The Pittsburgh Pirates are significantly improved over where they were last season, but with a bar so low that no one should be throwing any parades just because they cleared it. Ryan O'Hearn and Brandon Lowe can't be their only veteran additions to the lineup.
While the NL Central is in a weird spot, the Chicago Cubs have shown recently that they're not going to fade into the background. Edward Cabrera and now Alex Bregman arriving in Chicago make them formidable. The Milwaukee Brewers are still the Brewers, as well, making up a clear first tier.