2020 MLB SHOWDOWN SET --- NL CENTRAL

 The NL Central was the most tightly contested division in baseball this season and four teams from the division made the expanded playoffs. This division would have been fun to see play out over a full 162 game season. Like all the other divisions this division has some great players and some very low players. While no complete superstars in this division offensively, they have some stellar pitching that many teams can benefit from. 

5. Pittsburgh Pirates (19-41)

Batters: Not a lot to write home about for the Pirates as they were very bad this season, but sensational prospect Ke'Bryan Hayes made his debut and he will be a highly sought after card in a draft. If he can put that chart together for a full season next year, he will make the Pirates a much better team. Jacob Stallings is a nice catcher card as well -- under 250 points and you get an 8 OB with a +7 arm. Sadly Josh Bell started terribly and couldn't generate a better card (although he snags a -1 at 1B for the third straight season). Most of this team's offense feels like it's made of guys you draft in the late rounds to make salary work for your team.

Rotation: Not a very good rotation and pretty easy to see why they struggled.  But Steven Brault's arm tats look real badass. The Pirates will need a ton of fortunate rolls to get wins, so some big performances from Brault will get the team started off right.

Bullpen: With last years Tier 1 closer incarcerated, the team had to rely on Richard Rodriguez... and he actually put up a decent tier 3 card. The bullpen, like the rotation, will need some help from the dice gods, so this team is destined to be in last place (and surprise the Brewers whenever they face off).

4. Milwaukee Brewers (29-31)

Batters: Our very own Peter's team, and sadly not very much like the last two seasons. Christian Yelich really had a down year. He still put up a decent card, and the picture still looks great... but he's no 570 or 630 point monster to build a team around. Honestly, this offense is rough. That said, Ryan Braun an all time fun chart for a 6 OB, much like his 2018 card that killed it in Bob's league, as this one will hit dingers when/if he can get his chart. Hiura took a huge step back, but I think multi-position eligible Sogard is going to be drafted a lot for 60 pts. Gyorko is a nice surprise at 7 OB with 15-20 HR, but the treat is an affordable SS Orlandooooooooooo that has an OB over 5 with pop while still giving you good defense. That said, this lineup is utter trash and completely explains their sub-.500 record.... just imagine if they had Grisham and Cain (and Davies in the rotation) though, ugh it hurts.

Rotation: How did this team stay in the hunt with that offense? Their top two starters are two Tier 2 studs that can carry the load. Aaaaand Woodruff and Burnes need to carry the team to the the bullpen, anbut they can with huge K ranges and really good 500 point and up cards. After them, Milwaukee has three low tier, non homer starters back them up, and I expect Brett Anderson to be drafted as a #3 or 4 starter in many leagues. Once you get to that bullpen, you have a greater wealth of friendly arms.... also shout out here to the new logo for the Brewers, it's nice to have the MB glove back and I think this background pops!

Bullpen: Devin Williams a Tier 0 stud, potential ROY, and takes the cake (obviously) as the most reliable, but they also have a Tier 1 in Eric Yardley. Two other tier 3 relievers give this team the back end balance that they have, including controversial, potentially on the move Josh Hader. People will like his card for the large BB range too. Also, I like that Suter gives 2 IP considering the rotation... In the end, pitching will have to carry this team to the playoffs again.

3. Cincinnati Reds (31-29)

Batters: The Reds had high expectations this season, and I think in a full length season they would have won the division. A balanced offense with only one OB below a 7 gives them depth from top to bottom. Jesse Winker will be a top round pick as a 9 OB LF/RF with +2 for 420 points -- he seems like a deal/steal! I guess others will be scared off by the 6 outs on his chart, but I'm going to target this guy. Visually, I love the Suarez card and his huge bubble, even if he put up a disappointing year compared to his 2019 card. Meanwhile, I think Akiyama will be the steal of the team for a cheap 8 OB (that also looks great). Also, I know Castellanos will appeal to guys who punt defense and/or want to DH him with that insane chart. 

Rotation: The starting pitching is the real reason why I thought this team would win the division. Trevor Bauer found his old form and absolutely dominated this season. This card is going to do some damage in a league. You should expect to win when he takes the mound. The rest of the rotation is a decent at worst, with the short innings from Antone, and other tier 3 Luis Castillo. Sonny Gray came back to tier 4 land sadly, but as an end of rotation starter, I think he will still have success with this team. After all, he'll match up against plenty of Tier 5 and 6 guys (or Tier 4 with HR) to give him an edge. That said, Bauer should win NY Cy Young and deserved this Pedro-like card after his insane 2020 numbers.

