NL Central Power Rankings and Preview for 2026

Welcome to opening week of the 2026 MLB season! Spring camp is wrapping up, and Opening Day is just days away.

With the regular season quickly approaching, it’s time to look at how each division is shaping up heading into 2026. Today, we will set our focus on the National League Central.

While the NL Central has been rather top heavy in recent years, that might not be the case in 2026. This division features several World Series contenders along with a couple of teams that are looking to take a step forward into legitimate contention.

The Milwaukee Brewers are the three-time defending division champions and are coming off a season in which they won an franchise-record and MLB-leading 97 games. However, after trading away ace Freddy Peralta, projection modals believe the Brewers have their work cut out for them to defend their division title.

The Chicago Cubs head into the new year as the top-projected team in the division with one of the highest projected win totals in the National League. After being knocked out of the playoffs by Milwaukee in Game 5 of the NLDS a season ago, the Cubs enter 2026 with a chip on their shoulder and their sights set on making a World Series run.

Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Cincinnati Reds are two teams that have consistently been near the bottom of division standings in years past but appear poised to take a step forward in 2026.

The Pirates, who are actually projected to finish ahead of the Brewers in the division standings according to FanGraphs, re-tooled their lineup this winter and head into 2026 as a popular breakout pick. The Reds took a step forward in 2025, making the playoffs for the first time since 2020, but it feels as if they have even more room for improvement in 2026.

And while the St. Louis Cardinals are turning the page to a new chapter of Cardinals baseball, entering the year with one of the lowest projected win totals in MLB, it wouldn’t surprise anybody if they were a pesky team this season.

This is a division that is chock-full of talent, and projections have it being one of the more competitive divisions in MLB this coming year. Time to break it all down.

Top 10 Position Players in the NL Central

Top 10 Pitchers in the NL Central

5. St. Louis Cardinals

2025 Record: 78-84, Finished 4th in the NL Central

Projected Opening Day Starting Lineup

The Cardinals’ lineup is going to look much different in 2026 than in years past.

After trading away Nolan Arenado to the Diamondbacks, Willson Contreras to the Red Sox, and Brendan Donovan to the Mariners, the focus this year will be on youth and establishing which players will be a part of the core moving forward.

Some of those pieces are already established. Masyn Winn is one of the game’s elite defenders at shortstop and is a player whose stock is rising heading into his age-24 season. Iván Herrera enters 2026 as one of the top designated hitters in the game at 25 years old. And top prospect JJ Wetherholt, Just Baseball’s No. 7 overall prospect, will get his first taste of big-league action right out of camp.

Nolan Gorman and Alec Burleson are now the veterans in the room at 25 and 27 years old, respectively, meaning this lineup is rather unproven but has upside to dream on.

Mainly, Jordan Walker will be one of the key names to monitor in the heart of the order. Perhaps this is the year the former top prospect can finally put things together at the MLB level with less overall pressure to perform as the team expects to take a step back.

While it won’t be a top-end offensive unit in the National League, it’s one that has potential to be above average if things go right.

Notable Depth/Bench

C/1B Yohel Pozo, INF Ramón Urías, UTL José Fermín, OF Nathan Church

Urías is the only projected position player on the Cardinals’ roster who is over 30 years old (31), and he will be the team’s primary backup infielder off the bench. Having spent the majority of his career in Baltimore, this is his first season in St. Louis and he has experience playing all over the diamond.

Church, 25, heads into Opening Day as the team’s fourth outfielder, and Fermín will man the utility duties off the bench. It’s yet to be seen how much time Herrera will get at catcher versus as a designated hitter, so Yohel Pozo is expected to get the backup reps behind Pedro Pagés at catcher.

The team also has backstop Jimmy Cooks (JB No. 99), who will factor in behind the plate in some capacity this season.

Projected Starting Rotation

Simply put, the Cardinals’ starting rotation isn’t anything special. Without Sonny Gray at the top, whom the Cards traded to the Red Sox this offseason, this rotation lacks star power.

Matthew Liberatore heads into the new year as the Cardinals’ ace after his career year in 2025. Setting career-high marks nearly across the board, it was intriguing to see the 26-year-old take a step forward as a starting pitcher.

