by Scott Rickenbach
Thursday, Mar 28, 2024NL Central Division Preview for MLB 2024
First number is the estimated projected wins per sportsbook odds while the second number is last season’s win total. This is followed by quick information on each team that likely impacts their season.
Chicago Cubs – 84.5 projected wins. Last season 83 wins. The pickup of Shota Imanaga could be big for this rotation. I also like the managerial change to Craig Counsell. This team has some good experience on the roster too so they are built well to battle it out with the Reds and Cardinals, most likely, for the NL Central title. But this will be a tricky division with a lot of mediocrity throughout.
Cincinnati Reds – 81.5 projected wins. Last season 82 wins. One of the differences between the Reds and Cubs is that Cincinnati is a younger team and perhaps that lack of experience will hold them back a little. They also already have some injury and suspension issues entering the new season and a slower start to the season could be tough to bounce back from. Some question marks in this rotation and they have some bullpen injuries opening the season up too. I think .500-type season is likely here. The lineup just does not have enough proven guys.
Milwaukee Brewers – 77.5 projected wins. Last season 92 wins. As you can see by those numbers, big dropoff expected for Milwaukee this season. Counsell now managing the Cubs. Burnes is now pitching for the Orioles! Also Brandon Woodruff is out for the year after having surgery. He and Burnes are two key cogs now gone from this rotation. The Brewers also will be without their closer Devin Williams for the first half of the season most likely. All these pitching issues and playing in a competitive division where it seems any team could win it. This is going to be a tough year for Milwaukee.
Pittsburgh Pirates – 75.5 projected wins. Last season 76 wins. Pirates are projected to have a season similar to last year. Pittsburgh could surprise though, at least in terms of this division. They have a decent looking lineup and could be a decent hitting team this season if healthy. I am concerned about this pitching rotation here and this could be a team to keep an eye on for overs. However, though the rotation is a concern, this is a solid bullpen including a top closer in David Bednar plus Arnoldis Chapman as the set-up man!
St Louis Cardinals – 84.5 projected wins. Last season 71 wins. This lineup looks quite solid and there is a reason the books are forecasting improvement here. St Louis should have been better last season but had some strange metrics to their season and the ball should bounce their way more in 2024. Sonny Gray should be back in mid-April to lead this rotation and they have Mikolas but other guys are question marks including what do Lyles and Gibson still have left in the tank? The bullpen has a lot of changes too and overall the pitching struggled last season which is uncharacteristic for St Louis. But again it is a concern this season. This could be another team to keep an eye on for overs during this season.
First number is the estimated projected wins per sportsbook odds while the second number is last season’s win total. This is followed by quick information on each team that likely impacts their season.
Chicago Cubs – 84.5 projected wins. Last season 83 wins. The pickup of Shota Imanaga could be big for this rotation. I also like the managerial change to Craig Counsell. This team has some good experience on the roster too so they are built well to battle it out with the Reds and Cardinals, most likely, for the NL Central title. But this will be a tricky division with a lot of mediocrity throughout.
Cincinnati Reds – 81.5 projected wins. Last season 82 wins. One of the differences between the Reds and Cubs is that Cincinnati is a younger team and perhaps that lack of experience will hold them back a little. They also already have some injury and suspension issues entering the new season and a slower start to the season could be tough to bounce back from. Some question marks in this rotation and they have some bullpen injuries opening the season up too. I think .500-type season is likely here. The lineup just does not have enough proven guys.
Milwaukee Brewers – 77.5 projected wins. Last season 92 wins. As you can see by those numbers, big dropoff expected for Milwaukee this season. Counsell now managing the Cubs. Burnes is now pitching for the Orioles! Also Brandon Woodruff is out for the year after having surgery. He and Burnes are two key cogs now gone from this rotation. The Brewers also will be without their closer Devin Williams for the first half of the season most likely. All these pitching issues and playing in a competitive division where it seems any team could win it. This is going to be a tough year for Milwaukee.
Pittsburgh Pirates – 75.5 projected wins. Last season 76 wins. Pirates are projected to have a season similar to last year. Pittsburgh could surprise though, at least in terms of this division. They have a decent looking lineup and could be a decent hitting team this season if healthy. I am concerned about this pitching rotation here and this could be a team to keep an eye on for overs. However, though the rotation is a concern, this is a solid bullpen including a top closer in David Bednar plus Arnoldis Chapman as the set-up man!
St Louis Cardinals – 84.5 projected wins. Last season 71 wins. This lineup looks quite solid and there is a reason the books are forecasting improvement here. St Louis should have been better last season but had some strange metrics to their season and the ball should bounce their way more in 2024. Sonny Gray should be back in mid-April to lead this rotation and they have Mikolas but other guys are question marks including what do Lyles and Gibson still have left in the tank? The bullpen has a lot of changes too and overall the pitching struggled last season which is uncharacteristic for St Louis. But again it is a concern this season. This could be another team to keep an eye on for overs during this season.
