Locked On Cardinals - Daily Podcast On The St. Louis Cardinals - EXPOSED: Chicago Cubs Labeled “Favored” to Win NL Central-Brewers, Reds, and Pirates DISAGREE

Starting point is 00:00:00 The Milwaukee Brewers will not. I repeat, will not win the NL Central for a fourth straight season, right? Right? It's time for the National League's Central season preview. Baseball is back. The Locked-on Podcast Network presents the MLB Season preview. All the biggest storylines and breakout stars for all 30 teams. Will the champs repeat or will another team shock the league?

Starting point is 00:00:23 From the experts at the Locked-on Podcast Network, it's your team every day. This episode is brought to you by MLB the show 26. Visit MLB the dot show slash locked on and use code locked on, L-C-K-E-D-O-N, to unlock a pack for use in Diamond Dynasty. Available now on PlayStation 5 Xbox and Nintendo Switch rated E for everyone. And welcome in to the NL Central Season preview. My name is J.D. Haffer and host of the 12-time Central Division champion and 11-time World Champion Locked on Cardinals podcast, likely the only time I will

Starting point is 00:01:00 to brag about anything on this episode. So I apologize for nothing to any of you. We are joined in order of the standings from last year, because it's only right. First, we've got Chuck from the reigning division champion Lockdown Brewers podcast, Sam from Locked on Cubs, Jeff from Locked on Reds and Gary from Locked on Pirates, the NL Central 2026 season preview being brought to you by Fandle. Right now, new Fandall customers can get $150 in bonus bets if your first $5 bet wins. Today we're going to get through a line. We're going to be deciding which team could make a splash. Who's going to be trash?

Starting point is 00:01:33 The offseason move that changes a team's trajectory. And we're going to start with the ending. That's right. Who wins the division? That's what we want to know. So we jump over to Fandall. We go and we look at what the favorites are in this one. And this is how Fandul's got it rolled out.

Starting point is 00:01:49 Cubs are favored to win the division. Then it goes to Milwaukee, followed by the Reds, then the Pirates, and then the Cardinals. Now, Chuck, we're going to start with you, since you guys have won this thing the last few years. Is this disrespect to your three-time defending champion Brewers, or do you think someone else is actually going to win this division in 2026? It was disrespect how we started off this podcast.

Starting point is 00:02:13 You say somebody else is going to win the division. JD, I thought we were buddies. Jeez. We're still cool, man. I'm going to be in last place. Don't worry about what I say. No, you know what, the Brewers have never picked to win the division. They're not.

Starting point is 00:02:26 I get that. And because they keep losing an all-star. or a star player every year, whether it's Adamas or Corbyn Burns or Devin Williams. And this past year, Freddie Peralta, their ace. So they keep losing, but this young team keeps growing with its young players and losing players and filling in the holes. So, yeah, they might have lost. But, again, three-time division champs, Murphy, manager of the year, two years in a row. I'm not saying he's going to win three years in a row.

Starting point is 00:02:52 But I got to pick the Brewers to win the NL Central, guys. Okay. I feel like they've got the Cubs. Fandall's got the Cubs winning this one, right or wrong? Are you still into Milwaukee taking this thing until somebody beats them? Well, I feel like this is like the third straight year. We've all been doing this. And I say the same thing.

Starting point is 00:03:12 You know, the Cubs, the Cubs, they made a big splash. The guy, guy like Bregman, on paper, they should win the division. But I think last year was the first year where I really started to shift. And, you know, the Cubs won 92 baseball games last year. I think all of us would have said that would have been good enough to win the division. Sometimes you've got to tip your cap. And I think, you know, in boxing, we always use the term pound for pound in baseball. I like to use it dollar for dollar, right?

Starting point is 00:03:38 Brewer's dollar for dollar are as good of any organization in the sport. And for them to win 97 games last year and have 80 billion win streaks and everything they did, I think it is a little disrespect, the margin the Cubs are favored by. But at the same time, I'm still picking the Cubs because, I think they have to win the division this year with the team that Dave's assembled. Now, three of our teams in this division made the playoffs last year, Jeff, your Reds. They were there too. What do you think?

