NL Central Favorites: Cincinnati Reds are Poised to Win Division in 2024

The Brewers trading Burnes vaulted the Reds to the top

The Cincinnati Reds became the most talented team in the National League Central Division on Thursday night. The Milwaukee Brewers traded away Corbin Burnes and that was enough to give the Queen City the edge over the rest of the division. 

This is the year the Reds return to the top of the National League Central.

The Reds entered the offseason with a young and talented core. Matt McLain, Elly De La Cruz, Spencer Steer, and company were destroyers at the plate. Hunter Greene, Graham Ashcraft, Andrew Abbott, Alexis Diaz showed flashes of greatness on the mound and haven't reached their full potential. 

The Reds are a much deeper team after adding Frankie Montas, Nick Martinez, Emilio Pagan, and Brent Suter.

In fact, the Reds are the most improved team in the division from last year wben they finished with 82 wins. They added five bonafide major league ballplayers. None of the other teams in the division can claim that they improved to a level higher than Cincinnati.

The Cubs lost a couple of key contributors in Marcus Stroman and Cody Ballinger. 

They may bring back Bellinger, but that just puts them at the level they were last year. They added talented prospects from the Dodgers, but they aren't proven big leaguers. They signed Shota Imanaga, a talented pitcher from Japan, but he's also unproven in the majors. The Cubs are an enigma at best.

The Pirates improved their bullpen—and that’s it. They’ll get O’Neill Cruz back from injury, but their starting pitching is still a question mark after Mitch Keller. Who is going to hit in their lineup?

The Brewers traded Burnes and reportedly shopping shortstop Willy Adames. They could also be in the market to deal closer Devin Williams (the Los Angeles Dodgers are on line one). 

They signed Rhys Hoskins, but he’s coming off a torn ACL and needs to show he’s healthy. They also have an aging Christian Yelich, who has been a shell of himself in recent seasons. Freddy Peralta is a decent pitcher but they don't have ace without Burnes. Who else is in their starting rotation? The Brewers became a rebuild overnight.

The St. Louis Cardinals are currently the favorites according to oddsmakers, but there are two reasons why that’s not a viable counter argument. Odds change based on how many bets are placed and with the Cardinals having the largest fanbase in the division. It’s reasonable to suspect they’ve gotten the most wagers to this early point. The lines will shift as money comes in.

Also, the Cardinals finished in last place last season. Sure, they added Sonny Gray, but what else has happened? They added two other aging starters who led the league in hits and homers allowed last season. They traded away Tyler O’Neil and didn’t add any consequential hitters. Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado are only getting older and their bullpen has gotten slightly better than the horribleness it was last year. All in all, this is a below average team.

The Reds have a golden opportunity and are ready to seize it. They will win the National League Central in 2024.

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