Since 2018, the National League Central has been controlled by the Milwaukee Brewers. They have won the division five out of the last eight seasons, including each of the past three, with the St. Louis Cardinals clinching in 2019 and 2022 and the Chicago Cubs during the shortened 2020 season.
On the contrary, the bottom of the division has consistently belonged to the Pittsburgh Pirates, despite holding the first overall draft picks in 2021 and 2023 along with several other high selections. Cincinnati, meanwhile, has struggled to find steady footing. The Reds spent the early 2020s shedding payroll before a wave of young talent finally began to emerge, culminating in a 2025 playoff appearance as a Wild Card team.