All Five Teams in the NL Central Are Winning and Nobody Saw This Coming

Here's something wild that should absolutely break your brain right now: the two worst teams in the NL Central are the Cubs and Brewers, and they're both 12-9. Yeah, you read that right. Two 2025 playoff teams are tied for last place, and they're still only 1 ½ games out of first. That's the kind of division we're looking at in April.

The National League Central is doing something no other division in baseball can claim. All five teams are winning records. Not three, not four. Five. Meanwhile, the Dodgers, Braves, and Padres are sitting pretty at the top of the power rankings, but the real story is happening in the NL Central where the competition is absolutely stacked.

The Brewers Aren't Going Anywhere

The Brewers are the three-time defending NL Central champions and have won the division four of the last five seasons. They had the best record in baseball last season and came out of the gate firing with an 8-2 record this year. Sure, they're dealing with some tough injuries and they hit a rough patch with a six-game losing streak, but they responded by winning four straight. This is a team that knows how to navigate adversity.

The Reds Are On Pace for Something Special

The Reds made the playoffs last season for the first time since 2013, and they looked like they were happy just to be there. That's usually the wake-up call for a team heading into the next season. This year, they're not satisfied anymore. Despite losing their ace in spring training for half the season, the Reds are 14-8 and sitting in first place. They're on pace for 103 wins. They've found different ways to win, including going 6-0 in one-run games. That's the kind of resilience that gets you through a full season.

The Pirates Are Actually Contending

The Pirates were 71-91 last season with good pitching and a terrible offense. The front office decided to stop wasting the prime years of Paul Skenes and grabbed some offensive upgrades like Brandon Lowe and Ryan O'Hearn. Now they're fourth in OPS and sixth in runs in the majors. They're 13-9 and they feel like a legitimate contender. They weren't supposed to be here. Each of their last four losses was by just one run, with two coming in extra innings. This team is fighting for everything.

The NL Central is the most fun division in baseball right now, and we're only in April.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.