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NL Central Power Rankings Week 23

*please note: all stats outside of team records only include games played through 9/6/14.

1. St. Louis Cardinals (last week: 1)

The Cardinals have won 8 of their last 9, and have taken full control of the NL Central. The Cardinals lead is now up to 4.5 games, with only 19 games to play. The Cardinals also got a major boost with Michael Wacha returning to the to the Cardinals rotation.

Starting Pitchers this week

cards sp

Who’s Hot (last 7 days)

  • Peter Bourjos: .467/.500/.533, 2 RBI, 198 wRC+, 0.3 WAR
  • Matt Holliday: .308/.400/.500, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 159 wRC+, 0.3 WAR
  • Jon Jay: .409/.480/.500, 3 BB, 181 wRC+, 0.2 WAR
  • Kolten Wong: .286/.286/.619, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 153 wRC+, 0.2 WAR

Who’s Cold (last 7 days)

  • Matt Adams: .125/.176/.313, 2 for 16, 6 K, 36 wRC+, -0.1 WAR

Upcoming Schedule

  • Mon (7:10), Tues (7:10), Wed (7:10), Thurs (12:35) at Cincinnati
  • Fri (8:15), Sat (7:15), Sun (2:15) vs Colorado

2. Pittsburgh Pirates (last week: 3)

After getting swept by the Cardinals to begin the week, the Pirates responded with a big sweep of the Cubs over the weekend. The Pirates are still 4.5 back in the division, but they currently hold the second wild card spot by a half game. Every one of the Pirates final 20 games will be crucial.

Starting Pitchers this week

bucs sp

Who’s Hot (last 7 days)

  • Josh Harrison: .435/.435/.695, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 223 wRC+, 0.4 WAR
  • Jordy Mercer: .261/.292/.652, 3 HR, 4 RBI, 1 SB, 164 wRC+, 0.3 WAR
  • Neil Walker: .286/.444/.476, 2 RBI, 6 BB, 166 wRC+, 0.2 WAR
  • Starling Marte: .304/.360/.435, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 129 wRC+, 0.1 WAR

Who’s Cold (last 7 days)

  • Russell Martin: .125/.263/.313, 2 for 16, 71 wRC+, 0.1 WAR

Upcoming Schedule

  • Mon (7:05), Tues (7:05), Wed (7:05), Thurs (7:05) at Philadelphia
  • Fri (7:05), Sat (7:05), Sun (1:35) vs Chicago Cubs

3. Milwaukee Brewers (last week: 2)

The Brewers have incredibly lost 11 of their last 12 games. The division race seems all but over from the Brewers, who are 5.0 back. The Brewers are somehow still hanging in the wild card race, and only trail the Pirates by a half game for the second wild card spot. The Brewers have to turn this thing around, and in a hurry. They only have 19 games left.

Starting Pitchers this week

brew sp

Who’s Hot (last 7 days)

  • Jonathan Lucroy: .346/.433/.462, 2 RBI, 3 BB, 154 wRC+, 0.4 WAR
  • Rickie Weeks: .400/.500/.900, 1 HR, 2 BB, 278 wRC+, 0.3 WAR
  • Gerardo Parra: .393/.414/.536, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 167 wRC+, 0.2 WAR
  • Kris Davis: .286/.286/.571, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 135 wRC+, 0.2 WAR

Who’s Cold (last 7 days)

  • Jean Segura: .190/.261/.190, 4 for 21, 28 wRC+, -0.1 WAR
  • Scooter Gennett: .238/.273/.286, 5 for 21, 53 wRC+, -0.1 WAR
  • Aramis Ramirez: .259/.286/.296, 7 for 27, 61 wRC+, 0.0 WAR

Upcoming Schedule

  • Mon (8:10), Tues (8:10), Wed (8:10), Thurs (8:10) vs Miami
  • Fri (8:10), Sat (7:10), Sun (2:10) vs Cincinnati

4. Cincinnati Reds (last week: 4)

The Reds are all but eliminated in 2014. They are 7.5 back from the second wild card spot with only 19 games left.  The Reds are now just 16-32 in the second half, and their .333 win percentage in the second half is their worst since 1945.

Starting Pitchers this week

reds sp

Who’s Hot (last 7 days)

  • Chris Heisey: .364/.364/1.182, 3 HR, 4 RBI, 334 wRC+, 0.4 WAR
  • Devin Mesoraco: .429/.438/.929, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 264 wRC+, 0.4 WAR
  • Ramon Santiago: .286/.474/.357, 5 BB, 149 wRC+, 0.2 WAR
  • Todd Frazier: .280/.333/.520, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB, 138 wRC+, 0.2 WAR

Who’s Cold (last 7 days)

  • Brandon Phillips: .105/.105/.105, 2 for 19, -54 wRC+, -0.3 WAR
  • Billy Hamilton: .083/.154/.083, 4 for 21, 6 K, 14 wRC+, -0.1 WAR
  • Brayan Pena: .250/.250/.250, 4 for 16, 35 wRC+, -0.1 WAR
  • Jay Bruce: .188/.188/.375, 3 for 16, 49 wRC+, -0.1 WAR

Upcoming Schedule

  • Mon (7:10), Tues (7:10), Wed (7:10), Thurs (12:35) vs St. Louis
  • Fri (8:10), Sat (7:10), Sun (2:10) at Milwaukee

5. Chicago Cubs (last week: 5)

The Cubs swept the struggling Brewers to begin the week, but were swept by the Pirates over the weekend. The Cubs are just 3.0 behind the Reds, and have 19 games to try to avoid another season in last place in the division.

Starting Pitchers this week

cubs sp

Who’s Hot (last 7 days)

  • Luis Valbuena: .421/.500/.895, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 3 BB, 281 wRC+, 0.6 WAR
  • Chris Valaika: .400/.500/.600, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 3 BB, 1 SB, 204 wRC+, 05 WAR
  • Welington Castillo: .375/.412/.688, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 206 wRC+, 0.3 WAR
  • Chris Coghlan: .409/.480/.455, 2 RBI, 3 BB, 1 SB, 161 wRC+, 0.3 WAR
  • Starlin Castro: .421/.500/.895, 1 BB, 249 wRC+, 0.2 WAR
  • Logan Watkins: .400/.400/.4000, 1 RBI, 1 SB, 125 wRC+, 0.2 WAR

Who’s Cold (last 7 days)

  • Javier Baez: .080/.179/.120, 2 for 25, 11 K, -15 wRC+, -0.3 WAR
  • Arismendy Alcantara: .154/.154/.385, 4 for 26, 9 K, 40 wRC+, -0.1 WAR

Upcoming Schedule

  • Mon (7:07), Tues (7:07), Wed (7:07) at Toronto
  • Fri (7:05), Sat (7:05), Sun (1:35) at Pittsburgh

NL Central Players of the Week

  • Luis Valbuena, Cubs: .421/.500/.895, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 3 BB, 281 wRC+, 0.6 WAR

  • Johnny Cueto, Reds: 15.0 IP, 15 H, 14 K, 3 ER, 3 BB, 1.20 WHIP, 1.80 ERA, 0.3 WAR

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