Starting point is 00:04:07 What do you think? I mean, do you feel like you guys are getting disrespected by not being mentioned at the top with the Cubs and the Brewers? I don't think it's disrespect. I think it's an overreaction to the Hunter Green injury, which we still don't know the full extent of. It's not been said that he's out for the rest of the season yet. albeit there's definitely concern for that because when you talk about elbow stiffness and pitchers, that usually doesn't follow with. He's pitching tomorrow. But when it comes to the NL Central, the brewers are innocent until proven guilty, right? Like I think you can win in December,

Starting point is 00:04:41 but that doesn't mean you're going to win in September because the brewers haven't won December or January or November or anything like that for the last like three years, four years, five years, whatever it is. And they're still at the top of this division. because they're just able to churn through talent through their minor leagues. They've got a great farm system, a great organizational setup. And then whatever happened, whenever the Cardinals just said, hey, Mike Schilt wasn't good enough, they relinquish their devil magic to Milwaukee. And now Milwaukee's got it.

Starting point is 00:05:12 And there's just something that everyone else here in the division, I don't know if we got to get together and light some candles or something, get rid of this thing. But as it stands right now, it seems like whatever happens in the off season, and there's still that cloud hanging over. Well, Milwaukee knows how to win with guys like us on the field as opposed to, you know, 50, 60 million-dollar guys. Gary, what do you think?

Starting point is 00:05:37 Pirates made some pretty cool moves this offseason, and people are excited in Pittsburgh about what you guys have to offer. But are they a team that's going to be up there near the top of the division or do you think it's still Milwaukee's to lose? I'll have to say Milwaukee, Milwaukee until they prove me otherwise. they just seem to push the right buttons. And I mean, they have enough of a returning cast this time that I don't think they're going to sneak up the way they have the last couple years. It looks better on paper because we know some of these guys now.

Starting point is 00:06:10 Peralta is a huge loss, but I still have to put them there. The Cubs, Sam's right. On paper, yeah, they really should. But I felt that way a couple times now. And the pirates earned their place in these things. I mean, to see everything they did this offseason and have the betting odds think they're going to win two more games than last year is kind of silly to me. But, you know, I'm not going to predict the division. I don't think I deserve that yet.

Starting point is 00:06:40 No, you deserve it. You're in the division, man. You got to pick it. So you're going to go in Milwaukee? Yep. All right. Milwaukee, it is. I find all of your answer is incredibly boring.

Starting point is 00:06:49 You guys all picked Milwaukee. So I did not. I did not. I picked my team. Oh, you did say the Cubs. I thought you said it was Milwaukee's until it was over. No, no, I said I still got to, I still, I got to respect what they're doing, but I got to take the Cubs. Okay.

Starting point is 00:07:04 All right. Well, I'm actually rolling with the Cubs. I'm impressed not so much by the Bragman move, but it's the, the refurbishing of the bullpen. I really like the moves that the Cubs made there. Cabrera obviously could be huge if he's the guy that they thought he was going to be in Miami at some point. And Kate Ordon's all. awesome. Like I just, I'm very impressed with a lot of the little things that they did other than the Bregman move. So I'll go with the Cubs this year. I apologize to you Cardinals fans that are listening because you can't believe I just said that. All right. Fan do over underwin totals. Let's get into this. Cubs, 88 and a half. Brewers at 84 and a half. Reds 80 and a half. Pirates 78 and a half, which is something you alluded to, Gary. And then the Cardinals at 69 and a half. All right. Very nice.

Starting point is 00:07:53 Let's start with your Cubs there. Sammy, 88.5. Good or bad, 88.5. I think it's the right number. I think it's the right number. I don't want to step on anyone's toes, but to me, the 84 and a half of the Brewers, which was 83 and a half was the number that stood out to me.

Starting point is 00:08:11 That's 15, 14 less wins than last year. Cubs 88 to half sounds right. I feel a little bit like what Gary said about the pirates, where it's like, I get it. We lost Tucker, at Bregman. The goal is for that to be like a like for like offensively. You add a guy like Edward Cabrero like you said and then you're going to win for less games. I hope that's not the case. But I think it's a right number. And I think they'll be right around high 80s,

Starting point is 00:08:37 low 90s. Looking at the numbers here, I think the Reds 80 and a half might be the most shocking number. I don't think anybody is shocked by the Cardinals being where they are. Gary, you mentioned the 78 and a half. You think the Pirates are going to be better by 80 and a half for the Reds. Jeff, what do you think of that? They're smashing the over. I'm smashing the over. They're at 82 and a half before Hunter Green talked about foreign bodies in his elbow and the fact that his UCL is fine. But I believe that they will smash the over on this. I got them at 83, 84 and they've got the chance to really close their eyes and go really, go really hard and maybe even win a few more if they get lucky in some areas.