Newcomer Dustin May signed a one-year contract with St. Louis this winter and is looking to bounce back from a 4.96 ERA a season ago. May is a talented arm who has battled numerous injuries throughout his career. Should he throw well for the Cardinals, he is a prime flip candidate near the trade deadline.

Andre Pallante, Michael McGreevy, and Kyle Leahy round out the rest of the rotation. This group has spent ample time within the organization, and each arm will look to carve out a full-time role in the rotation moving forward with several top prospects — Liam Doyle, JB No. 70, and Jurrangelo Cijntje, JB No. 97 — knocking on the door of the big leagues.

Similar to the lineup, this year will be about establishing a core in the rotation to move into future seasons with.

Projected Bullpen

There are several newcomers to the Cardinals’ bullpen, including Ryne Stanek (free agent), Justin Bruihl (trade), George Soriano (trade), and Matt Pushard (Rule 5 Draft).

JoJo Romero was a popular name floated around the trade market this winter. Set to be a free agent following the year, Romero could be a popular trade candidate as the season progresses. The southpaw has been solid across his Cardinals tenure and posted a career-best 2.07 ERA in 2025.

Riley O’Brien, who pitched to a 2.06 ERA in 48 innings last season, heads into 2026 slotted as St. Louis’ full-time closer according to RosterResource.

All in all, this shouldn’t be a bottom-tier relief unit, but it likely won’t be one of the best, either. After finishing 10th in MLB in ERA a season ago, it’s fair to expect something close to average from this group in 2026.

Outlook

The 2026 season will be the start of a new era of baseball in St. Louis. Ushering in a new core comprised of Winn, Wetherholt, Herrera, among others, the Cardinals head into 2026 with the goal of establishing a new core to move forward with, both in the lineup and the pitching staff.

The aforementioned departures of their stars certainly hurts this team’s outlook, which is why they head into 2026 with one of the lowest win totals in MLB. Still, there are enticing names on this roster, and there’s a crop of prospects coming through the pipeline that should provide even more intrigue for the Cardinals faithful.

But for the time being, the Cardinals will be a popular pick to finish last in the NL Central, something the team has done just once since 1990 (2023).

4. Cincinnati Reds

2025 Record: 83-79, Finished 3rd in the NL Central

Projected Opening Day Starting Lineup

The 2026 Reds lineup won’t look much different than it did a year ago with the exception of slugger Eugenio Suárez in the middle of the lineup, who returns to Cincinnati after a career year in 2025.

Though the Reds made the postseason in 2025, this is an offense that underperformed expectations, finishing 24th in MLB with a wRC+ of just 92. That said, there’s room for improvement for many of the names in this projected lineup.

The addition of Suárez’s power bat, along with the potential of Sal Stewart (JB No. 15) and the run production he could bring to the table in the middle of the order, should really help provide some length to this lineup.

The real difference maker for this lineup could be Matt McLain. McLain wasn’t very good last season, putting up a 77 wRC+ in 147 games, but he’s far more talented than what he showed in 2025. The 26-year-old will try to get back to the type of player he was in 2023 when he posted 3.2 fWAR in just 89 games.

Elly De La Cruz will look to take another step forward heading into his age-24 season as the leader of this offense, and there are still some intriguing names to round out the tail end of the batting order. After finishing as a below-average offense in 2024 and 2025, better days should be ahead for this group in 2026.

Notable Depth/Bench

C Jose Trevino, UTL Spencer Steer, OF JJ Bleday, 1B Nathaniel Lowe

There are a couple of newcomers to the bench, including Nathaniel Lowe (free agent), JJ Bleday (free agent, and Dane Myers (trade).

Though Bleday will start the year in the minor leagues, he will be the first bat called upon should an injury occur or Will Benson struggles to open the season. Myers will be Benson’s platoon partner in the outfield in the meantime.

Lowe joined the Reds as a non-roster invitee this offseason and is in a good spot to lock up a bench spot as the backup to Stewart at first base. Lowe carries a 117 wRC+ across his seven-year career and should have a good chance to carve out a role against righties in 2026.

