National League Central preview

Chicago Cubs

2016: 103-58, first place, World Series champions.

Outlook: The Cubs are in great shape as they try to become baseball’s first repeat World Series winner since the New York Yankees won three in a row from 1998-2000. Mike Montgomery likely will get a few starts to help keep Brett Anderson healthy and lessen the load on the rest of the rotation. Chicago also will be cautious with Kyle Schwarber and his powerful left-handed swing after he missed most of last year following major left knee surgery. Wade Davis replaces Aroldis Chapman as the closer after the lefty signed with the Yankees in free agency. The 6-foot-5 Davis was limited to 43 1/3 innings last year with the Royals because of a forearm injury, but Hector Rondon and Koji Uehara also have closing experience. The Cubs again have one of baseball’s deepest rosters, with prospects Ian Happ and Jeimer Candelario waiting in the wings should there be a rash of injuries.

St. Louis Cardinals

2016: 86-76, second place.

Outlook: The Cubs own the preseason national spotlight, and deservedly so. That said, the Cardinals – bolstered by a mostly healthy rotation and the signing of Dexter Fowler away from Chicago for five years and $82.5 million – are expected to make their division rivals work for everything they earn in 2017. Fowler brings a new element of athleticism to St. Louis, both on offense and in the field, and Mike Matheny is counting on the center fielder to aid what has been a largely station-to-station approach by the Cardinals, who were last in the National League in steals last season.

Pittsburgh Pirates

2016: 78-83, third place.

Outlook: Pittsburgh didn’t exactly throw cash around in hopes of keeping up with the World Series champion Cubs or rival St. Louis. Instead, the Pirates shopped longtime franchise cornerstone Andrew McCutchen and then pulled back when other teams didn’t want to meet their asking price. The five-time All-Star has tried to take the high road while ultimately accepting a move to right field, though the soap opera concerning his future will likely only heat up again if the Pirates fall off the pace early. Pittsburgh’s margin for error is small if it wants to rebound. Ivan Nova needs to sustain the momentum he built after arriving in a trade-deadline deal with the Yankees. The young arms behind him in the rotation must mature quickly, and McCutchen needs a quicker start than the sluggish first three months that marked his disappointing 2016 season. Gerrit Cole returning to the All-Star form he showed in 2015 would help. So would the return of Jung Ho Kang, who spent the offseason dealing with a DUI arrest back home in South Korea. His status remains uncertain as he tries to secure a work visa to get back to the United States. Pittsburgh needs more power in the middle of the lineup, and Kang is the team’s best bet to provide it.

Milwaukee Brewers

2016: 73-89, fourth place.

Outlook: General manager David Stearns’ rebuilding project appears to be on schedule after the team’s five-win improvement last season. The slick-fielding Orlando Arcia is the first member of Milwaukee’s potential future core to arrive in the majors, while top prospects including outfielder Lewis Brinson and left-handed starter Josh Hader could get looks by September. For now, the top of the lineup looks intriguing with the speedy Jonathan Villar and Keon Broxton likely hitting ahead of Ryan Braun and Eric Thames. Hernan Perez returns to a super-sub role off the bench. The pitching staff could be bolstered if Junior Guerra and Zach Davies continue to develop, and Jimmy Nelson and Wily Peralta rebound for a full season. The bullpen is a bit more of a question mark than in recent years. Neftali Feliz, the 2010 A.L. Rookie of the Year after saving 40 games for Texas, will likely get the first call to close. Contending in the competitive N.L. Central is still a ways away, though the franchise is headed in the right direction.

Cincinnati Reds

2016: 68-94, fifth place.

Outlook: After losing 98 and 94 games the past two seasons while trading away the core of their team, the Reds are hoping to level off this year. They brought in Drew Storen to stabilize an historically bad bullpen, which converted only 28 of 53 save chances and gave up a major league-record 103 homers. They traded Brandon Phillips to Atlanta, opening a spot for Jose Peraza to play and develop. They gambled by trading Dan Straily – their top winner last season – for a couple of pitchers who might help in the future. The injury setbacks with Anthony DeSclafani and Homer Bailey leave the rotation in a tough spot as the season opens. Billy Hamilton had his best season and reclaimed the leadoff role last year. Joey Votto showed he’s still one of the league’s best hitters. Oft-injured catcher Devin Mesoraco is hoping for a part-time role as he recovers from his second hip operation. If the rotation doesn’t crumble from injuries the way it did last year, the Reds could move up in the standings – fourth-place Milwaukee was only five games better.