one run allowed and four strikeouts, and Kyle Leahy worked three scoreless innings with four strikeouts. Luis Gastelum, Gordon Graceffo, and Ryne Stanek combined for 11 scoreless innings for the bullpen, striking out 11.
St. Louis wraps up their last homestand of the year this week, as they’ll host the Giants and Nationals for three games each.
5. Cincinnati Reds (70-79); 1-5 this week; 0.0% chance to make postseason
The Reds had another rough week, as they were swept by the Dodgers in Los Angeles and dropped two of three against the Brewers in Milwaukee, salvaging the series finale on Sunday.
Elly De La Cruz and Eugenio Suárez each slugged three homers this week, with De La Cruz adding three doubles as part of a nine-hit week. Juan Brito also homered, and Sal Stewart added seven hits (all singles).
Chase Burns was just about the only bright spot for the rotation, making a pair of starts totaling six innings with two runs allowed and 10 strikeouts. Tejay Antone, Brock Burke, and Emilio Pagán combined for six scoreless innings out of the bullpen, striking out four.
Cincinnati now heads home for the last time in 2026, as they’ll host the Dodgers for four games and the Cubs for three games.
