NL Central Week 22 Rankings: Brewers, Cubs, Reds, Cardinals, Pirates

This week in the NL Central was a wild ride. Momentum swung back and forth, finishes got dramatic, and a few players really stole the show.

The Brewers had a balanced but inconsistent 3-3 stretch. The Cubs climbed back into second place. The Reds and Cardinals each flashed moments of brilliance, but also showed some real concerns.

Emerging stars grabbed headlines. Veteran pitchers stepped up when it counted. Sometimes, though, team strengths got canceled out by costly weaknesses.

Let’s dive into how each club fared — and see where they landed in this week’s division rankings, factoring in results, form, and who they actually played.

Weekly NL Central Power Rankings

Performance isn’t just about wins and losses. The quality of your opponent matters, so does consistency, and whether you can handle the heat in big moments. Here’s how the five rivals stacked up this week.

1. Chicago Cubs (6-2)

The Cubs probably played their most balanced baseball of the season. They snagged a huge series win over Milwaukee, then swept aside the Angels with a mix of clutch hitting and solid pitching.

• Key Moment: Pete Crow-Armstrong’s ninth-inning homer against the Angels sealed a dramatic win.
• Breakout Performance: Owen Caissie hit his first career home run and was the only Cub to bat over .300 for the week.
• On the mound: Shota Imanaga and Javier Assad both delivered strong starts, giving the offense space to work.

The Cubs beat a top team and didn’t slip up against a weaker opponent. That’s what put them at the top this week.

2. Cincinnati Reds (4-2)

The Reds started by snapping Milwaukee’s 14-game win streak. They carried that spark into a successful series against the Angels.

• Hot Bat: Noelvi Marte stayed hot, hitting .302 for the year with 10 home runs.
• Pitching Edge: Andrew Abbott and Nick Martinez anchored the rotation, and the bullpen held it down in some tight games.

3. Milwaukee Brewers (3-3)

Milwaukee’s week was a mix. They opened with a series win over the Reds, stumbled against the Cubs, then wrapped things up with a walk-off against the Giants.

• Offensive Leaders: William Contreras picked up seven hits, including two homers. Brice Turang torched August pitching with a .429/.500/.714 line.
• Star Pitching: Freddy Peralta earned his league-leading 15th win, shutting out the Cubs over six innings.

4. Pittsburgh Pirates (4-3)

The Pirates quietly put together a solid week. They lost a series to the Cubs, but bounced back with wins over Toronto and Colorado.

• Pitching Promise: Prospects Paul Skenes and Bubba Chandler both impressed, offering fans a real glimpse of hope.

5. St. Louis Cardinals (3-3)

The Cardinals opened the week with disappointment against the Yankees, then rebounded against the Marlins.

• Power Surge: Willson Contreras homered three times, and Lars Nootbaar piled up 11 hits.
• Pitching Concerns: Every starter gave up at least three runs, so the bullpen — especially Riley O’Brien and Matt Svanson — had to step up.

Final Thoughts

The NL Central’s always a rollercoaster, especially as the season hits its stride. The Cubs have picked up steam lately, showing off a nice mix of talent and energy.

The Reds are right behind them, mostly thanks to their deep pitching rotation. The Brewers still look dangerous, but man, they can’t seem to find consistency.

The Pirates might just mess up someone’s playoff hopes before it’s all over. The Cardinals really need to figure out their pitching if they want to stay in the race.

August games are starting to feel like must-wins every night. Nobody’s backing down, and honestly, it’s hard to say who’s going to come out on top.

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Here is the source article for this story: 2025 NL Central Power Rankings: Week 22