National League Central Preview 2016

1. Chicago Cubs (2015 Finish: Third Place, 97-65 record)
This could be the Cubs year to end the over-a-century long drought of World Series titles. I'm saying could because the offense and their starting pitching is what will carry them. Offensively with the young studs of Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Kyle Schwarber, and Addison Russell. Add in the veterans they have with Jason Heyward, Dexter Fowler, Ben Zobrist, and Miguel Montero. This is one of the most exciting teams in baseball right now. Add in the solid top of the rotation they have with CY Young award winner Jake Arrieta, Jon Lester, and newcomer John Lackey with a reliable back of the rotation with Jason Hammel and Kyle Hendricks. The thing that I think sets them back is their bullpen. I'm not saying that it isn't experienced because they gained that from last year's post season run. I'm not saying Henry Rondon isn't a solid closer because he has been the last few years for them. I think the Cubs could gain something from a bit more of a veteran presence in that bullpen. They had that a bit last year with Fernando Rodney at the back end at the end of year. It could really get them over the hump and make that World Series title that much more possible. 
2. St. Louis Cardinals (2015 Finish: First Place, 100-62 record)
The Cardinals are the Cardinals. They are always going to be up at the top of this division. Doesn't matter what even if they suffer a big injury to one of their big names even in their starting pitching. They are always going to be in the playoff hunt. They always have the pitching with Adam Wainright, Jaime Garcia, Carlos Martinez, and Michael Wacha. Mike Leake is a reliable option to close out that starting rotation. Trevor Rosenthal is one of the best closers in the big leagues. Offensively, they always have a good lineup with Matt Carpenter, Matt Holiday, Matt Adams, Randal Grichuk, and Yadier Molina. The Cardinals do have some bodies out to begin the year with Jhonny Peralta, Brayan Pena and Ruben Tejada out to begin the year. So that will hurt their depth a bit, but we'll see if it affects how well they do? 
3. Pittsburgh Pirates (2015 Finish: Second Place, 98-64 record)
The Cardinals and Pirates could be a flip flop. The Pirates have some bright spots with the top of their lineup with Andrew McCutcheon, Starling Marte, Gregory Polanco, and Josh Harrison. They've lost some production with losing Pedro Alvarez to free agency, but they have a productive bat replacing him with David Freese. The rest of their lineup is projected to have John Jaso, catcher Francisco Cervelli, and Jordy Mercer. Michael Morse and former Brewers first baseman Jason Rogers are two solid bats coming off the bench. When you look at their rotation, they are solid at the top with Gerrit Cole and Francisco Liriano at the top, but it is a little uncertain at the back end, but they do have some experience possibly there with Jon Niese, Jeff Locke and Juan Nicasio. Ryan Vogelsong is another possibility there or for their bullpen. In their bullpen, Mark Melancon has been one of the best relievers in baseball over the last few years. Tony Watson and Neftali Feliz are both reliable pieces out of the bullpen. It could be another year where the top three teams in the National League Central make the playoffs. 
4. Milwaukee Brewers (2015 Finish: Fourth Place, 68-94, record)
This year is the first step of the next great Milwaukee Brewers team. It will be a tough road, but they'll have to go through a few 70 to 80 win seasons just to get back to a playoff contender.  It will pay big dividends for the future as they for the highly touted prospects like shortstop Orlando Arcia, center fielder Brett Phillips, catcher Jacob Nottingham among others to make the leap to the big leagues. In the meantime, I don't think the Brewers will have a horrible 2016 season, and by that I don't think they'll be as bad as people think. Am I saying they'll be a playoff team? No, that is a few years down the line. I do think they still have have talented pieces on this roster, even though there is a possibility that Lucroy, Braun, Garza, and some of their veteran pieces could be moved. There is still some pop in this lineup with Ryan Braun, first baseman Chris Carter, outfielder Domingo Santana, and obviously Lucroy. There is still some questions with the offense though. Can Scooter Gennett hit both lefties and righties? Who will play center field with guys like Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Shane Peterson and Keon Broxton manning though spots? How long will it take Arcia to get up to the big league club? The younger rotation they have right now has some bright spots. Both Jimmy Nelson and Taylor Jungmann showed they belong in the big leagues. Add in a healthy Wily Peralta, who had 17 wins in 2014 before the injury plagued season last year along with Matt Garza and Chase Anderson also providing some veteran leadership there. The bullpen will be interesting with the arms they have especially with Jeremy Jeffress being in the closers role for the first time in his career. 
5. Cincinnati Reds (2015 Finish: Last Place, 64-98 record)
The Cincinnati Reds are kind of in the same rebuilding phase as the Brewers, just there is a bit of a difference. The Reds look like they are in a bigger rebuild than the Brewers. It looks like a complete tear down with them trading their firearm closer in Aroldis Chapman. It also looks like they are trying to trade their franchise pieces in Brandon Phillips, Joey Votto, and Jay Bruce. Compared to the Brewers, they are doing a complete tear down. The Brewers are the opposite because they have some young talent in their minor league system already. As for the Reds, they have a young rotation with Anthony DeSclafani, who is coming off his first full year of his career. Homer Bailey is still the anchor in that rotation. J.J. Hoover could be their closer this year in his first year as a closer after only having five saves over the last five years.