National League Central Rotations Ranked for the 2024 MLB Season
Zack Cook
Host · Writer
1. Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs have the second-shortest odds to capture the NL Central, and a big reason for that is their starting rotation. Justin Steele continued to dominate in 2023, while we know what to expect from Kyle Hendricks and Jameson Taillon at this point. The wild card in this rotation is Shota Imanaga. Imanaga comes over from Japan with solid numbers and has a chance to be a top-three starter in this rotation. If he can post an ERA in the high threes, the Cubs will be in good shape in the division.
Chicago Cubs NL Central Odds: +210
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5. Pittsburgh Pirates
It's not all doom and gloom for the Pittsburgh Pirates, but this group has too many question marks to rank them higher. Mitch Keller is growing into a strong starter, but after him, there are a lot of wild cards and reclimination projects in this rotation. Martin Perez and Marco Gonzales can eat innings, but how effective will they be for an entire 162-game campaign?
Pittsburgh Pirates NL Central Odds: +1200
4. Milwaukee Brewers
With Brandon Woodruff sidelined and Corbin Burnes being traded to Baltimore, it's now Freddy Peralta's rotation to lead in 2024. There are already some injury concerns for this rotation heading into the season, which made me consider having the Brewers rotation ranked last in the NL Central. Still, the Brewers typically find a way to get things done with their starting pitching, and we'll see if that holds with a revamped rotation in 2024.
Milwaukee Brewers NL Central Odds: +700
3. St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals had a significant makeover to their starting rotation after a dismal 2023 campaign. Only Miles Mikolas and Steven Matz remain, with Sonny Gray, Lance Lynn, and Kyle Gibson all signed in free agency. Gray gives the Cardinals a bonafide ace at the top of their rotation, which this team has been missing. It's an old rotation, but at least you know what you'll get from them at this stage in their careers.
St. Louis Cardinals NL Central Odds: +160
2. Cincinnati Reds
There's actually a reason to be bullish on this Cincinnati Reds rotation, which is not something we've been accustomed to saying of late. Led by young flamethrower Hunter Greene, the Reds are looking to find a way back into the NL Central conversation in 2024. Add in Frankie Montas and Graham Ashcraft, and you will begin to have a rotation that's building something worthwhile. The key to this rotation being strong will rest on whether Montas can return to being the starter we've seen him be before he ran into injury troubles.
Cincinnati Reds NL Central Odds: +350
1. Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs have the second-shortest odds to capture the NL Central, and a big reason for that is their starting rotation. Justin Steele continued to dominate in 2023, while we know what to expect from Kyle Hendricks and Jameson Taillon at this point. The wild card in this rotation is Shota Imanaga. Imanaga comes over from Japan with solid numbers and has a chance to be a top-three starter in this rotation. If he can post an ERA in the high threes, the Cubs will be in good shape in the division.
Chicago Cubs NL Central Odds: +210
Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with SportsGrid.
5. Pittsburgh Pirates
It's not all doom and gloom for the Pittsburgh Pirates, but this group has too many question marks to rank them higher. Mitch Keller is growing into a strong starter, but after him, there are a lot of wild cards and reclimination projects in this rotation. Martin Perez and Marco Gonzales can eat innings, but how effective will they be for an entire 162-game campaign?
Pittsburgh Pirates NL Central Odds: +1200
