NL Central Focus: 5/17/16

The Cardinals are once again in competition for second in the division with the Pittsburgh Pirates, but the Cubs still dominate the NL Central.

Here are the NL Central standings:

Chicago Cubs

In the midst of a historic season, nothing seems to satisfy some people. Rumors are swirling that the Cubs are in pursuit of a deal that would send either Ryan Braun or Mike Trout to the north side of the windy city. After Kyle Schwarber went down for the season, Jorge Soler and Kris Bryant have split time in left field, but Bryant can only be away from the hot corner so often. Soler has been weighed, measured, and been found wanting in regards to filling Schwarber’s shoes. A trade for Braun or Trout would give the ’16 Cubs a legitimate case against the ’27 Yankees as best of all-time, but not everyone is sold. The deal was a long shot at best anyway.

While Cubs fans can live in a dream world about one of those two former MVPs could be a member of the Cubs one day soon, it is very much a reality for Iowa Cubs outfielder Albert Almora Jr. The young prospect certainly hasn’t had it easy. It’s been a slow and tedious process to get one step away from the show. Almora’s focus has been split with the birth of his first son, wedding plans, and his father battling cancer. He’s off to an incredible start in the Pacific Coast League, and he’s quickly getting into the conversation the longer Soler struggles.

One area where the Cubs haven’t been struggling is at the catcher position. Miguel Montero was activated off of the disabled list this week, but it was Ryan Kalish, not Tim Federowicz, who got the boot. Joe Maddon has earned a reputation for being highly unorthodox, and as part of that mentality, the Cubs will carry three catchers for the time being.

St. Louis Cardinals

The Cardinals have struggled to tread water, and no one has personified that struggle more than the Seth Maness and Adam Wainwright. This week, Maness found himself on the disabled list the day after he was supposed to be optioned to Triple-A Memphis. Instead, the Cardinals were forced to place him on the DL due to not passing the physical necessary to option him. Team doctors discovered inflammation in his elbow. Maness has a 6.40 ERA in 13 appearances so far this season.

While they lost one to the disabled list, they could soon be getting one back in the form of Tommy Pham. The September star strained his oblique during his first at-bat of the season against Francisco Liriano and the Pirates. The only question remaining is whether the Cardinals will choose to bring him back once he finishes his rehab stint, despite Jeremy Hazelbaker proving to be an effective bench bat with outstanding power potential.

Even in Pham’s absence, the Cardinals are definitely not hurting for runs. Six weeks into the season, the Cardinals are well off the pace they set last year on their way to 100 wins. Along with the Pirates, they’re hovering right around the .500 mark, but the baseball world still waited with bated breath in anticipation that any day the Cardinals would get the confidence necessary to break free from the pack and make a run at their fourth consecutive NL Central title. The Cardinals have reached double digit runs ten times. They lead the league in home runs. If the pitching catches up to the offense, the Cardinals could once again be the unstoppable force Pirates fans have come to know and despise.

Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers knew entering the season it was a longshot for them to be successful in 2016 and how that journey would only be more difficult if they lost Jonathan Lucroy or Ryan Braun for any amount of time. Their nightmare scenario came to fruition this week when Braun wasscratched from the lineup on Saturday with a sore wrist. He is expected to be day-to-day, but losing a player batting .367 is a big loss to the Brewers. On the bright side, the Brewers activated Scooter Gennett from the disabled list. Hernan Perez replaced him on the roster, and after filling in well for the young second baseman, light-hitting Yadiel Rivera finds himself being optioned to make room for Gennett.

Jhan Martinez will become the fourth pitcher the Brewers have used as the last man in the bullpen after the 27-year-old was acquired for cash considerations from the Tampa Bay Rays. Michael Kirkman was designated for assignment to clear a spot on the active 25-man roster. Martinez features a low-80s slider and a high-90s fastball as part of a two pitch approach.

One player who may need to change his approach is Domingo Santana. Half a decade ago, Hunter Pence would have been considered a passable right fielder given his offensive ability. Now, at 33, Pence is still productive at the plate, but his defense is a blatant liability. A decade his junior, Santana is giving Pence a run for his money as worst right fielder in all of baseball. Considering he is equally unimpressive at the plate, Santana needs to give more attention to improving before the Brewers give him a pink slip.

Cincinnati Reds

Remember when Billy Hamilton was unstoppable against someone other than the Pirates in the leadoff spot? Apparently, the Reds couldn’t remember either. The team has become frustrated with the speedy center fielder, and Hamilton has been moved down a spot in the lineup as a result. So far, Hamilton is hitting .292 in the second spot in the lineup, while hitting .158 in the leadoff spot. His success during limited experience in his new role is unlikely to continue, but the Reds will try anything at this point to keep a crucial piece of their franchise from being labeled a lost cause.

While Hamilton could be seen in the Reds’ dugout, manager Ryan Price was forced to sit back and watch while serving a one game suspension Friday after being ejected in the finale of the rain-shortened series with the Pirates. Price got tossed after Ross Ohlendorf hit David Freese with a pitch in the ninth inning. Freese was one of four Pirates hit in the game. As a result, Ohlendorf was suspended for three games. He has appealed and will not serve the suspension until his appeal is heard.

After suffering a setback in his rehab stint, Anthony DeSclafani threw a 25-pitch bullpen session Saturday at Citizens Bank Park. The oblique injury which sidelined him during spring training has kept the Reds’ pitcher out for two months. The Reds are taking a more cautious approach, since this is the third time DeSclafani has reached this point during his rehabilitation program. Homer Bailey had reached a similar point before experiencing a nerve issue just days before being activated.

That’s a wrap for this week. Be sure to check back next week for the latest news concerning the NL Central.

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