The National League Central in April 2009
See team statistics and player updates from the Central division
Win/Loss: 14-7
Win %: .667
Home: 10-3
Last 10: 6-4
The St. Louis Cardinals are off to their best start since 2005 and it’s no secret who deserves most of the credit. Slugger Albert Pujols is on a tear with two grand slams this season and is top ten in the league in most offensive categories. He leads MLB in slugging percentage (.653) and OPS (1.114).
• The Cardinals 20 errors are tied with the Washington Nationals for the league lead. Shortstop Khalil Green has 5 errors followed by Albert Pujols with 4.
• Catcher Yadier Molina is on a tear this season after hitting safely in 12 consecutive games. He his three shy of breaking the previous career high he set in 2007.
Pittsburgh's RBI leader Nate McLouth misses time
Win/Loss: 11-9
Win %: .550
Home: 6-3
Road: 5-6
Last 10: 6-4
The Pittsburgh Pirates have had 16 straight losing seasons, but there appears to be reason for hope early on. Even though the Pirates are third in their division, the team has not been over .500 at this point in the season since April 2002.
• Injuries beset this Pirates squad in recent weeks with RBI leaders Nate McLouth and Ryan Doumit both missing time. McLouth sat out his fifth consecutive game Tuesday due to a strained oblique muscle while Doumit broke his right wrist and landed on the DL.
• 3B Adam LaRoche is now hitting .250 after an 11-game hitting streak ended Tuesday. LaRoche started the season on an 0-for-18 slump.
Milwaukee gets a boost from Prince Fielder's multi-homerun game
Win/Loss: 10-10
Win %: .500
Home: 4-4
Road: 6-6
Last 10: 7-3
After a slow start, the Milwaukee Brewers are on the mend behind a starting staff that looks like it’s beginning to gel. The Brewers rotation has nine quality starts in the last 10 games.
• RHP Pitcher Braden Looper emerged as the leader of this staff in recent weeks. He now leads the team in wins (2-0) and ERA (2.45).
• The Brewers offense has been prolific as of late with Prince Fielder notching his 13th multi-homer game in Houston and Corey Hart drawing 12 walks in the last 20 games after only drawing 27 last season.
The Reds' Arthur Rhodes and David Weathers key setup men
Win/Loss: 10-10
Win %: .500
Home: 3-7
Road: 7-3
Last 10: 5-5
Great American Ballpark has been known as a bandbox in recent years but things seem to be changing in Cincinnati. Reds hitters are batting only his season and rank among the bottom 5 in the league in RBI.
• The bullpen has been a strength of the team with David Weathers and Arthur Rhodes locking down the late innings. Both pitchers have not allowed a run in their last 17 innings.
• Francisco Cordero is 6-for-6 on saves this season, but he hasn’t blown his last 20 save appearances dating back to last season. He saved 14 games in 2008.
Injuries to Derrick Lee and Milton Bradley lead to slow start
Win/Loss: 9-9
Win %: .500
Home: 4-4
Road: 5-5
Last 10: 4-6
The Chicago Cubs topped the National League last season with 97 wins, but a post-season flameout seems to have left them relatively middle of the road offensively. The Cubs are 15th in runs and 17th in RBI this season due to a rash of injuries.
• Derrick Lee joins an ever growing list of injured Cubs after leaving the game with neck spasms on Sunday. RF Milton Bradley is out for two weeks with a groin strain and RHP Carlos Marmol with an ailing left knee.
• Last year’s Rookie of the Year catcher Geovany Soto has struggled at the plate with a .119 batting average, 2 RBI and no home runs and behind the dish he’s allowed 11 runners to steal off of him.
• RHP Carlos Zambrano has done it all for the Cubs so far. He recorded his 1200th strikeout against the Cubs and was a triple away from the cycle after hitting a homerun in the seventh.
Houston Astros Closer Jose Valverde On 15-day disabled list
Win/Loss: 9-12
Win %: .429
Home: 5-8
Road: 4-4
Last 10: 5-5
Houston Manager Cecil Cooper got thrown out of a 3-2 loss over Milwaukee on Saturday, but that still doesn’t change the fact that they are last in the division because they can’t score runs. The Astros rank 25th in hits and RBI so far this season.
• Houston Astros closer Jose Valverde went on the 15-day DL Tuesday after a groundball from the LA Dodgers Orlando Hudson went off his right ankle. Valverde 44 saves last season led the National League.
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