Jose Trevino heads into his second year in Cincinnati and will continue the backup duties to Tyler Stephenson behind the dish.

Projected Starting Rotation

Not having Hunter Greene at the top stings, but this is still a loaded starting rotation that has as much upside as any heading into the new season.

Andrew Abbott was an All-Star in 2025 and heads into Opening Day as the anchor at the top. Behind him is Nick Lodolo, who, when healthy, has flashed frontline potential. Brady Singer rounds out a very formidable top three in the rotation, and there’s immense potential behind that trio of arms.

Chase Burns is a very popular breakout pick heading into 2026 and truly has Cy Young upside if things go right for him. The second-overall pick from the 2024 draft climbed all the way from High-A to the big leagues last season and looks to have a spot in the rotation heading into Opening Day.

RosterResource gives the edge to Burns and Rhett Lowder, a first-round pick from 2023, to round out the rotation, but expect to see the trio of Chase Petty, Brandon Williamson, and Julian Aguiar worked into the mix throughout the season.

This rotation, even without Greene, has a unique blend of a high floor, upside to dream on, and depth to pluck from. When Greene returns in the middle of the season, this has the makings of being one of the best rotations in baseball should some of these arms reach their potential.

Projected Bullpen

The 2026 Reds bullpen looks very similar to the one that finished 14th in MLB in ERA a season ago with the exception of Pierce Johnson (free agent) and Brock Burke (trade), both of which were valuable offseason additions.

The team brought back Emilio Pagán on a two-year deal this winter to remain as the team’s closer, and bridging the gap to him will be Tony Santillan, who pitched to a 2.44 ERA in 73.2 innings last season, and Graham Ashcraft, who has the stuff to become a really effective setup man.

Connor Phillips is a talented righty who has struggled with command throughout his career but has the potential to be a really powerful bullpen piece for the Reds as well. Caleb Furgeson was also added via free agency and will start the year on the injured list with an oblique injury, but he should have a valuable role once he returns to the mound.

This bullpen has a wide range of outcomes and a lot of variance, but there is plenty of upside here.

Outlook

After getting back to October baseball in 2025, the Reds will look to build upon that step forward even more heading into the new year.

Projection systems aren’t overly bullish on this ball club (both FanGraphs and PECOTA have them finishing fourth in the division with around 77 wins), but nobody would be surprised if this team makes the postseason again in 2026.

That will hinge upon the offense taking a step forward and Greene returning to his ace-level form when he returns from the injured list. Should those two things happen, there’s absolutely a world in which the Reds can continue to work their way up the division standings.

3. Pittsburgh Pirates

2025 Record: 71-91, Finished Last in the NL Central

Projected Opening Day Starting Lineup

The Pirates’ lineup got retooled this offseason, and boy, was it needed.

Pittsburgh’s offense finished with the second-worst wRC+ in MLB last year at 82. The year before that, they ranked 28th in baseball with an 86 wRC+. In order to capitalize on this window with Paul Skenes, it was essential that the front office addressed the lineup card.

Ryan O’Hearn, 32, joins the Pirates after posting a 127 wRC+ between his time with the Orioles and Padres last season. Marcell Ozuna takes over the designated hitter role, and while 2025 was a down year for the slugger, the power potential he brings with the bat is something the Pirates desperately needed in the middle of the order.

Brandon Lowe rounds out the trio of noteworthy offseason lineup additions, as he was acquired via trade from the Tampa Bay Rays and will be the team’s everyday second baseman. Those three bats should make an impact from the get go in the heart of Pittsburgh’s order.

Led at the top by the usual names in Oneil Cruz and Bryan Reynolds, this lineup has much more length heading into 2026 than in previous seasons. Will it be a top-10 offense? Likely not. However, don’t be surprised if this unit flirts with average production, or even slightly better.

Even a marginal improvement from years past would go a long way for the outlook of this team.

