NL Central Standings (screenshot via MLB.com)
We’ve now reached the Pennant Race portion of the 2012 Major League Baseball season. Three teams are within eight games of each other in the NL Central.
Cincinnati Reds
The Reds are sitting pretty right now, three games ahead in the Central. Cincy has been playing some good baseball as of late as they’ve won nine of their last 10, including Tuesday night, 7-6, against San Diego.
Prior to losing Monday night, the Reds secured sweeps against Colorado and Houston. The Reds are in terrific shape at this point and if they keep it up, nothing will stop them, not even sweaty robots.
The Reds did make some dealings for the trade deadline. They picked up some bullpen help as they traded for Kansas City reliever Jonathan Broxton.
There was talk about Cincy acquiring Denard Span from the Twins, but reports indicated Span declined the deal.
Cincy has two more games, Wednesday and Thursday against the Padres. This weekend, they’ll face off against the Pittsburgh Pirates for a three-game series.
To read more on the Reds, check out C-ing Red.
Pittsburgh Pirates
That was close! That was way too close! A.J. Burnett was soooo close to picking up a no-hitter against the Cubs Tuesday night. Sadly for the Pirates, it didn’t happen, but I don’t think they’ll lose so much sleep over it, since they beat the Cubs 5-0.
I’m not really sure what would have happened if Burnett got the no-hitter, but I have a pretty good idea. Chances are, I would have gone running around in the streets, in some misplaced anger. I probably would have tried to pick up bolted down mail boxes. I’m not really sure, but what’s important is it didn’t happen.
It should be noted, the Pirates win Tuesday night came after losing in blowout fashion, 14-4, the previous night. The Pirates road struggles continue as they’re 26-28 away from PNC Park this season.
Pittsburgh also made some moves during the trade deadline funfest Tuesday. The Pirates acquired Gaby Sanchez from Miami, Chad Qualls from the Yankees and Travis Snider from Toronto.
Pittsburgh wraps up their series with the Cubs Wednesday and prepares for a showdown with Cincy this weekend.
If you’re interested in writing about the Pirates, check out the link here.
St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals sit third in the Central, seven games back, following their win against Colorado Tuesday night. The Cardinals won the game by a score of 11-6.
The win was much needed for St. Louis, as they lost two out of three over the weekend to the Cubs.
The Cardinals did acquire a player at the trade deadline, acquiring Edward Mujica from the Miami Marlins for prospect Zack Cox.
St. Louis has two more games against the Rockies before stopping home for the weekend to play Milwaukee. Read all the Cardinals news and analysis at Aaron Miles’ Fastball.
Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers have picked up two straight wins after a rough weekend against Washington. Both wins have come against the Astros. They defeated Houston Tuesday night, 10-1, as Yovani Gallardo picked up his ninth win of the season.
Milwaukee didn’t make any trades Tuesday, but they did trade pitcher Zack Greinke over the weekend to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
The Brewers will be on the road this weekend to face the Cardinals.
Chicago Cubs
That was close! Too close! Had Burnett got the no-hitter against the Cubs, it would have been the first time the Cubs were no-hit against since 1965 when Sandy Koufax of the Los Angeles Dodgers pulled off the task. Don’t scare us like that again, Cubs.
Chicago had a busy last couple of days of trading, with the deadline looming. Their big trade Tuesday was sending Ryan Dempster to the Texas Rangers for a couple of minor leaguers. The Cubs were able to make the trade just minutes before the deadline.
Dempster isn’t the only one wearing a Rangers uniform as catcher Geovany Soto was traded to Texas Monday night. Also, Reed Johnson and Paul Maholm were traded to Atlanta. You can read more about the trades here.
The Cubs try for the series win Wednesday against Pittsburgh. They’ll have an off day Thursday as they head to the West Coast for a series with the Dodgers.
Read all your Cubs news at A League of Her Own.
Houston Astros
With their loss to Milwaukee Tuesday night, the Astros are at 70 losses for the season. They’re 35 games under .500, making Houston the worst team in baseball record-wise.
The Astros have made their fair share of trades this season, most recently sending Chris Johnson to the Diamondbacks. You can see a great list here.
Houston will wrap up their series against Milwaukee Wednesday before traveling South to take on the Atlanta Braves. You can read all the latest Astros news at Tales From the Juice Box.
