NL Central prediction for 2024 plus Victor Scott and the aesthetics of team defense

It's almost time, folks

In which I apologize in advance for the forthcoming prediction

With Opening Day mere days and hours away, it’s time to get down to the necessary business of pretending I know what will happen this season. That is, it’s time to lay out my predicted order of finish for our very own National League Central. Here is such a thing, right now: 

1. Cubs

2. Cardinals

3. Reds

4. Brewers

5. Pirates

First, I’m sorry. Second, I foresee a great deal of compression in our division this season, with the first- and last-place teams being separated by perhaps just 10 to 12 games or so. At the back end, I see the Pirates and Brewers as most interchangeable and as being a tier below the third-place Reds. The reigning division champs in Milwaukee sloughed off too much starting pitching this offseason to repeat. The Pirates, meantime, are still trying to pull together the outgrowths of a rebuild process while being dragged down by an owner who could not possibly be worse at his job. The Reds have been knocked around by injuries this spring, and it’s frankly hard to muster much faith in their rotation. As well, Cincy outplayed their underlying baseline last season by quite a bit. 

As for our Cardinals, I do see them as viable and perhaps even strong wild-card contenders, and the margins at the top of the NL Central standings should be tight indeed. However, the bald lack of upside in the quite old rotation plus some initial injury worries are the drivers in my picking the Cards for second place. The rotation makeover has been drastic but ultimately inadequate. Now on to the Cubs, my held-nose pick to win the NL Central in 2024.