With MLB Opening Day less than a week away, teams are beginning to finalize their rosters. Naturally, post season are already starting to come out. It’s been an exciting Spring Training with a lot of great opportunities to see up and coming players as well as players returning from injuries and new trades, but can we really tell enough about what the season will hold just from the last few weeks of play to call who is going to take the division titles? Some seem to think so.
Post season predictions are already being made for the MLB divisions, and some anticipate a tight race to the end for the NL Central title.
Social media has played a big role in the fan experience for quite some time now, and many fans have taken to platforms like X (formerly Twitter) to discuss who they believe will be taking the titles this season.
Fox Sports MLB posted on X (formerly Twitter):
Who is winning the NL Central? 👀 pic.twitter.com/qOjpIhLthO
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 20, 2024
User V-Twins2008 replied to the tweet with a poll which users could vote on:
Who will win the NL Central?
— V-Twins2008 (@VTwins2008) March 20, 2024
As of March 20, 2024, there were 569 responses to the poll. According to those 569 voters on X (formerly Twitter), the Cubs will take the NL Central division, with 42% voting for them. The Cardinals came in second with 21%,with the Brewers coming in close behind them in third with 20% of the votes. The Pirates came in fourth with 17% of the votes.
One obvious issue with this fan poll is that it leaves out the Cincinnati Reds completely, and while the Reds haven’t had a perfect Spring Training with a current record of 11-14, they will still be a contender throughout the regular season. The blatant disregard for the Reds aside, let’s dig into this poll a little more and see how Spring Training performances align with the prediction that the Cubs will finish first, then the Cardinals, then the Brewers.
There’s no denying the Cubs have had a good Spring Training and are currently ranked fourth in the Cactus league with 16 wins and 13 losses (.552 PCT). Despite being ranked fourth, though, the Cubs have scored more runs than the number one ranked Dodgers; the Cubs have scored 154 runs so far and the Dodgers have only scored 126.
Interestingly, though, the Milwaukee Brewers, who the fan poll anticipated would come in third in the NL Central Division, are ranked just below the Cubs at number five but have scored more runs than both the Cubs and the Dodgers with 158 runs scored so far. The Cardinals, who the poll suggested would come in second behind the Cubs are currently ranked seventh in the Grapefruit league with 11 wins, 12 losses, and only 127 runs scored.
*Note that these figures are as of March 24, 2024
Brewers and Cubs are neck and neck in Spring Training standings heading into the regular season.
The Cubs and the Brewers faced off three times in Spring Training. The first time the Cubs and the Brewers faced in February, the Cubs won 6-1. The second time the Brewers and the Cubs met on March 12, the race was much closer, but the Cubs still pulled it out, and the final score was Brewers 5, Cubs 6. The tides finally turned on the 23rd though, as the Brewers defeated the Cubs 7-4. One thing that may have contributed to this change is Jackson Chourio taking the field with the security and knowledge that he will be on the roster opening day. Chourio had a hot bat which led to him scoring three times, and he also made an incredible catch against the wall in right field, robbing Christopher Morel of what could have easily been a triple, if not an in-field home run. Chourio is one of the most exciting additions to the opening day roster for the Brewers, and his contribution to the season should not be overlooked.
While it’s still early too early to call it one way or the other, it’s certainly going to be an interesting season in the NL Central Division. And based on the Spring Training performances by both teams, fans can anticipate to see a hard fought battle between the Cubs and the Brewers this season. Only time will tell who will come out on top.
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