Starting point is 00:09:16 But I honestly think when you look at the overunders on all of these teams, I've got over on everybody, but they're, Cubs. I think the Cubs win 88 games. I think that you go over on the brewers. I think you go over on the Reds, over on the Pirates, and over on the Cardinals. This division is going to be a lot of fun this year. Because I think that the top four teams are going to be like within five games of each other. You know, Jeff still has not sent me my postcard for the Cubs going into Cincinnati at the end of the year and completely mailing it in. And getting a four game sweep and getting those red legs into the postseason. And now he's taking the under on the Cubs. I just I don't I heard it's a 70 and a half Gary you mentioned that you feel that's pretty low um I didn't expect it to be better than 500 listen I think that's kind of but I think they've they've earned a 500 as as where you would start I think that's what this team is on paper I think they can outperform that but uh the the lineup solid they've got maybe two spots that

Starting point is 00:10:20 you might think are a little weak. But other than that, just about everybody can hit home runs. I can't say that last year. It's just a completely different team. It has improved offensively, dramatically. Might have taken a little bit of a hit defensively. Yeah. Yeah, O'Neill Cruz has been amazing in the spring so far.

Starting point is 00:10:42 And then obviously kind of Griffin, somebody that I wonder if that will move the needle a little bit, as far as the wind total goes, if they decide to have him on the team early on. Brewer's 84 and a half. Are we really going from 97 to 84 because of Freddie Peralta? Chuck makes sense of it. It's like this every year.

Starting point is 00:11:01 The Brewers have a low win total. And I feel like even like seven of the last eight years since they've, and they've made the postseason of seven of those eight. They always go over this projected total. Usually like by mid-September, you're sitting back and you're looking at the ticket and say, man, what, they were 80 and a half a cup like last year, well over. There's no doubt about it. When they were six and a half behind the Cubs at one point last year in June, the Brewers were plus 1,600 to win the NL Central rallied to get the job done there.

Starting point is 00:11:33 A massive underdog right there. So I think over. And in fact, I think all, everybody in the division, I think is going to go over the totals. And I could see three teams again from this division. You know, the Brewers won 97 games last year, but finished only five games ahead of the Cucson. The Brewers at 1.140 or 50, and you would have guessed, it seemed like they won every game last year. Still, they were only five games ahead of the Cubs.

Starting point is 00:11:58 So this is going to be a great run. This is going to be a great division. I mean, I think there's never like, I've always said that. I think there's never a night off in this division. That's a good segue into our next thing here, which is what do we think playoff team wise in this division? Do we think three get in? What do we think playoff team wise in this division?

Starting point is 00:12:18 Do we think three get in once again this year? What do you think, Jeff? I think two get in. I just think that the wild card, it missed the Atlanta Braves last year. I can't imagine that the Mets are going to do what they did last year again. Like if they do, I think that Steve Cohen's got to sell and they got to move. But when it comes to the Braves,

Starting point is 00:12:43 that's the one team that I think that was out of the equation last year, that will be in the middle of it, they could knock the Phillies down to be a wildcard team and the Braves could win that division. And then you're talking about the Phillies, Braves, most likely the Cubs, Brewers, Reds, whoever's not up ahead of that one and the pirates. And then you've also got what's the giants,

Starting point is 00:13:08 what's the Diamondbacks, what's the Padres? I have a hard time saying that all three NL Central teams that made the playoffs last year will do this. or that the pirates will jump in there. So I'm going to be conservative. I'm going to say two, you know, central teams make the players this year. Now, Gary, what do you think? Two, three, one.

Starting point is 00:13:26 What do you think? I'm going to go with two. And I think it's going to be depth related. I think Milwaukee and the pirates are probably deeper than the other teams, honestly, including the Cubs. I think they have some kids, but kids they won't want to dip into. And if their pitching isn't good, if Cabrera isn't good, or tie-on hits the wall or whatever,

Starting point is 00:13:51 they don't have an awful lot coming behind that. I think the Pirates got waves coming. I think Milwaukee has waves coming. Reds did. They just took a big dent. But I think three teams, I really do. This is going to be one of the strongest divisions in baseball, I think. Yeah, I agree with that.

