2026 NL Central Power Rankings: Cubs Surge Amidst Competitive Field

In the latest installment of the 2026 NL Central Power Rankings, the Chicago Cubs have emerged as the team to beat after a remarkable five-game winning streak against the Padres and Diamondbacks, bouncing back from a series-opening loss in San Diego. This surge has been fueled by standout performances from Moisés Ballesteros and Pete Crow-Armstrong, who each launched two home runs this week. However, it was Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki who led the Cubs’ offensive charge, with both players amassing six hits, including a homer each. Happ stood out with seven runs scored, along with a pair of doubles and a triple, solidifying his role as a key contributor.

On the mound, Shota Imanaga delivered the best start of the week for the Cubs, tossing seven scoreless innings while striking out five. The bullpen also made its mark, with Hoby Milner throwing 2 2/3 scoreless frames across three outings, striking out two and securing a save. Jacob Webb and Ben Brown also added saves, showcasing the depth of Chicago’s pitching staff as they prepare to host the Reds for a four-game series starting Monday night. Following that, the Cubs will embark on a nine-game road trip, kicking off in Texas against the Rangers.

Meanwhile, the St. Louis Cardinals showcased their prowess by sweeping the Pittsburgh Pirates in a four-game series, extending their win streak to six games with a pair of victories over the Dodgers, before suffering a setback in Sunday’s finale. The Cardinals’ power hitters shone brightly, with Alec Burleson, Nolan Gorman, Jordan Walker, and JJ Wetherholt each blasting two homers. Burleson and Wetherholt added three doubles apiece, while Burleson and Walker led the team with 11 hits and 11 RBIs each. Victor Scott and Walker demonstrated their speed on the basepaths, each stealing two bases, while Iván Herrera contributed with three doubles and eight walks, achieving a remarkable .469 OBP this week.

On the pitching front, Andre Pallante and Michael McGreevy delivered solid starts, with Pallante allowing just one run over six innings and striking out six, while McGreevy pitched six scoreless frames with three strikeouts. Riley O’Brien and George Soriano both contributed saves, while Ryan Fernandez and Gordon Graceffo had scoreless weeks, with Fernandez striking out four in two perfect innings. The Cardinals now look forward to a three-game series against the Brewers before heading west to face the Padres and Athletics.

The Milwaukee Brewers also had a productive week, taking two of three from both the Diamondbacks and Nationals, which pushed them three games above .500. Sal Frelick led the Brewers with two home runs, although he managed just five hits overall. William Contreras was the standout performer, racking up 11 hits, including a homer and a double, while also driving in nine runs and scoring seven. Tyler Black made an impact with limited opportunities, going 7-for-13 with three doubles and seven RBIs in four games. Brice Turang also contributed significantly, adding eight hits and seven runs in 17 at-bats.

On the mound, Jacob Misiorowski dazzled with 5 1/3 no-hit innings in his start on Friday, striking out eight. Logan Henderson took the loss on Sunday but was effective, allowing just two runs over seven innings while striking out eight. The Brewers’ bullpen, featuring Shane Drohan, Jake Woodford, DL Hall, Easton McGee, Abner Uribe, and Trevor Megill, also performed well, with both Woodford and Uribe notching saves. The Crew will finish their road trip in St. Louis before enjoying an off day on Thursday, followed by a three-game series against the Yankees in Milwaukee.

The Pittsburgh Pirates had a rollercoaster week, experiencing a four-game sweep at the hands of the Cardinals before bouncing back to sweep the Reds, concluding their homestand with a 3-4 record. Henry Davis contributed two home runs, while seven other players added one each. Nick Gonzales led the team with 11 hits, albeit with only one extra-base hit, while rookie Konnor Griffin impressed with a .370 batting average, contributing 10 hits, including a homer, two doubles, and a triple. Ryan O’Hearn and Bryan Reynolds also provided offensive support with eight hits each.

On the pitching side, Braxton Ashcraft rebounded from a tough outing against the Cardinals with a stellar performance against the Reds, throwing 7 2/3 scoreless innings with six strikeouts on just 82 pitches. Mitch Keller also had a strong showing, allowing only one run over seven innings while striking out six. The bullpen, featuring Wilber Dotel, Justin Lawrence, Mason Montgomery, Cam Sanders, and Gregory Soto, combined for 11 2/3 scoreless innings, striking out nine. The Pirates will now head to Arizona and San Francisco for three games each, starting Tuesday night in Phoenix.

Rounding out the rankings, the Cincinnati Reds find themselves at the bottom largely due to their sweep by the Pirates, despite being tied for second place in the division. The Reds began the week strong, taking two of three from the Rockies, but faltered against Pittsburgh. Will Benson led the offense with two homers and a double, while Nathaniel Lowe and Spencer Steer each contributed six hits, including a homer and two doubles. Steer topped the team with seven hits overall.

On the pitching front, Chase Burns made two solid starts, totaling 13 innings with just two runs allowed and a team-high 16 strikeouts. Andrew Abbott also secured a win with a solid six-inning performance, allowing two runs and striking out five. However, the bullpen struggled, with Graham Ashcraft and Sam Moll being the only bright spots, totaling 4 1/3 innings without allowing a run. The Reds will face the Cubs in a critical four-game series beginning Monday night before returning home to host the Astros and Nationals this Friday.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.