Every week, the Pitcher List team will publish an update to our power rankings, highlighting three teams among the different tiers of contention. As always, the full rankings can be found at the bottom of this article, but where’s the fun in that?
For many years, the NL Central (much like the AL Central) was almost an afterthought on a national scale. The traditional east coast bias and the emergence of the Dodgers in the west turned the central division into a little brother status for much of the past decade. While it was always fun to see the Brewers compete on a shoestring budget and the Cardinals were at least relevant every year, no Central team made much noise in the postseason, with St. Louis being the last of that group to win a postseason series, all the way back in 2019.
In this week’s power rankings, we focus on this division, as the Central is clearly having a moment. The Brewers are the first team in 2025 to secure at least a .500 record, holding the top spot with 81 wins. However, the Cubs are not far behind, while the Reds have yet to be swept this season and now have a real chance to fight for the NL’s last wild card spot. At the bottom of the division, the Pirates just debuted yet another prized pitcher, while the Cardinals have seen a clear changing of the guard, as they now look well behind the competitive curve in a division they used to own.
With most well-funded teams playing elsewhere, the time of the NL Central as the league’s top unit may be short-lived, but 2025 is certainly looking good for these contenders.
Contender
No. 5 – Chicago Cubs (76-55, +126)
Following a tough start to August that saw the Cubs lose three straight series, just as standout players like Kyle Tucker and Pete Crow-Armstrong went through severe slumps at the plate, it seemed as if the panic button was at least being considered around the Friendly Confines. Since then, though, Chicago has righted the ship slowly, as manager Craig Counsell has reminded everyone why he is the highest-paid skipper in the game, and the team has found several complementary players to step up in this key junction of the season.
While Milwaukee’s recent surge probably put the division out of reach for the Cubs, they have become a playoff lock in their own right and would probably be considered a more dangerous October team due to their experience and star power. Just this week, the Cubs navigated a tricky scheduling quirk that saw them face the Brewers for five games in four days, immediately followed by a West Coast trip. The team responded by going 6-2 during this stretch, securing the season series over Milwaukee in the process.
The week was punctuated by an easy sweep of the Angels, as Tucker took full advantage of a quick reset on the bench. This continued a trend of the Cubs being masters of beating down on inferior opponents, as they are now 43-20 over teams with losing records.
first career grand slam 🤝 first career save pic.twitter.com/3J1ZDz36Ea
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) August 24, 2025
With 24 of their remaining 31 games coming against similarly feeble opposition, the Cubs have the perfect opportunity to use the rest of the season as October preparation, especially as they can find ways to get their top pitchers ready and fresh for a deep playoff run, especially as Shota Imanaga and Matthew Boyd are primed to get their chance to lead a rotation in the biggest of stages. Meanwhile, the PCA level of concern continues to be at an all-time high, with the center fielder dropping significantly from his early-season MVP form. Crow-Armstrong’s OPS for August is now well below .500, with only four extra-base hits and an alarming strikeout rate.
Even as the Cubs still can boast a potent offense with Tucker, Seiya Suzuk, Michael Busch, and several above-average regulars, it is clear that an explosive PCA provides a different dimension for this lineup. With the NL being so top-heavy, it is hard to predict just how far Chicago can go. Nevertheless, their best iteration since the World Series days is a refreshing development around Wrigley, and the rest of the season should be a fun experience for the Cubs faithful.
The Middle
No. 13 – Cincinnati Reds (68-63, +48)
After losing the first two games of their road series against Arizona, including a tough 10-1 defeat on Saturday, the Cincinnati Reds were at risk of being swept for the first time in 2025. The series finale was a tense duel, as Zac Gallen held Cincy at bay for most of the game, but the Reds persevered and finally broke through late, securing a 6-1 win to give them a 3-3 mark in their current west coast foray. While the win was valuable to keep the Reds alive in the playoff race, it also kept their distinction of being the only MLB team in 2025 that has not been swept.
Your Cincinnati Reds are STILL the only team in MLB to not be swept this season! They’ve won at least one game in all 42 series they’ve played.