Starting point is 00:14:10 Sam, what do you think? Two or three? Yeah, I probably more agree with Jeff. There's just so much talent. in the National League. I'd probably say two. I just, you know, you got to remember the Braves and Mets didn't make it last year. I feel like one of those teams is going to make it. I never count out AJ Preller and the Padres from being relevant. They're always there. I mean, that was that Cubs Padre series, that was a real dog fight last year. Obviously, the Dodgers are a lock. So I probably

Starting point is 00:14:39 say too. I mean, I like, I like the upside of the pirates. I think they're going to to be good. I think, you know, we'll probably talk about some players here soon. So I'll, save my O'Neill Cruz thing for that. But, yeah, I'll say two. All right, all right. I got two as well. Yeah, I think things are a little bit tighter in the east and in the west. And I don't know which two were going to make it. I think I would, if I had to say, if I had to pick now, which is what we're doing, we're preview. And I'm going to go ahead and give it to Chicago and the Reds just because of the pitching staff. We don't know about Hunter Green, obviously. But I just think they're pitching.

Starting point is 00:15:16 staffs are pretty darn good. And for now, for now, until Milwaukee is going on. You hate the brewer. What's the deal? You hate the brewers. I don't have a lot of respect for him, but eventually it's got to dry up, right? It's got to dry. Well, you know what? Coming up, we've got the offseason moves that changed the team's trajectory for 2026. This is the NL Central Division MLB season preview. Today I'm thrilled to be talking about our sponsor, MLB the show, 26. The Greatest Game of Base. baseball, it is back with its newest installment. I haven't been able to put down my controller since I got it. I love Diamond Dynasty. It's my favorite because you can build

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Starting point is 00:17:49 purchase terms apply again create an account redeem code l-c-k-ed-o-n for $20 off download the game time map today we're going to talk about the best players in the division now we've talked about how much talent is here in this division we know there's a load of it both offensively and pitching wise but have you had to select who you thought was the best player overall in the division one ring to rule them all who would it be let's start with gary from pittsburg who's got a lot of talent over there. What do you think, Gary? Who's the best player? Paul Skeens. Period.

Starting point is 00:18:27 I don't think that I don't think that I could even play games with anybody else. Yeah, I agree. Yeah, Paul Skeens. Is it true that he's got that pole where he didn't want mccutche on the team? Is that what I hear?

Starting point is 00:18:43 That's what I'm hearing, man. And I don't think it was about like him, the person as much as I think you can improve more than that. I heard those, they did get rid of the old and bring in the new. Like they were, the past. It was,

Starting point is 00:18:58 it was a polite way of saying basically, uh, let's look forward. Yeah. I got to go with skeins. I think pitching wise it's skeins. I think position wise it's Ellie. I think Ellie finished the year in a way that a lot of folks would say, okay, it's not, he's not the best position player in this division.

Starting point is 00:19:18 that's because he had one leg and a quad injury for August and September. He was on pace at the end of July to finish the season with 28 bombs, 106 RBIs and 47 steals. I still think that he's got 50 steel, 30 homer potential this season. I wouldn't be shocked if he went 30 60. And I think that he's added the kind of muscle mass and the way that he looks at the spring training that I can buy into him doing whatever and not surprising me when it comes to taking that step forward. I think it's Ellie to Cruz outside of Paul

Starting point is 00:19:53 Skeens. Yeah, and I respect Paul Skeens. I'm always that guy, though, that thinks about the guy who's playing the most games. And I know, you know, Skeens is going to get his 30 plus starts this year, barring any sort of weird injury, which we're not hoping for by any means. But Ellie is out there 155 games, possibly this year. That's what we want. We don't want to 162. He did the 162. I don't want to do that again. I don't want to do that again. And Tito decides to let him rest this year. Yeah, the sky's the limit there. And I also love what I saw from PCA last year.

Starting point is 00:20:26 I don't know how many times I was hitting up Sam going, there he is, man. I kind of told you. He was kind of a sexy fix this year. You did. And I just enjoy the combination of speed and power, which both those guys have and, you know, the enthusiasm for the game that Ellie's got as well.

Starting point is 00:20:42 So I'm going to go with an everyday player. So I'm picking Ellie on this way. despite the defense being as subpar as it's been so far at the shortstop position. All right, let's talk offseason moves, boys. Biggest offseason move in the division, not necessarily just for your team, but in the division, Chuck, we'll start with you. What do you got? Well, I got two, I think, and was done by the Cubs and the Reds,

Starting point is 00:21:07 but I'm going to go with Bregman going to Chicago. I think that was a big move. I know they spent some money on him, and I think filling that third base spot with Breggman. I thought they might do that a few years ago go that direction. But I was kind of hoping he wasn't going to go to the Cubs just like I was kind of hoping Swares was not going to the Reds. I think those were two great offseason pickups from both of those teams. Sam, what do you think? Is it Breggman or is there something else you got up your sleeve? No, I think it's Breggman. I mean, I think there's a few. I mean, there's a lot of things that the pirates did that just

Starting point is 00:21:41 made me go, okay, they're taking it a little bit more seriously. But I think in terms of like the impact of winning the division, it's probably has to be Bregman. And in terms of impacting the Cubs, having a Eugenio Suarez back in the division is not something I was very happy to see. I think we can all agree with that one. Jeff, you love the Geno move. It was good to have him back, I'm sure. Very happy to see him. Very surprised that it happened because I was expecting them.

