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Introduction

I am going to breakdown the NL Central to this point of the season, and give my predictions for what lies ahead this season.

Currently at the top of the division the Cardinals and Brewers are tied with a 28-20 record each respectively. The Cardinals have been the better team of late however, as they have won seven of their last 10 games, including two out of three against the Brewers in Milwaukee. St. Louis has been an up and down team so far this season, as they started out red hot, but then cooled down a few weeks later. Recently, though, the Cardinals are back on the winning track and that can be attributed to the Cardinals getting healthy again. Chris Carpenter is going to need to stay healthy if the Cardinals are expecting to win the division. He has not given up a run in 23 innings pitched this season. Adam Wainwright has been pitching very solid this season to give the Cardinals another front line starter. Ryan Ludwick, an All-Star last season, also just returned from injury as he was activated from the DL just last night. I expect the Cardinals to contend for the rest of the season and eventually win the NL Central with the solid pitching they seem to have year in and year out. Also, not to mention they have one of the best players in baseball in Albert Pujols in the middle of the lineup.

2. Chicago Cubs

Talk about a struggling team. Coming off of a 8 game losing streak before winning two of the last three games, the Cubs seem to finally be getting back on track. Another team hampered by injuries, the Cubs have been fighting through injuries in the starting rotation all season. Just as they get Carlos Zambrano back, oft-injured Rich Harden goes on the 15 day DL. Also, one of the most underated players in the game, and the heart of the order for the Cubs, Aramis Ramirez wont be back for at least a month. I see the Cubs fighting through this tough part of the season, and regaining enough momentum at the end of the season to win the NL Wild Card. They just have too much talent on this team to expect otherwise, its just a matter of keeping it on the field.

3. Milwaukee Brewers

Milwaukee can hit with most teams, but the problem here in my opinion is the pitching. I don't think they have enough to compete with the rest of the solid starting pitching that is currently in the NL Central. Losing Sabathia to the Yankees, and Sheets to injury and possibly free agency is just too much to overcome in one season for a team filled with young stars. Yovani Gallardo has been the horse of the rotation for Milwaukee, but after him your looking at a bunch of average pitchers at best, and in a division like this that just will not get it done. I see Milwaukee sticking around and then fading late in the season to fall out of contention.

4. Cincinnati Reds

The sleeper of the division, as well as the up and coming team in the division. The Reds have plenty to look forward to when it comes to Joey Votto in the future. He appears to be one of the best up and coming players in the game, and you can expect alot from him in the years to come. The pitching is very shaky at times for the Reds. They have talent, and if they can get Aaron Harang back to his 2006 form for the whole season, and Edinson Volquez to pitch like he did last season, then I would not be shocked if the Reds made a run at the playoffs as early as this season.

5. Houston Astros

Nobody really knows with this team. They have two of the best hitters in the league in their lineup in Carlos Lee and Lance Berkman, but they always seem to struggle early in the season. The Astros should consistently at the very least be in contention for a playoff spot, but early struggles always make it to difficult for them to overcome the deficit later in the season. They have a lot of injury prone talent in Roy Oswalt and Lance Berkman, which worries me. Combined with the fact that they have started out slow once again, and I think it looks like another disappointing season in Houston

6. Pittsburgh Pirates

The perennial doormat of the NL Central for awhile now, appears to be going down that road again. The Pirates just don't have the hitting or pitching to even compete with most teams in the league. After trading away Jason Bay last season, their lineup has gotten even worse if that was even possible. Paul Maholm and Zach Duke are good pitchers, but not guys you want at the front of the rotation if you wxpect to compete. I expect a last place finish for Pittsburgh again this season.

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