NL Central

After Adam Wainwright went down for the season, Kyle McClellan looked like the leading candidate to take the open spot in the starting rotation. After his first outing of the spring, that spot is now McClellan's to lose.

The Chicago Cubs are already six games into their Cactus League season and are leaving many fans already skeptical with the club's new management who currently stand at 1-5.

The one victory for the Cubs came over an impressive game with the reigning World Champion San Francisco Giants. Only seven games into the spring season, there has already been a dugout scuffle between Cubs' pitcher Carlos Silva and Aramis Ramirez.

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Now that the initial shock is over from the news that Jason Castro will be out for almost the entire 2011 season with a torn ACL, the Houston Astros need to go into damage control and figure out what they want to do with the catcher situation.

They could head into the season relying on their current catchers, Humberto Quintero and J.R. Towles, but they have hit a combined .221 in their major league careers.

When you are a pitcher in the Pittsburgh Pirates minor league system, there is hope that you could make an impact in the Major Leagues sooner, rather than later.  Enter 2006 28th round draft pick Rudy Owens, who looked great at Double-A in ’10 and could make his Pirates debut before long.

Heading into 2011, the Cincinnati Reds have a deep rotation, not necessarily loaded with aces, but with arms who are definitely strong enough to get a team through the 162 game ringer.

In 2010, the Houston Astros played well enough down the stretch to finish a better than expected 76-86.  That was good enough to finish fourth in the NL Central.  This year, however, the Astros are younger and more inexperienced.

With every other team in the division improving its roster during the offseason, the Astros have not done much as they are about to be sold.  With so much uncertainty surrounding the team, can they do as well as they did last year?

Let's analyze each position and see if they can make a run for the Central.

It is being reported this morning that Jason Castro's injury—first thought to be a meniscus tear—is actually a torn ACL, and he will be out for the majority of the 2011 season. This is a major blow to the Houston Astros and their chances this season.

"It's only spring training."

Say it over and over to yourself, Cubs fans.

"It's only spring training."

Yes, it's only been four games—four games that don't count for anything, to be exact—but it's hard for a team to look any worse than the Chicago Cubs have so far.

In just four spring training games, the Cubs have committed 14 errors, including three in the first inning of a 12-5 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday.

The St. Louis Cardinals are one of the most storied franchises in American sports history. They've won 10 World Series—second only to the Yankees. Their uniforms are perhaps the best-looking in all of sports.

But hungry fans want more. They want the Cardinals to compete harder against the Yankees' (Jankees') legacy. By spending the cheddar, the Cards can stay competitive.

This slideshow will describe the best and the second best at each position in the NL Central. Inbox for fantasy baseball questions or opinions.