Bullpen: The bullpen is what I would call "average", and Sims seems to be the go to option in a tight situation. Amir Garrett is a high risk, high reward version of Sims thanks to the homer on his chart. Lorenzen goes 2 IP to balance the short innings of the starters, and the two tier 3 closers on the team to finish games out. 

2. St. Louis Cardinals (30-28)

Batters: The Cardinals finally got a Paul Goldschmidt card with high OB, but I don't think that chart can do much damage... honestly seems like he's right in line with Jeff's high OB strategy that never works (wink). Yadier Molina with a very interesting card. The high defense but 6 outs and no walks and high single, just strange (HOF strange?) all around. St. Louis feels like a decent team when looking at them all together. I think the Central division needs to get played out in showdown form for 162 games, because each team has weaknesses and strengths. I also need to acknowledge Tyler O'Neill and his +3 defense/A speed for all our defense/speed lovers out there. He and Bader are a pair of interesting speed and D guys, for sure!

Rotation: Adam Wainwright didn't age this season, firing up a 7 IP, tier 3 card. He is their bullpen savior to allow them a game of hopeful low stress. Dakota Hudson also put up a good Tier 3 no doubles card, and Jack Flaherty sadly regressed from his first two seasons worth of cards. Kwyang-Hyun Kim made his MLB debut this year and brought a stellar Tier 2 card with no doubles -- a high round pick for sure (potentially a round 1 pick). This may be the best rotation top to bottom from the division so far, although it could also easily be the third best depending on your preferences!

Bullpen: The bullpen is also a strength of this team, three tier 2 reliever and two tier 3 relievers to save the rotation in tight situations. Based on pitching this may be my pick to win a full division season (even though I just picked Cinci like two paragraphs ago ;)). 

1. Chicago Cubs (34-26) 

Batters: Jason Heyward with a stellar card for a lead off potential hitter, 10 OB speed A and great defense. Kyle Schwarber may have one of the most interesting cards -- outs, walks, and HRs. I was happy to see Jason Kipnis have a good card, as he went back to his hoem town team for this season. The rest of the offense is pretty average, and it feels so weird to see Kris Bryant with such a bad card, as well as Javy Baez. Happ and Rizzo put out some strong OB 8 cards too.

Rotation: Yu Darvish starts with a Tier 2 no doubles card that is a very nice card. This is the Cy Young contender the Cubs paid for following the 2017 season and its nice to see him lighting it up with the Cubs. Kyle Hendricks has a tier 3 behind him, and after that is Jon Lester and Mr. No hitter with home run charts. Cubs will look to win games 1-2 because 3 & 4 may be difficult. 

 

Bullpen: Jeremy Jeffress had a wonderful season getting a Tier 1 closer card, but he has to be the go to guy in the pen as the rest of the bullpen can have some rough times ahead. Dan Winkler also brings a tier 4 no doubles card to relieve Jeffress.... but then the options feel like zip, zilch, and nada. Kimbrel continues to have completely fallen from grace as a potential HOF closer to just an absolute scrub (who'll get drafted because he's cheap with no HR).

That is the NL Central, and the National League is officially done. Writing about this team really makes me want to do a Divisional season for them as they are all very even with each having weaknesses. The Pirates won't do very well but can play spoiler for a contending team. I also wanted to take a minute to thank all of our readers whether it is from when before I joined the blog, or just stumbled upon it recently, but we just reached over 250,000 page views on the blog which just feels really awesome that so many people like to see this game being kept alive no matter the creators. We owe a huge thank you to David Bush for starting this blog that everyone could flock to. I know if I wouldn't have googled MLB Showdown that one day and came across his 2016 Indians I wouldn't have any of this wonderful stuff in my life. Crazy enough I am not even talking about showdown, I started talking to him about baseball and what cards may look like as he helped me develop my learning of the style and strategy. That then turned into very few days where there hasn't been a message exchanged 80% of the time not even about showdown. On top of that I got to meet Bob and Jeff from this stupid game and blog, and I consider them very close friends as well. How crazy is that, so Thank You David Bush, sorry your 2019 Brewers April Fools team didn't come to fruition.