Starting point is 00:22:12 Honestly, they signed Nathaniel Lowe on a. minor league deal with spring training in a event i thought that was going to be their move that they were going to be like yeah we got them we'll put them in the middle line up we'll be fine because that's what this team has done for the better part of my lifetime and try to sell us on that being the impactful move and i think for me that's why i pick gino over bregman if you compare them in a vacuum bregman is the better player but bregman replaces tucker gino replaces gavin lucks right And Gavin Lux was a negative war player last year. Like the Reds basically took a vacuum and filled it with somebody that can actually make a difference.

Starting point is 00:22:55 And for me, that's, that's the one move. I think the biggest argument here is, is the one move enough to outweigh the myriad of moves that Pittsburgh may. Because I think Pittsburgh had the best quantity off season, whereas you had great quality with Bregman and Cabrera in Chicago and Gino. and the bullpen renaissance that the Reds decided to undergo this off season as well. But I think that when you compare Gino and Bregman, I give the edge to Gino simply because of what the alternative was. And then, Gary, you've got, you know, obviously the big trade with Tampa Bay for your pirates, which was obviously a huge thing for what you guys going on.

Starting point is 00:23:38 But was it, was it bigger than what we're talking about here when it comes to Gino and Bragman? I think so. But first, I got to say how ridiculous it is to put Gino in that conversation. I'm sorry. Oh, I love it, baby. You know, I personally texted you how much I did not want the pirates to get him. I feared it. I just thought it was a terrible move, right? Power.

Starting point is 00:23:59 That was pre-price. I was so cheap, though. In reality, I probably think it's Bregman, but I will say Ben Charington's move, one player sending out Mike Burroughs, who I think is going to be a fantastic pitcher. But he's probably a fourth or fifth this year. He can grow, but that's where he is. And they got Mason Montgomery, Brandon Lau, and Jake Mangum.

Starting point is 00:24:24 And all three of them are going to be big contributors this year. Jake Mangum is going to be the new guy that everyone in this division hates the way I hated Colton Wong for years. Oh, I was not expecting to hear that name today. Oof. What was the odds I had fando for a Colton Wong mention in a 2026 in El Central preview show? I don't know I was on a podcast because he's my example for player I can't stand.

Starting point is 00:24:52 Yeah, I'll be honest with you, Jake Mangum, I was so upset that you guys were able to get him. I thought that was going to be some cheap move that maybe my cardinals could maybe pull out, but it did not happen, but he was excellent in Tampa Bay last year. Like he said, he's going to be a guy that's just going to be a nuisance this year. And I think people are going to hate him. Pittsburgh's going to love him. I do like it. Here's the only thing that I'll say over Gino as the,

Starting point is 00:25:16 the number one move is just because he's been there, done that before with the Reds before. And he's a huge boost to that clubhouse as well. I don't know, Alex Breggman. I don't know how well he's, he's, you know, goes along with people inside the other clubhouses. He's been on, haven't heard he's any problem. But I do know that the Reds absolutely love a E. Uhaniosaurus. So I think that's going to be a monster boost for them coming up in 2026.

Starting point is 00:25:43 How about work? of it. Well, before you do that, let me ask you this. What, where do you rate the Cardinals actually picking a direction? Because it feels like they finally picked a direction, right? We're thrilled with it. I'll speak for the entire fan base. We are thrilled with it. We know that this is not going to be a whole lot of fun as far as win totals, but we're excited that they finally picked a direction. And they were hoping this would happen last year.

Starting point is 00:26:09 And they just, nobody would get traded. They wouldn't leave. Sunny Gray wouldn't leave, Arnado wouldn't leave, and they had to waste an entire year of rebuilding and retooling to get to where they are this year. So I'm excited for the youth that they've gotten. I liked all the moves that they made as far as the amount of talent they were able to get in return. Obviously, the Aronado guy, nobody's even heard of them. That just was a salary dump. But on the other ones, they were really good. They were able to reboot and rebuild that farm system, which,

Starting point is 00:26:43 you know, was kind of back half of Major League Baseball the last few years. And now they're sitting up in the top five in a lot of people's ranking. So job well done. I'm Bloom. All right. Worst offseason moves this year. As far as the Cardinals go, I don't know if you can count any of them as bad moves. They were just going in a direction and getting rid of salary and trying to go young again.