Notable Depth/Bench

C Henry Davis, UTL Nick Yorke, OF/1B Billy Cook, OF Jake Mangum

Henry Davis, the first-overall pick from the 2021 draft, will get the first crack at backup duties behind Joey Bart to start the year. Davis has had a dreadful start to his MLB career, posting a 53 wRC+ across 186 career MLB games, but he continues to post strong numbers in the minor leagues. The Pirates are hoping it’s only a matter of time until he translates that success to the show.

Jake Mangum, who was acquired from the Rays this offseason, will be the team’s fourth outfielder to open the year, while Jhostynxon Garcia, JB No. 80, should get his number called upon at some point this season.

Nick Yorke and Billy Cook, two trade-deadline additions from the 2024 season, round out the rest of the bench as the backup infield and utility options.

Projected Starting Rotation

As many are aware by now, the rotation is Pittsburgh’s calling card.

Led by a top-two pitcher in Major League Baseball, Paul Skenes, Braxton Ashcraft and Bubba Chandler form one of the most exciting up-and-coming trio of starters in the game. Not to mention Jared Jones will return at some point in 2026, making this a very high-octane rotation that gives Pirates fans plenty to be excited for.

Don’t forget about Mitch Keller, either. The veteran isn’t as flashy as the other names mentioned, but he’s a stabilizer at the top. Every rotation needs an arm like that, and Keller will have an important innings-eater role on this staff.

Should things go their way in 2026, this could turn out to be one of the better rotations in MLB. If the Pirates take a leap into playoff contention this year, it will be on the backs of this pitching staff and the young, budding stars leading the way.

Projected Bullpen

The Pirates made a few additions to the bullpen this offseason, including adding southpaw Gregory Soto via free agency and Mason Montgomery via trade.

What’s interesting about this bullpen is that the Pirates’ top two relievers, Soto and Dennis Santana, are both free agents at the end of the 2026 season. Typically, in years past, these are names that would be considered no-brainer flip candidates in the first half of the season.

However, if the Pirates are hanging around the playoff picture come the trade deadline, the team could elect to retain these two arms and make a playoff push. Alternatively, if they do fall out of contention, these two names could net Pittsburgh a nice return at the deadline.

Nonetheless, this is far from a bad bullpen. It finished 13th in ERA last season, and it’d be fair to expect something similar in 2026.

Outlook

The Pirates will be a trendy breakout pick heading into 2026. PECOTA has them finishing with 82 wins, a substantial increase from their 71 wins a season ago. Would that be enough to push them into the playoff picture? Likely not. However, who’s to say that this team can’t take an even bigger step forward should their rotation reach its true potential.

The greatest limiting factor for Pittsburgh across their prolonged stretch of poor play has been their offense. And while they might not have been blockbuster transactions, the moves they made this winter showed that the front office is at least attempting to see better results in that department.

I think it’s fair to say that this Pirates roster is poised to take a step forward this season. Is that in the form of a couple more wins, or could it be grabbing hold of a wild-card spot? That remains to be seen, but there’s plenty of reasons to be bullish on the Pirates this season.

2. Milwaukee Brewers

2025 Record: 97-65, Finished 1st in the NL Central

Projected Opening Day Starting Lineup

For the most part, this lineup looks very similar to the one that rattled off an MLB-best 97 wins a season ago.

The team traded away 2025 rookie standout Isaac Collins to the Royals this offseason, who will be replaced with Garrett Mitchell (returning from injury) in center field. Additionally, Caleb Durbin was shockingly moved to Boston after a very strong rookie campaign, and the team brought in veteran Luis Rengifo to hold down the hot corner in his place.

All in all, this is the same core that has gotten the job done for the last couple of seasons. However, the question will be whether or not this team has enough slugging ability to get over the hump and compete with the other top teams in the National League.

That said, skipper Pat Murphy and company have clearly identified a winning formula with this cast of characters. They’ve found the right players to piece together a successful offense. Fueled by sound fundamentals, smart baserunning, and a strong approach, the Brewers always have a relentless offense, and it’s fair to expect more of the same from them this coming year.

