The **NL Central** has turned into baseball’s most competitive division through three months, and it’s not even close.
As June winds down, the Central stands alone as the only division with four teams above .500. More impressive? It’s the only division in all of baseball where four teams sit within five games of first place.
Before anyone questions the division’s quality, consider this: the **Chicago Cubs** lead at 49-35, which ties them with Philadelphia for the **second-best record in the National League**. If the playoffs started today, three Central teams would be in.
That’s a crowded race.
The Cubs just dropped two of three in Houston and struggled through a 3-4 road trip. They’re heading home now to host Cleveland and the Cardinals, which should help their cause at Wrigley.
Just two games back sit the **Milwaukee Brewers**. Milwaukee let one slip away Sunday but still went 4-2 during their homestand against Pittsburgh and Colorado. The Brewers have been running wild this season – they’ve swiped **97 bases**, making them one of the most aggressive teams on the basepaths.
The **St. Louis Cardinals** have been scorching hot lately. They swept Cleveland on the road, and since June 13, they’ve won **11 of their last 15 games**. The pitching’s been lights out – they threw two shutouts in Cleveland, with **Sonny Gray** going the distance and **Matthew Liberatore** dealing on Sunday. Defense has been rock solid too, as St. Louis is tied for the second-best fielding percentage in baseball at **99%**.
Then there’s **Terry Francona’s Cincinnati Reds**, who’ve quietly put themselves in contention. Cincinnati beat San Diego 3-2 Sunday to win that series. The Reds hosted both the Yankees and Padres recently and took four of six games. Their pitching staff has been stingy – opponents are hitting just **.232** against them, which ranks fifth in baseball.
As the trade deadline approaches, all four teams are worth watching closely.
Any one of them could add a piece or two and become a real problem for the Dodgers or Phillies in the race for the NL pennant. It’s going to be fascinating to see which direction these front offices decide to go – and whether this division beats itself up or produces a legitimate World Series contender.
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