Rating the NL Central

ChicagoCubs

Last year: 95-68 – Second Place – NL Wild Card berth – lost to Colorado in NL Wild Card game

Key losses: INF Daniel Murphy

Key newcomers: INF Daniel Descalso, RHP Kendall Graveman

Best-case scenario: National standouts Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and Javier Baez guide the 2016 Champions back to the top of the division for the club’s third title in four years.

Worst-case scenario: After losing game 163, the Cubs are forced into a winnertake-all, wild-card showdown.

St. Louis Cardinals

Last year: 88-74 – Third Place

Key losses: None

Key newcomers: 1B Paul Goldschmidt, LHP Andrew Miller

Best-case scenario: Goldschmidt’s bat bolsters an offense that already includes Matt Carpenter, Yadier Molina and Marcell Ozuna to make the Cardinals contenders.

Worst-case scenario: Rising star starting pitcher Jack Flaherty doesn’t live up to expectations and a decent St. Louis team can’t keep up with the Cubs and Brewers.

PittsburghPirates

Last year: 82-79 – Fourth Place

Key losses: INF Jordy Mercer

Key newcomers: RHP Jordan Lyles, LHP Francisco Liriano

Best-case scenario: An average Pirates team headlined by Corey Dickerson and Starling Marte give Pirates fans reasons to show up to the park.

Worst-case scenario: A below-average rotation, and little help in the minor leagues, sinks the Pirates to the bottom of the division.

Cincinnati Reds

Last year: 67-95 – Fifth Place

Key losses: RHP Tanner Rainey, RHP Homer Bailey

Key newcomers: OF Yasiel Puig, OF Matt Kemp, RHP Tanner Roark, LHP Alex Wood, LHP Sonny Gray

Best-case scenario: Alex Wood and Sonny Gray turn in numbers more like their 2017 campaigns rather than 2018, and Puig makes mincemeat out of the short fences at Great American Ball Park.

Worst-case scenario: After an offseason where the Reds fixed their necessities, the team still falls short and races the Pirates to the cellar.