Let’s go compete against the Dodgers this week. #ATOBTTR pic.twitter.com/q18J2hGe82
— ATBBTTR (@ATBBTTR) August 24, 2025
Cincinnati’s reluctance to be swept has not translated to excellence, as the Reds have not been able to generate long winning streaks or enough momentum to challenge for the top of the division. Instead, they have played to their strengths to remain competitive day in and day out, which is way more than many of the Reds teams of recent vintage had been able to accomplish despite having seemingly more talented rosters. It is important to remember that this franchise has not made the playoffs in a full season since 2013, which was also their last season with at least 83 wins.
There are many reasons for this resurgence, and what may be the most exciting Reds squad in a decade, starting with a rotation that includes three legitimate co-aces in Andrew Abbott, Nick Lodolo, and Hunter Greene, while an opportunistic offense led by Elly de la Cruz has produced enough to remain competitive. However, the biggest addition for this franchise may have come off the field, as the steady presence of Terry Francona as manager has made a clear impact on this young roster.
While Francona became famous and will probably make the Hall of Fame for his work leading the deep-pocketed Red Sox, his tenure with Cleveland was almost as impressive. Playing in the state of Ohio is not the only thing the Reds and Guardians have in common, though, and Tito appears to have been a brilliant choice by ownership to finally maximize the talent of this team, just like he did for many years in Ohio’s other franchise. Even as a manager’s contribution is almost impossible to quantify, it is clear that fans in Cincinnati feel extremely grateful for what Francona has brought to the table.
Now, the Reds still have a ways to go in their quest for October, as their only path runs through the chance of earning the last wild card spot in the NL. With odds around 35% to make the postseason, it is clear that there is still an uphill battle ahead, especially considering the tough competition ahead, along with the fact that the Mets appear well-positioned to hold said spot despite their recent dramatic collapse in the standings. Both teams will meet in early September, but it is more likely that the Reds’ fate will be decided by how they fare against their NL Central foes and a tough three-city trip following that series. At this point, not losing a series will not be enough, as Cincinnati will probably need at least one long winning streak to reach the next level.
Wait ‘Til 2026
No. 22 – St. Louis Cardinals (64-67, -32)
The St. Louis Cardinals used to be the gold standard in terms of sustained contention, seemingly always finding a way to stay relevant. This was part of the so-called Cardinal Way, a philosophy that prioritized a proper balance of homegrown talent and the right mix of trades and free agents, leading to a slew of winning seasons, playoff appearances, and a couple of championships during this century. It is normal for all baseball organizations to go through ebbs and flows, even for a franchise as stable as the Cardinals, who are now on the cusp of going three straight years without a playoff berth for the first time since 2016-18. The difference between that tough stretch and the current one is that St. Louis has committed the cardinal sin (no pun intended) for any MLB team – they have become irrelevant.
It has been 1789 days since the St. Louis Cardinals last won a postseason game
— Cardinals Last Playoff Win Counter (@winlessSTL) August 24, 2025
The past week served as a perfect microcosm for the current state of the Cardinals, as they went 3-3 as part of a Florida road trip, taking a series from the Marlins and then falling to the Rays in what were mostly unremarkable affairs. Outside of a shocking nine-game winning streak in early May, St. Louis has been closer to mediocrity than relevancy, with May being the only month of the calendar with a positive record. The trend of being close to the middle is also reflected in the team’s core stats, with the team being 15th on offense and 20th on run prevention, which is basically good enough to avoid bottoming out, but also a sign that the franchise has a very low ceiling.
The yearlong awkward front office transition from John Mozeliak to Chaim Bloom as president of baseball operations has likely complicated decision-making for the once-stable franchise, as there was probably resistance from ownership to really gut the major league roster of veterans and commit to a full rebuild. The trade deadline may have been a small step in the right direction, with the Cards unloading some of their coveted players while restocking their farm system. However, prospect rankings still project St. Louis as a middling organization when it comes to future talent, with their best chips likely a couple of years away from contributing in the majors.
This organizational slump has even put a dent in the loyalty of the self-proclaimed best fans in baseball, as the Cardinals are now on pace to post their lowest season-wide attendance in 30 years. Meanwhile, the rest of the NL Central has used 2025 to level up and create a blueprint for success in the near future, with St. Louis’ top rivals looking primed for playoff runs and even the Pirates boasting some of the league’s top young pitchers. With upcoming POBO Bloom having experience with small-market teams and the deep-pocketed Red Sox, he should be capable of maximizing the resources of this storied franchise, even if 2026 and maybe 2027 should include painful decisions and even lower attendance numbers at Busch Stadium.
