NL Central: The Most Interesting Division Race In Baseball

Normally, the first parts of August are spent with contenders testing out their new trade acquisitions. Fading teams fade further, dominant teams dominate, and the rest sit there in limbo. For the NL Central, that was anything but.

The Chicago Cubs have continued their assertion as the best team of not only the NL Central, but the National League in general. They are 16-6 through Aug. 26 and are looking at a quick series with the Pittsburgh Pirates followed by an important series against the contending Phillies.

While they are only one game above .500 on the road, they have been simply unbeatable at Wrigley this year. They are also looking at a ninth straight series win. With numbers like this, it would take an utter meltdown (which is completely impossible in the minds of Cubs fans under the age of 100) to derail this pain train on the NL Central.

Playoff Berth: Guaranteed

The Milwaukee Brewers look ahead to a very important series in St. Louis starting tonight. While this series is crucial for the Cardinals, it is of less importance to the Brew Crew. While they could use a series win, even with a two game sweep by the Redbirds, the Brewers still maintain the lead in the NL Wild Card.

They also have a very important series starting next week against the Mets, which will set the tone for the next two weeks. However, the Brewers, while winning many games, have not been heavily challenged since they were swept by the Cubs at the end of July.

While they have seen a few struggles, the team that is supposedly so dominant has been nothing spectacular against superior teams. The next few weeks will begin to determine where they really sit as the division race heats up.

The pitching staff who was so dominant for so long also appears to be losing speed. While CC Sabathia has been so dominant of the teams he has faced, aside from the Cardinals, he has not seen any legitimate teams. Ben Sheets is fading, and while Prince Fielder isn't fighting anymore, the team unity doesn't seem to be there.

A good team, but unable to keep it together down the stretch, the Brewers will fall just short of the wildcard berth.

Playoff berth: Doubtful

The St. Louis Cardinals have another important week ahead. For them, this series against the Brewers, even though only two games, will set the tone for the two team division race.

The Houston Astros have come out of nowhere, as they always seem to, and have begun to put a damper on the three team dominance of the NL Central all season. While they are not going to take the Wild Card, they are going to prove to be a nuisance. Except them to give the Cardinals some trouble this weekend, and add enough wins in their column to make the baseball world do a double take at them mid-September.

After they square off against the powerful Florida Marlins, the single-handedly most important series of the season comes up, facing the Chicago Cubs in St. Louis. Helping the Redbirds is the fact that the Cubs have to travel to see them. However, Jim Edmonds has been nothing but an equalizer against his former club, punishing them game-in and game-out.

If the Cardinals want to remain in this race, they cannot lose two to the Brewers this week, must take the series from Houston, and also Arizona. Without those wins, the season is done for the miracle worker Tony LaRussa.

Nevertheless, this team has been fighting back against the odds all season. They won't stop now. Expect this team to bug the Cubs and prevail over the Brewers before all is said and done going into the NLDS.

Playoff Berth: Almost Certain

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