Notable Depth/Bench

C Gary Sánchez, 1B/OF Jake Bauers, INF David Hamilton, OF Blake Perkins

Brandon Lockridge, who could be Mitchell’s platoon partner in center, earned an Opening Day roster spot after a very strong spring (.317/.429/.659 slash line with a 174 wRC+). Blake Perkins was optioned to Triple-A as a result, but he will certainly factor into the picture in 2026.

Both Lockridge and Perkins are capable fourth-outfield options who are athletic defenders and bring an element of speed to the lineup.

The Brewers reunited with Gary Sánchez this offseason to be Contreras’ primary backup while Jeferson Quero (JB No. 85) gets everyday reps in Triple-A. The addition of Sánchez’s power off the bench was one of the more underrated moves that Matt Arnold made this winter.

David Hamilton was brought in via the Caleb Durbin trade and will take over as the utility option off the bench, replacing Andruw Monasterio, who was also traded to Boston along with Durbin.

This is a very deep bench, and each player mentioned above will be called upon in a big way to help this team defend its division crown.

Projected Starting Rotation

Though the Brewers no longer have Freddy Peralta anchoring the top of the rotation, the Brewers addressed the loss by greatly boosting their pitching depth.

Jacob Misiorowski was recently named the team’s Opening Day starter. He is the third-youngest Opening Day starter in franchise history and is looking to build off a rookie season in which he made the All-Star Game after just five career starts.

With Quinn Priester starting the year on the injured list, who is dealing with wrist discomfort that popped up at the tail end of 2025, the Brewers will be plucking from their ample pitching depth from the get-go.

Kyle Harrison was brought in via the Caleb Durbin trade, and Brandon Sproat was one of the key returns from the Mets for Freddy Peralta. Both look to have rotation spots locked down heading into Opening Day and are breakout candidates in the rotation for Milwaukee this coming year.

Logan Henderson will start the year in the minor leagues but will get an opportunity to carve out a big-league role at some point in 2026. Likewise, it’s a similar story with Robert Gasser, who returned from Tommy John surgery in a limited capacity last year.

The Brewers have pitching depth, there’s no denying that. But the question will be whether or not they have the top-flight talent to make up for the loss of Peralta at the top.

Projected Bullpen

The Brewers’ bullpen has been one of the best in baseball for a couple of seasons, and it should be more of the same in 2026.

Abner Uribe and Trevor Megill are one of the most menacing one-two punches in the league to close out games. Bridging the gap to them will be a trio of lefties in Jared Koenig, Aaron Ashby, and Angel Zerpa, who shined for Team Venezuela on its run to a World Baseball Classic title.

That grouping of five at the back of the bullpen can rival just about any in the sport. Add in DL Hall, who is still figuring out his role at the major-league level but boasts plenty of talent himself, and Grand Anderson, who pitched to an under-the-radar 3.23 ERA across nearly 70 innings last season, and this bullen has a very dependable floor to go with its top-end talent.

The Brewers’ bullpen was one of the top-performing — and most used — units in baseball last season, and fans can expect a similar story in 2026.

Outlook

Led by two-time defending NL Manager of the Year Pat Murphy and two-time defending Executive of the Year Matt Arnold, the Brewers have established themselves as one of the most well-run organizations in Major League Baseball.

While they have yet to really translate that into legitimate postseason success, Milwaukee has mastered a winning formula to get through the grind of a 162-game season. That formula will be tested once more following the departure of Freddy Peralta, but having to overcome the loss of star players is nothing new for this organization.

The Brewers have a very high probability of being a good team with the upside of having another great season in 2026.

1. Chicago Cubs

2025 Record: 92-70, Finished 2nd in the NL Central

Projected Opening Day Starting Lineup

In light of the subtraction of superstar Kyle Tucker, the Cubs’ front office addressed the hole by bringing in veteran Alex Bregman to hold down the hot corner.

While Bregman might not have the type of upside that Tucker possesses, he fills a massive hold on the left side of the infield and can be the star that Chicago needs. He missed time with Boston last season, but it was a 125 wRC+ and 3.2 fWAR in 114 games, proving that he is still one of the top third basemen in the game when he’s on the field.

