This year's National League Central Race will definitely be a tight one this year. Who will come out on top this year? Will it be the World Series winning Cardinals, the high spending Cubs, the Astros and their fading Killer Bees, or will the Reds, Brewers, and Pirates make a jump into the standings. Right here is where I predict who will be the champions at the end of the season.

1. St. Louis Cardinals
2. Chicago Cubs
3. Cincinatti Reds
4. Houston Astros
5. Milwaukee Brewers
6. Pittsburg Pirates

Although some may disagree with me, but I do actually believe the Cardinals can jump back this year to the top. I don't know about World Series champs again though. The Cardinals picked up free agent Kip Wells who a couple year ago was an All Star type pitcher. Adam Kennedy who was drafted by the Cards will be making his return to his double play partner in crime David Eckstein when they were in Anaheim together. Mark Mulder will be coming back with a vengeance showing that he has something to prove. The fifth pitching spot on the roster is going to be a battle.

The Chicago Cubs are always slated to be the winners every year. They have signed hard hitting but field lacking Alfonso Soriano. Soriano is not going to be the savior of the Chicago Cubs this year. Michael Barret and Derek Lee along with Aramis Ramirez are the ones slated to compliment Alfonso Soriano. Soriano will be hitting leadoff, but he strikes out way too much to be a lead off man. The Cubs this year will be tested by their pitching

The Reds will have to learn how to keep the ball in the ballpark. They have signed Bronson Arroyo to a longer contract which is good, because he will be their ace for years to come I think. The Reds have one of the scariest lineups in baseball due to their home run potential. Just hope that Griffey doesn't hurt himself walking (he is one of the greatest ballplayers in history and classiest so my heart goes to him).

The Brewers and Astros are teams that I just don't know about this year. The Brew Crew is young and up and coming with a pitching staff of Ben Sheets, Jeff Suppan, and Chris Capuano. The Astros have signed All Star Carlos Lee for $100 million. These teams have their strong points and weak points, but they will both be in the top of the standings next year.

The Pirates are almost done with their rebuilding which has taken almost ten years to do. They did trade to get Adam Laroche who will be great for them in their lineup. They have one of the best hitters in baseball in Freddy Sanchez and Jason Bay. They still need to figure out who will be their closer though.

Learn more about this author, Nick Forstmann.
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