Starting point is 00:27:08 So you can make fun of them all you want. But are there any other moves in the division? besides the Cardinals just giving up on 2026 already that stand out to you guys. Well, I think the big loss on paper would be Freddie Peralta. But I just think the brewers are, I think the brewers are disqualified from making any bad moves. I mean, they do this every year and every year they win. Didn't understand their trade with Boston either with.

Starting point is 00:27:43 the third base that's yeah i was going to bring up you know yeah durbin right right right durbin it looks to be a favorite was a favorite of murphy pat murphy the manager was stunned that j they traded durbin stunned because he fits the mold of what murphy wants hard nose put your face in the dirt and an improving player was up for rookie of the year uh last year in the top four and the brewers obviously saw something in him where hey you know what this is the as good as this guy is going to get. Let's deal them while the stock is high. We'll trade the Boston.

Starting point is 00:28:17 They got Harrison. He's really going to be solid in their rotation. So, but I just, if he goes on Durbin to be, you know, like a five-time all-star, that's going to draw out just horrible trade. But it could, if he does, if he just plateaued this year, then it would turn out to be a great trade. We'll see how those guys. Now, one thing I text with you, Chuck, was when the Peralta trade was made.

Starting point is 00:28:39 And I was like, ooh, you guys got Jet Williams. That's not bad. got a bunch of these little infielders. And then the next trade went and then it didn't seem so bad, did it? Well, like their top prospects, their farm system, their top four guys were all like five, seven

Starting point is 00:28:55 middle infielers. One guy is six one and that's my day. But even on this team, they corner the market on guys who are 5-7, 5-6, 5-8 and all that. I don't know what it is, but that's who fits into their organization.

Starting point is 00:29:11 Hard-nosed guys who are going to go out there, and do whatever it takes to win. That's who, you know, guys who overachievers. Bryce Terang, who's a first round draft pick, he's one of those guys. He's 5-9 or so, 5-8, listed at 6-0. He's not 6-0. But he's going to go out there and give it them all. They like those hard-working over-achiever type guys.

Starting point is 00:29:35 I feel like I need some salt to throw in my shoulder, just calling out the Brewers. So I got a fire sauce packet from Taco Bell. We're going to do that and try and go. get rid of the bad juju you call out the brewers it feels like you're just opening yourself up for some craziness here but it's like on paper that was the one thing whenever it said caleb durbin to boston i'm like why what kind of a move was that that was a weird one but it feels like the brewers are going to be that team that in three years none of the guys that are currently on the field for them are going to be on the field for them and yet they're

Starting point is 00:30:05 still going to be one of the teams that are favored to win this division they seem to understand how to turn over talent the way that the Tampa bay raised it I mean, I hear it every day when the Brewers put up their lineup and the fans will be on Twitter just going crazy. Oh, here we are. You know, we're not going for the sweep once again. Durbin batting cleanup. This guy not in the lineup, the Brewers are missing five starters. And here at the end of the day, they win seven to one.

Starting point is 00:30:28 So it's just amazing how, like you said, the magic that they have, their carpet ride is just unbelievable. Every year I think, okay, is it going to run out this year? But it does seem to run out in October, but not during the regular season. Very true. All right. Well, coming up, we're going to talk about which team could make a splash or be trash. And also, is anybody manager-wise on the hot seat in the division? This is the NL Central 2026 MLB season preview. Workplace chaos, deadlines, stacking up, inbox overflowing in the one position you have to fill is still sitting open. When the pressure is on and you need the right hire, this is a job for sponsored jobs. need-sponsored jobs helps you reach the people who actually fit what you're looking for. They've got the right skills, the experience, the right location, so that you're not just hoping that the right candidates stumbles across your post. And here's a stat that says it all in the

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Starting point is 00:33:24 We've got all five members of the Lockdown MLB Central podcast with us. Do we fear any of our teams in this division because we're expected most of you guys are going to be good this year. Is there any fear that something drastic happens and you fall from where fan duels got you guys as far as wind totals go? No.

Starting point is 00:33:44 I don't have that fear here. I think we have duplication of efforts all around the diamond and in the starting rotation. Our AAA team looks like they should win the international division. They really should. They should win AAA. It's going to be a bomb unit. Probably three or four guys that could probably start on major league teams right now. We'll start in that AAA team in the rotation.

