Central Intelligence

2016 NL Central Review

If you said that the Chicago Cubs ran away with the NL Central in 2016, that would be a major understatement. The Cubs were so dominant in the NL Central in 2016 that they clinched the division on September 16t... Read More...

Week 24: Cardinals fighting for playoff spot in final week

The Cubs have not only clinched the NL Central, but they have now clinched home field advantage throughout the NL playoffs. Meanwhile, the Cardinals are still right in the middle of a three-way race for two wil... Read More...

Week 23: Cubs Officially Clinch

Nick Kirby is away on his honeymoon this week. You are stuck with me for one more week. NL CENTRAL STANDINGS The Cubs officially clinched the division Thursday night on a Cardinals loss to the Giants. ... Read More...

Week 23: Pirates Bow Out

Nick Kirby is on his honeymoon this week. For some reason, they asked me to fill-in for his weekly "Intelligence" column, which is an oxymoron of the highest degree. NL CENTRAL STANDINGS With their win last... Read More...

Week 22: Cubs on a countdown to clinch

The Cubs eliminated both the Reds and Brewers this week, and their magic number to clinch the NL Central is down to just 11! The Cardinals still hold the second wild card spot, and the Pirates are 3.5 games bac... Read More...

Week 21: Pirates making wild card push

The Cubs magic number to clinch the NL Central is down to 20. The Cubs have five more wins than the next closest team in baseball, the Texas Rangers (77). The wild-card race however is completely up for grabs. ... Read More...

Week 20: Reds now have company in the NL Central basement

There are less than 40 games left for everyone in the division except the Pirates (they have 39 games left). The Cubs now have a 99.9% chance of winning the division according to Fangraphs. The Cardinals curren... Read More...

Week 19: Central Intelligence

The Cubs have recently gone an 11-game winning streak, and appear to be in complete control of the NL Central. The Cardinals and Pirates are both right in the middle of a heated race for the second wild card sp... Read More...

Week 18: Cubs on 7-game win streak

The Cubs gained four games in the NL Central, and their chances of winning the division are now up to 99.6% according to Fangraphs. The Cubs are currently riding a seven game winning streak. The Cubs swept the ... Read More...

Week 17: Big trade, big veto in the NL Central

The Cubs still hold a 7.5 game lead over the Cardinals, the exact same amount as last week. The Cubs made a big move acquiring Aroldis Chapman last Monday. The Cardinals also acquired a really good reliever in ... Read More...

Week 16: NL Central trade deadline primer

The Cubs continue to hold a big lead in the NL Central. The Cubs currently have a 93.7% chance of winning the division according to Fangraphs. The Cardinals and Pirates are both within a couple games of a wild-... Read More...

Week 15: Cubs push lead back up to 8.0 games

The Chicago Cubs have pushed their lead in the NL Central back up to 8.0 games after a series win over the Texas Rangers to begin the second half. The Cardinals and Pirates chances of winning the NL Central are... Read More...