Summer Camp is officially underway. Major League Baseball is opening up their training camp for the next few weeks before the season starts up on July 23. As we inch closer to that date, we’re previewing each MLB division and predicting where each team lands in the win column.

Today, we’re taking a look at the National League Central Division.

Chicago Cubs - O/U: 32 wins

The Cubs are desperately trying to keep their championship window open after breaking their World Series curse in 2016. But after an 84-win season last year, time is running out. Chicago still features a core of All-Stars including SS Javier Baez, 3B Kris Bryant, 1B Anthony Rizzo, and C Willson Contreras. Yu Darvish and Kyle Hendricks also serve as the anchors of their veteran pitching staff.

The biggest change for the Cubs is in the dugout, where David Ross enters his first year as the manager. Ross, who was on the 2016 club, will aim to fill the large shoes left by Joe Maddon. A lot of the other changes were minor, with several low-key additions. Among them were the signings of Indians 2B Jason Kipnis, Diamondbacks OF Steven Souza Jr., and Brewers RP Jeremy Jeffress.

Chicago did see some veterans leave town as well. RF Nicholas Castellanos, who was lightning in a bottle for two months since being traded from the Tigers, signed with the Reds. On the pitching side, Cole Hamels left for the Braves and longtime RP Pedro Strop joined Castellanos in Cincinnati.

With new leadership in the clubhouse, it’s hard to peg exactly where the Cubs will be in 2020. But their lineup still has plenty of pop, and their veteran pitching staff may actually be more effective in a shortened season. I’m expecting a bounce-back season at Wrigley Field.

Pick: OVER 32

Cincinnati Reds - O/U: 32 wins

With a 74-win campaign, 2019 served as yet another disappointing season for the Reds. But entering this season, there’s a lot to like. The lineup returns slugging 3B Eugenio Suarez along with veteran 1B Joey Votto. The rotation also features three of the game’s top arms in Luis Castillo, Sonny Gray, and Trevor Bauer. But their additions this offseason make Cincinnati one of the more exciting teams to follow in 2020.

As mentioned earlier, Cubs OF Nicholas Castellanos signed with the Reds and figures to be one of their middle-of-the-order boppers. They also stole another player from a division-rival, plucking away Brewers 2B Mike Moustakas. Cincinnati also added a new leadoff hitter with Japanese OF Shogo Akiyama and a back-end starter in the rotation with Astros SP Wade Miley.

The offseason wasn’t just all new players coming in. There were also guys leaving the organization. IFs Scooter Gennett and Jose Peraza each departed in free agency, with the latter signing with the Red Sox. OF Yasiel Puig is also still unsigned but is unlikely to return to Cincinnati. Among the other departed players are pitchers Alex Wood, Tanner Roark, and Kevin Gausman, as well as stable bullpen vets Jared Hughes and David Hernandez.

The Reds have done a good job of improving their lineup and hope their rotation can deliver as many expect them too. If Castillo, Gray, and Bauer are all pitching well, Cincy will be in very good position. 32 wins is about where I would put them, right in the thick of playoff contention. But they just might be a step behind a couple other teams in their division.

Pick: UNDER 32

Milwaukee Brewers - O/U: 29.5 wins

The Brewers continued to find a way to shock the baseball world, racking up 89 wins and earning a Wild Card spot in 2019. They’re a group once again led by MVP-candidate Christian Yelich, as well as slugging 2B Keston Hiura and dependable CF Lorenzo Cain. Their best pitchers who are returning to action include SP Brandon Woodruff and their dynamic closer Josh Hader.

Milwaukee has never been a big spender, and this offseason they aimed to improve with lots of short-term deals. They brought in Rays OF Avisail Garcia to start in the outfield, and signed Josh Lindblom from the KBO with the hopes he can be a rotation piece. Infielders Eric Sogard, Brock Holt, and Justin Smoak were all signed to one-year deals, and they also acquired 2B Luis Urias and SP Eric Lauer in a trade with the Padres.

Unfortunately for the Brewers, this past offseason saw many big pieces leave town. C Yasmani Grandal departed for the White Sox and Mike Moustakas joined the Reds. Slugging 1B Eric Thames also had his option declined and signed with the Nationals. Pitchers Chase Anderson and Zach Davies were both traded away in separate deals, and they also lost pitchers Drew Pomeranz, Gio Gonzalez, Jordan Lyles, Jimmy Nelson, and Junior Guerra.

We have seen manager Craig Counsell work wonders with his club for the last couple of seasons, but this may be his toughest task yet. Milwaukee lost a lot of arms in their rotation and bullpen, and are therefore desperately counting on their young replacements to get the job done. The lineup should be good, but likely won’t pack as much of a punch without the departed veterans. The third straight year of postseason baseball doesn’t appear to be very likely for the Brewers.

Pick: UNDER 29.5

Pittsburgh Pirates - O/U: 24.5 wins at A1pph.com

Heading into the new year, the Pirates seem to be in a distant fifth if you were to rank the teams in the division. Pittsburgh, who won 69 games in 2019, does have some players to watch, including All-Star 1B Josh Bell. RF Gregory Polanco and LF Bryan Reynolds are also solid options, while Joe Musgrove and top prospect Mitch Keller try to keep them competitive on the mound.

The additions made by Pittsburgh were few and far between. Their biggest acquisition was a one-year, $2 million deal for D-Back CF Jarrod Dyson, who figures to get the starting nod in center. But their biggest acquisitions came in the form of new leadership, with GM Ben Cherington and manager Derek Shelton now running things in the Steel City.

The biggest loss the Pirates dealt with was the trade of All-Star OF Starling Marte, now with Arizona. Veterans Melody Cabrera and Elias Diaz also parted ways with the team, as did former starting pitcher Francisco Liriano.

It was a quiet offseason as far as roster changes go for Pittsburgh, but the loss of Marte will hurt the, in the short-term. Anything is possible in a shortened season, but the Pirates look like a clear rebuilding team who will be lucky to reach 25 wins. The betting pick would be the under here.

Pick: UNDER 24.5 at 

St. Louis Cardinals - O/U: 31.5 wins

The defending NL Central champion Cardinals have a very similar to their 91-win squad from last year. The lineup still features boppers 1B Paul Goldschmidt and SS Paul DeJong, while Cy Young candidate Jack Flaherty leads the pitching staff. Veteran C Yadier Molina, 3B Matt Carpenter, and RF Dexter Fowler are all back as well, plus pitchers Dakota Hudson and Carlos Martinez.

St. Louis kept their acquisitions fairly minor this offseason. Kwang Hyun Kim, a starting pitcher from the KBO, will compete for a spot in the rotation. They also added veteran IF Brad Miller for depth, but the Cards will be relying on young players like Dylan Carlson and Lane Thomas to be the main additions.

As far as players leaving town, the biggest was LF Marcell Ozuna. Ozuna, who was on the free agent market for a while, eventually signed a one-year deal with the Braves. OF Jose Martinez was also traded away to the Rays, and veteran SP Michael Wacha signed with the Mets.

After the last two seasons, manager Mike Shildt has found a way to get the best out of his team during the final stretches of a season. Perhaps playing a whole season in August or September will help, but if the Redbirds win, it’s because of their above-average pitching a solid lineup. With the Brewers taking a step back and the Pirates not contending, I expect the Cardinals to be competing for another division title.

Pick: OVER 31.5 

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