Starting point is 00:34:12 And I just think, truthfully, it's going to be a war of attrition and the pirates are poised to do it. And they have enough tradable assets still that they can add if they want to. Jeff, the Hunter Green injury is something that's obviously on the minds of all Reds fans. And are you afraid that more injuries to somebody like a Lodola, who's suffered with some problems as well? Is that going to take you guys? If Ellie plays on one leg again, are you guys in big trouble? I think that they're uniquely positioned to weather more storms in the rotation, albeit not a ton of storms, but I think there's seven or eight deep in the rotation.

Starting point is 00:34:53 The question will be, how does the top end of the bullpen really follow up last year? Tony Santhian was one game away from literally pitching every other day. And I'm pretty sure there were a couple of games that he actually warmed up in the bullpen that he didn't pitch in. And so he pretty much pitched every other day last year. How does that arm hold up this year? There's a little bit of mechanical tweaks that are being reported out of spring training for him that could help him out in the long run.

Starting point is 00:35:22 And obviously the moves that they made, bringing in Pierce Johnson, Caleb Ferguson, Brock Burke, those guys are going to help him out to where he doesn't have to pitch every other day. But the top end of the bullpen, it kind of feels like could fall apart. And then you've really got to see some guys step up that we're worried about. guys like Zach Maxwell, Luis May, Connor Phillips that have high-end stuff and very questionable control. We all know what happens. You have questionable control out of the bullpen. So the bullpen, the bullpen's fragility worries me. And then the lineup itself just needs to realize who they are

Starting point is 00:36:00 and not try to do too much. If they continue to do too much, if Noel V. Marté tries to hit 50 bombs, if Matt McLean tries to hit 50 bombs, then we're going to have trouble. But looks like early on, they're not doing that. So if they can translate that, I think it's going to happen. I think they're probably the team that has the widest range of outcomes. I can see the Reds winning the division and I could see them finishing fourth. I don't know that I could say that about any of the other teams outside of the Cardinals, although their variation is they're either fifth or their fifth. So that's not really much of a variation. No, it's not. Sam, you guys played without steel last year and everybody thought,

Starting point is 00:36:36 oh, oh, they're in trouble. And you guys were able to weather that storm. Any fear that something drastic could happen that would send you guys down a little bit? Yeah, I mean, I could see us if it really were to go poorly, be in like the mid-80s, but I don't see anything worse than that. To me, the way I would look at this division,

Starting point is 00:36:55 honestly, if I had to over, over-simplify it, if it was like one of those exercises, like in five sentences, summarize the central, it'd be Cubs Brewers at the top. And for Pittsburgh and Cincinnati, assuming health, right? Obviously, you can't have anything happen to Skeens. Can O'Neill Cruz become a major league, actual, like, everyday stud? I mean, the body language stuff is, I had it by my fantasy team last year.

Starting point is 00:37:23 It was a nightmare. And then can Ellie figure out how to consistently hit from the right side? I mean, if O'Neill Cruz takes a couple steps up with all the talent, have and Ellie is the same guy on both sides of the plate. Now you could be talking about a four team actual race. But I think the Cubs and Brewers, I don't see either team being like less than 84, 85 wins. That's that's my take.

Starting point is 00:37:48 Last year, Chuck, Quinn Priester came out of nowhere, former Pirates farmhand, but kind of came out of nowhere with this amazing streak of winning games and whatnot. I was able to plug a hole where, you know, Brandon Woodruff was out. Where are you guys at starting rotation? this year and is that something that's kind of the Achilles heel now that you moved on from Peralta that could drop you down from where we saw you in the 90 wins to 84 where Fandals got you.

Starting point is 00:38:15 Yeah, I don't think they're going to win 97, but I still think they're going to get over 84. But this rotation is going to be one of the youngest rotations in baseball, other than Woodruff, who's coming back, didn't finish the season last year because of a ladd injury and he's had a history of shoulder injuries, but he's going to be at the top of the rotation. He may not be the opening day starter because of that. He's still going through. Priesters got a wrist injury. He might not be in the opening day rotation.

Starting point is 00:38:42 So other than that, there's young guys. We saw what Mizorowski can do. Sprout they got in a trade. They really love him. Harrison could be the lefty out of the end of starting rotation. If the rotation doesn't hold its own. Now, the brewers in the past have been rock solid. And I think that's something that small markets,

Starting point is 00:39:00 usually sometimes you don't see that. the small market pitching, it takes money to buy some of these pitchers. And the brewers leave their pitchers, their great pitchers go and they try developing and it's been working. Can they keep it going pitching-wise? And can the Freelix, the Terangs, and the Cheerios keep getting better every year? Another X-Factor, Yelich is 34 years old. In the twilight of his career, can he continue to produce?

