With Opening day coming this weekend, Sports World News is kicking off our MLB 2014 season preview starting and todays edition is the National League Central. The Central is easily one of the best divisions and baseball, but it has lost many pieces that made it in the division that had three 90 win teams. Who will make the jump in 2014?
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1. St. Louis Cardinals (97-65): For all the hype about the Cardinals losing Carlos Beltran and David Freese the replacements they have might actually make the team better. The Cardinals are the defending National League Champs and have big shoes to fill in 2014. The good news is that the rest of the division lost some pieces as well. The bad news is that the road to a championship didn’t get any easier with the addictions the American league made. The starting rotation will always be this teams biggest strength and Michael Wacha will continue to be a player we should watch. The Cardinals have some questions, but they should win the NL Central.
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2. Pittsburgh Pirates (90-72): The Pirates had an amazing 2013 and ended a 20-year playoff drought. 2014 could recapture the magic, but it will be no easy feat. They lost Justin Morneau and Marlon Byrd to free agency and then lost A.J. Burnett to the Phillies after considering retirement. For the Pirates to take the next step they need to find players to take the roles the departed players left. Andrew McCutchen will continue to be the Pirates best player, but surrounding him with talent a position depth will be the key. The Pirates can make the playoffs again and start a new streak in the right direction.
3. Cincinnati Reds (88-74): The Reds lost the most pieces this free agency period in the form of Shin-Soo Choo and Bronson Arroyo. They still have a solid lineup top to bottom, but losing Choo isn’t something that can be overcome so easily. The Reds need to hope that the likes of Billy Hamilton can produce consistently. The bullpen is their greatest strength with Sean Marshall, Jonathan Broxton and Aroldis Chapman, but could lose Chapman to the starting rotation at some point. The Reds finish third again, but this time they look like a third place team.
4. Milwaukee Brewers (79-83): The most interesting thing about the Brewers this year is the return of Ryan Braun. Will the slugger return to form or will he vanish into mediocrity like other sluggers who returned from PED suspension. The Brewers need his bat in the middle of a lineup that is loaded with platoon bats like Rickie Weeks and Mark Reynolds. The rotation will be well served with Yovani Gallardo, Matt Garza, and Kyle Lohse who have tons of upside and could keep the Brewers in some games they shouldn't be in. The Brewers are a very inconsistent team that sometimes throws you a curveball and makes a playoff push.
5. Chicago Cubs (69-93): The Cubs have been bad for a long time and this year is no different. They are playing for 2015 and brought in a bunch of players that are placeholders until they find better option in the farm. They won’t be as bad as 2013 although the record will be very similar. The Cubs have some bright spots like Starlin Castro, Anthony Rizzo, Jeff Samardzija and Junior Lake but as they grow the team will suffer. Look for top prospect Javier Baez to make the team at some point this season as well.
Who takes the NL Central and are there wildcard teams here? Tell us @SportsWN
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