2017 Major League Preview: NL Central
CHICAGO CUBS
BEST-CASE SCENARIO: The core group that led the Cubs to the World Series rolls to success again, Wade Davis settles in quickly as the closer and Chicago wins 100 games and a division title with ease en route to a repeat World Series championship.
WORST-CASE SCENARIO: Jon Lester, Jake Arrieta and John Lackey decline as they move further into their 30s and Dexter Fowler and David Ross are missed more than expected in the lineup, resulting in a disappointing wild card and early playoff exit.
BIGGEST OFFSEASON ACQUISITIONS: RHP Wade Davis, OF Jon Jay, LHP Brett Anderson
BIGGEST OFFSEASON LOSSES: LHP Aroldis Chapman, OF Dexter Fowler, OF Jorge Soler, C David Ross, RHP Jason Hammel
NEXT FIRST-TIME ALL-STAR: C Willson Contreras
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
BEST-CASE SCENARIO: Adam Wainwright, Michael Wacha and Lance Lynn stay healthy to give the Cardinals one of baseball’s best rotations, Dexter Fowler and a realigned infield solves their defensive problems and St. Louis reclaims the division title.
WORST-CASE SCENARIO: The fragile pitching staff is felled by injuries throughout, with no Alex Reyes to fill in. A patchwork bullpen and still-shaky defense further undo any offensive success as the Cardinals suffer their first losing season since 2007.
BIGGEST OFFSEASON ACQUISITIONS: OF Dexter Fowler, LHP Brett Cecil
BIGGEST OFFSEASON LOSSES: OF Matt Holliday, 1B/OF Brandon Moss, LHP Jaime Garcia
NEXT FIRST-TIME ALL-STAR: OF Stephen Piscotty
PITTSBURGH PIRATES
BEST-CASE SCENARIO: An infusion of young talent such as righthanders Tyler Glasnow, Jameson Taillon and Chad Kuhl, plus rookie Josh Bell and second-year big leaguer Adam Frazier team with a strong group of established stars to propel the Pirates to a 90-win season and a playoff berth.
WORST-CASE SCENARIO: Taillon and Kuhl falter and get little help from Ivan Nova and Drew Hutchison in the rotation, plus a shaky bullpen and the continued decline of Andrew McCutchen results in another sub-.500 season.
BIGGEST OFFSEASON ACQUISITIONS: RHP Daniel Hudson, 2B Phil Gosselin
BIGGEST OFFSEASON LOSSES: UT Sean Rodriguez, OF Matt Joyce, LHP Jeff Locke
NEXT FIRST-TIME ALL-STAR: OF Gregory Polanco
CINCINNATI REDS
BEST-CASE SCENARIO: Jose Peraza, Scott Schebler and Dilson Herrera excel in their first extended playing time, while Cody Reed and Robert Stephenson fare much better their second time in the majors, helping the Reds hang around .500.
WORST-CASE SCENARIO: A bullpen that gave up an ML-worst 103 home runs last season is no better while the young kids in the lineup and on staff flop, pushing the Reds’ rebuilding timetable back as they post the worst record in the NL.
BIGGEST OFFSEASON ACQUISITIONS: RHP Scott Feldman, RHP Drew Storen, OF Desmond Jennings
BIGGEST OFFSEASON LOSSES: 2B Brandon Phillips, RHP Dan Straily
NEXT FIRST-TIME ALL-STAR: OF Billy Hamilton
MILWAUKEE BREWERS
BEST-CASE SCENARIO: The rebuild starts to pay off as Lewis Brinson, Josh Hader and Luis Ortiz reach the majors and have success, forming a strong 26-and-under core with Orlando Arcia, Jonathan Villar and Zach Davies as the Brewers push for a .500 record.
WORST-CASE SCENARIO: Both the rotation and bullpen rank among the worst in the game and the Brewers sell off at the trade deadline, with franchise icon Ryan Braun the first to go as the blowouts mount en route to a 100-loss season.
BIGGEST OFFSEASON ACQUISITIONS: 1B/OF Eric Thames, 3B Travis Shaw, RHP Neftali Feliz
BIGGEST OFFSEASON LOSSES: 1B Chris Carter, RHP Tyler Thornburg, C Martin Maldonado
NEXT FIRST-TIME ALL-STAR: 2B Jonathan Villar
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