Starting point is 00:39:27 At 29 home runs, 103 RBIs last year, can he continue to produce in the heart of the order. Those things hold up. Yeah, they can win the division. But like I said at the top, the margin of error for these guys every day is very small. You got to go out there and they got to play with a high baseball IQ, which they really have. All right. wrapping things up here with bold predictions. I don't know how everybody's turned out last year. I had Wilson Contreras leading all first baseman in the division hitting wise. That didn't happen. That didn't work out. So well, he wasn't terrible, but he didn't come anywhere. close to doing all of the things that things like Bush did.

Starting point is 00:40:05 Pretty darn good. Bold prediction. I'll start with mine and we'll go around the horn here. I'm going to go with J.J. Weatherholt winning the NL. Rookie of the Year award because I don't know if Connor Griffin's going to be up early enough to take it from him, but he definitely could because that man is impressive.

Starting point is 00:40:21 But I'll go with J.J. Weatherholt's been a prospect that, you know, has only been in the miners for one full season. And he was incredible last year. he's just got this very veteran makeup about him. He doesn't act like a rookie. He doesn't go about his business like a rookie. And I don't think the Cardinals have really had any expectations for a rookie like this since the late Oscar Tavares. So he could really be something special.

Starting point is 00:40:45 So I'll go with J.J. Weatherholt. If it's not him, I'll say Dustin May makes over 25 starts. That's pretty freaking bold. Oh, bold, bold, bold. I'm going to go bold too. And it's rookie of the year oriented as well. I'm going to say Connor Griffin and Baba Chandler both finishing the top three for rookie of the year. And I think Weatherhole would be that third.

Starting point is 00:41:09 My bowl is, you guys kind of touched on it. O'Neill Cruz, I saw him in the batting cage last year, and the ball was making a violent noise off his bat. I mean, he was putting rockets into the upper deck during batting practice. The game showed up and the show was over. And I'm like, God, this guy. as you know, Gary, and we all seen him, he's a physical specimen. How is this guy not been able to put it together? I think if he does, and if he does, he could be just amazing.

Starting point is 00:41:42 But, man, watching him take BP last year, and then, like I said, the show started and it was lights out. But he could be, I'm going to make that prediction right now. I think O'Neill could take it to the next level. I think he could too. And since Sam mentioned him, too, I'm just going to tell you. both. The kid literally hired himself a left-handed pitcher to live with him all offseason. I saw that on Twitter.

Starting point is 00:42:11 Quick, O'Neo Cruz anecdote from me. I was at a Cubs Pirates game two years ago with my mom. And O'Neill Cruz hit up. It should have been a long home run, but the wind was howling in at Wrigley, what knew? And, but as she was, he hit the ball as she was walking back to her seat. and the sound was so violent, she, like, docked and dropped everything, all the stuff that she had. That's how loud it was. I'm not joking. Sorry, real quick, my bold prediction.

Starting point is 00:42:39 This is kind of like maybe like a little Cubs nerdy, but last year Carson Kelly had like a really big year for the Cubs for most of the year. I think Miguel Amaya actually takes the catcher spot and runs with it by, I would say, June, Julyish. L.A. de la Cruz, top three MVP finish. I think that between the one leg being hurt and his inconsistencies with his glove, he cleans that up and he has two legs at the end of the season. I think he's going to be top three in the MVP.

Starting point is 00:43:11 I have a hard time saying he's going to beat out Joe Houtani. I don't know who does. I don't know that anyone can, but I think that he finishes in the top three. That's a mic drive right there. So those are our bold predictions. And if you guys have any that you would like to add, make sure you hit us up in the comments section down below. Give us your thoughts on everything we've discussed.

Starting point is 00:43:29 here about the NL Central. Do you agree or disagree with some of the takes that we had here today? Let us know for all the division previews for the 2026 MLB season preview. Make sure you guys subscribe to Locked on MLB on YouTube or wherever you get your podcast. For more on Reds, Locked on Pirates, Locked on Cubs, Locked on Brewers, and Locked on Cardinals. Make sure you subscribe to all of our different shows and follow us online, on social medias, on YouTube, wherever you get your podcast. We're all part of the Locked on podcast. Network. Now the number one sports podcast network, your team every day.

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