2026 NL Central Power Rankings: Week 6

Welcome to week 6 of our 2026 NL Central Power Rankings — let’s rank some groups!

1. Chicago Cubs (22-12); 5-1 this week; 82.8% likelihood to make postseason (FanGraphs)

The Cubs had one other sturdy week, successful 5 straight over the Padres and D-backs after dropping their collection opener in San Diego on Monday night time.

Moisés Ballesteros and Pete Crow-Armstrong every slugged a pair of homers for Chicago this week, though they actually weren’t the Cubs’ finest hitters. Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki tied for the group lead with six hits, every including a homer. Happ additionally led the group with seven runs scored, including a pair of doubles and a triple, too.

Shota Imanaga had the most effective begin of the week for Chicago, going seven scoreless with 5 strikeouts in his outing. For the bullpen, HOby Milner totaled 2 2/3 scoreless frames over three outings, placing out two and selecting up a save. Jacob Webb and Ben Brown additionally picked up a save every.

Chicago now hosts the Reds for 4 video games starting Monday night time earlier than starting a nine-game highway journey this weekend, beginning in Texas towards the Rangers.

2. St. Louis Cardinals (20-14); 6-1 this week; 26.2% likelihood to make postseason

Before I’m going any additional, I simply need to say that I had a really troublesome time ordering the underside 4 in these rankings. I can see a case for having any of those groups within the No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, or No. 5 spot. Based on the truth that the Cardinals swept the Pirates and the Pirates swept the Reds, although, I felt I need to order these three groups in that order. That simply left the Brewers to fit someplace within the pack. Continuing on…

As I simply talked about, the Cards swept the Pirates in a four-game collection to start the week, they usually then stretched that win streak to 6 with a pair of wins over the Dodgers earlier than dropping Sunday’s collection finale.

It was an enormous week on the ability entrance for St. Louis, as Alec Burleson, Nolan Gorman, Jordan Walker, and JJ Wetherholt all had two homers apiece. Burleson and Wetherholt additionally added three doubles every, with Burleson and Walker main the group with 11 hits on the week (and 11 RBIs every, too). Victor Scott and Walker every swiped a pair of luggage, and Iván Herrera added three doubles and eight walks for a .469 OBP this week.

Andre Pallante and Michael McGreevy turned strong begins this week, as Pallante went six innings with one run allowed and 6 strikeouts, and McGreevy went six scoreless frames with three strikeouts. Riley O’Brien acquired two extra saves, and George Soriano added a save of his personal. Ryan Fernandez and Gordon Graceffo each had scoreless weeks for the bullpen, with Fernandez going two excellent innings with 4 strikeouts and Graceffo spanning 4 innings over three appearances.

St. Louis now welcomes the Brewers to twon for 3 video games earlier than they head west to tackle the Padres and A’s over the following week.

3. Milwaukee Brewers (18-15); 4-2 this week; 41.4% likelihood to make postseason

The Brewers took two of three towards each the D-backs and Nationals this week, shifting again to a few video games above .500 by the top of the weekend.

Sal Frelick managed to guide the Brewers with two homers this week, though he had simply 5 hits whole. William Contreras led the offense with 11 hits on the week, together with a homer and a double, as he additionally led the group with 9 RBIs and 7 runs scored. Tyler Black made probably the most of restricted alternatives, going 7-for-13 with three doubles and 7 RBIs in 4 video games this week. Brice Turang added eight hits and 7 runs over 17 at-bats.

Jacob Misiorowski went 5 1/3 no-hit innings in his begin on Friday night time, placing out eight and permitting simply two walks. Logan Henderson took the loss on Sunday however was strong total, placing out eight and permitting two runs on three hits and no walks. Shane Drohan, Jake Woodford, DL Hall, Easton McGee, Abner Uribe, and Trevor Megill all had strong weeks for Milwaukee’s bullpen, with Woodford and Uribe selecting up a save apiece.

The Crew wraps up the highway journey in St. Louis to start the week earlier than an off day on Thursday. They’ll then welcome the Yankees to Milwaukee for 3 video games starting on Friday.

4. Pittsburgh Pirates (19-16); 3-4 this week; 60.1% likelihood to make postseason

The Pirates had an odd week, as they had been swept by the Cardinals over 4 video games earlier than bouncing again to comb the Reds this weekend, ending their homestand with a 3-4 document.

Henry Davis picked up a pair of homers this week for the Bucs, with seven different gamers including a homer every. Nick Gonzales led the group with 11 hits, though he had only one extra-base hit (a double), whereas rookie Konnor Griffin added 10 hits, together with a homer, two doubles, and a triple, slashing .370/.433/.630 for the week. Ryan O’Hearn and Bryan Reynolds every had eight hits.

Braxton Ashcraft had a very tough begin towards St. Louis however bounced again properly on Sunday towards the Reds, spanning 7 2/3 scoreless innings with six strikeouts on simply 82 pitches. Mitch Keller additionally turned in a strong begin, going seven innings with one run allowed and 6 strikeouts. Wilber Dotel, Justin Lawrence, Mason Montgomery, Cam Sanders, and Gregory Soto had scoreless weeks for the bullpen, totaling 11 2/3 innings with 9 strikeouts between them.

Pittsburgh now heads to Arizona and San Francisco, as they will tackle the D-backs and Giants for 3 video games every starting Tuesday night time in Phoenix.

5. Cincinnati Reds (20-14); 2-4 this week; 27.1% likelihood to make postseason

The Reds take this last spot largely as a result of they took a sweep by the hands of the Pirates, though they’re nonetheless tied for second place within the division. Prior to that sweep, they took two of three from the Rockies to start the week.

It wasn’t an excellent week for the Cincinnati offense, however Will Benson led the way in which with a pair of homers and a double. Nathaniel Lowe and Spencer Steer every had six hits, with a homer and two doubles apiece, whereas Spencer Steer led the group with seven hits, together with a homer.

Chase Burns made a pair of strong begins, totaling 13 innings with two runs allowed and a team-high 16 strikeouts. Andrew Abbott picked up the opposite win in his begin, going six high quality innings with two runs allowed and 5 strikeouts. Graham Ashcraft and Sam Moll had been the one actual vivid spots for the bullpen, as they totaled 4 1/3 innings with 5 strikeouts and no runs allowed this week.

The Reds now head to Chicago to face the Cubs for 4 video games starting Monday night time. They then return house to host the Astros and Nationals starting Friday.