Expected NL Central rotations for the 2025 season
How the rotations are shaping up for each NL Central teams.
After reviewing the lineups according to FanGraphs Roster Resource, we will discuss the rotations today.
There haven’t been any big moves to the Cubs and Kyle Tucker level, but there have been a few free-agent signings and some notable names joining the division through trades.
Here’s a look at how each rotation in the NL Central is shaping up, based on FanGraphs Roster Resource:
Chicago Cubs
LHP Shota Imanaga
LHP Justin Steele
RHP Jameson Taillon
LHP Matthew Boyd
RHP Javier Assad
The team with the heaviest left-handed pitching presence currently, the Cubs, brought in Matthew Boyd on a free-agent contract. They are still led by Shota Imanaga and Justin Steele, a pair of lefties who combined for over 300 strikeouts last season.
Jameson Taillon won 12 games while posting a 2.3 fWAR last year.
St. Louis Cardinals
RHP Sonny Gray
RHP Erick Fedde
RHP Miles Mikolas
RHP Andre Pallante
LHP Steven Matz
The entire rotation made at least seven starts with the Cardinals last season, with Steven Matz the fewest at seven. Sonny Gray struck out over 200 batters last season in 166.1 innings pitched. Four pitchers have five years of experience or more, making them one of the most veteran staffs in the division.
Cincinnati Reds
RHP Hunter Greene
RHP Brady Singer
LHP Andrew Abbott
RHP Nick Martinez
LHP Nick Lodolo
The Reds made one of the bigger moves in the division this offseason, shipping out homegrown former Rookie of the Year Jonathan India to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for Brady Singer.
That helps solidify a rotation with a lot of upsides but some injury risk to it. Nick Martinez returns after accepting a qualifying offer. He put together a solid 2024 season.
Milwaukee Brewers
RHP Freddy Peralta
RHP Brandon Woodruff
RHP Aaron Civale
RHP Tobias Myers
LHP Nestor Cortes
Milwaukee traded a prominent player who was a pending free agent the following offseason for the second straight year. This time, they moved Devin Williams but got back a solid back-of-the-rotation starter in Nestor Cortes (as well as Caleb Durbin).
Brandon Woodruff looks to return from missing the entire 2024 season. Tobias Myers and Aaron Civale were solid depth pitchers behind Freddy Peralta.
Pittsburgh Pirates
RHP Paul Skenes
RHP Mitch Keller
RHP Jared Jones
LHP Bailey Falter
RHP Johan Oviedo
The Pirates were able to trade from a position of strength, the rotation, to add another bat to their lineup. Losing Luis Ortiz would typically sting, but they have several options to slide into his place.
Johan Oviedo will return to the rotation after missing the 2024 season due to Tommy John. Paul Skenes quickly emerged as one of the best pitchers in baseball, winning Rookie of the Year and being a finalist for the Cy Young.
Bailey Falter put together a solid season and is one of their few left-handed options in the rotation.
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Where we putting the Pirates’ rotation ranked among the rest of the division?
I think it's probably pretty clear that Bubba is a top 5 starter right now annnnnd I have a hard time imagining there's much left in the tank after August.