After putting up MVP numbers in the first half of the season, Pete Crow-Armstrong fell off a cliff in the second half as the Cubs surrendered the division lead to the Brewers. Simply put, PCA heads into 2026 as one of the biggest X-factors in MLB, and the Cubs’ performance this season could hinge on his production.

The run potential extends far beyond just those two names, too. There’s seemingly no breaks from top to bottom in this lineup, and it’s a similar cast of characters that finished fifth in runs scored a season ago. This offense has a very high floor with the upside of being one of the best units in MLB once again in 2026.

Notable Depth/Bench

C Miguel Amaya, OF Dylan Carlson

The addition of Bregman moves second-year player Matt Shaw to more of a utility role. Perhaps being deployed against lefties instead of being relied upon at third on a daily basis will help Shaw get more comfortable at the big league level as he heads into his age-24 season.

With Seiya Suzuki dealing with a sprained knee, Michael Conforto will take over in right field as his replacement. When Suzuki returns from his injury, Conforto will slide back to a bench role to be deployed against right-handed hitting.

Dylan Carlson was also added as a non-roster invitee this offseason and will take over as the fourth outfielder while Suzuki recovers from his injury. Carlson, 27, has struggled in recent years and is looking for a fresh start in Chicago.

Miguel Amaya will continue to back up Carson Kelly behind the plate. Amaya missed time with several injuries last season but heads into 2026 fully healthy. With Moisés Ballesteros expected to be mainly a designated hitter, fans can count on Amaya and Kelly splitting the catching duties in 2026.

Projected Starting Rotation

The 2026 Cubs rotation could be one of the better units in the National League.

Justin Steele will miss the first chunk of the season as he recovers from elbow surgery, but the Cubs have the depth to fill his void in the meantime. Having a full season of Cade Horton, who shined as a rookie in 2025 with a 2.67 ERA across 118 innings, and adding Edward Cabrera via a trade with the Marlins creates a very strong trio at the top of the rotation with 2025 All-Star Matthew Boyd.

Shota Imanaga was stellar in the first half of 2025 (2.65 ERA) but struggled mightily after the All-Star break (4.70 ERA). The Cubs brought him back on the qualified offer hoping he can recapture his 2024 form, where he pitched to a 2.91 ERA across 173.1 innings.

Meanwhile, Jameson Taillon is coming off a 3.68 ERA in 129.2 innings and is one of the more reliable No. 5 options in the National League. With Jaxon Wiggins, JB No. 59, also knocking on the door of the big leagues, along with Ben Brown and Collin Rea, who both can make starts when needed, this is a deep rotation with plenty of upside.

Projected Bullpen

The Cubs made some valuable bullpen additions this winter. On top of brining back Caleb Thielbar, who pitched to a 2.64 ERA across 58 innings last season, the Cubs also added Phil Maton, Hunter Harvey, Hoby Milner, and Jacob Webb via free agency.

That core group of relievers will be the bridge to Daniel Palencia, who has put himself on the map as one of the top up-and-coming closers in the National League. Palencia pitched to the tune of a 2.91 ERA last season in 54 appearances while striking out over 28% of batters faced and walking just 2.73 hitters per nine innings.

What’s more, his high-octane stuff was on full display for Team Venezuela en route to its World Baseball Classic title, as Palencia racked up three saves across five scoreless innings without allowing a hit while striking out nine during the tournament. It’s a small sample, but he showed up on the biggest stage and closed the door on Team USA to secure Team Venezuela its WBC championship.

Chicago’s bullpen finished 11th in ERA last season, and there’s reason to believe it can turn in even better results in 2026 following some much-needed free-agent additions.

Outlook

When breaking down the roster in detail, it’s easy to see why the Cubs check in at No. 1 in our NL Central power rankings.

From top to bottom, this is a very complete roster in more ways than one. The offense should pick up right where it left off from a season ago as one of the best in MLB, and the pitching staff made some noteworthy additions this winter that should help them turn in even better results in 2026.

All in all, there’s a reason why FanGraphs and PECOTA have the Cubs winning the division by over seven games. On paper, they probably have the best roster in the division, but they will need to translate that potential to the field in order to dethrone the Brewers as division champions.