National League Central News

The St. Louis Cardinals weren't going to let some bumps and bruises prevent them from improving their NL-leading record.

FoxSports.com's Jon Paul Morosi profiles the Boston fans' deep admiration for Francona and explains why he hopes the team's ownership group eventually will welcome Francona back into the Red Sox family.

For Travis Wood, Saturday's start in Cincinnati might mean a little more than usual.

Joey Votto extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a homer, and Ryan Hanigan and Brandon Phillips also homered on Friday night, powering the Cincinnati Reds to their fourth straight win, 7-4 over the Chicago Cubs.

Hanigan hit a three-run homer that put Cincinnati ahead to stay, and the Reds beat the Cubs 7-4 on Friday night for their fourth straight win.

Joey Votto extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a homer, and Ryan Hanigan and Brandon Phillips also homered on Friday night, powering the Cincinnati Reds to their fourth straight win, 7-4 over the Chicago Cubs.

Don Mattingly isn't in immediate danger of being fired as manager of the last-place Los Angeles Dodgers, with team president Stan Kasten saying none of the players are asking for his dismissal, either.

Apr 22, 2013; Cincinnati, OH, USA; The Reds celebrate on the field after they beat the Chicago Cubs in 13th innings at Great American Ball Park.

The Dodgers will have their work cut out for them on Friday night when they open up a three-game set at Dodger Stadium against the first place Cardinals.

Approaching 50 games in the 2013 season and the National League Central has a familiar look at top of the division when you consider what those prognosticators prognosticated.

The St. Louis Cardinals enter the opener of their three-game series against the host Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday with the best record in the major leagues.

Since opening in 2001, the Pirates have won just 32 of 102 games at the home of the Milwaukee Brewers.

"My personality won't let me do it," he said recently. "I'm not a numbers type of guy.

A revelation who has already exceeded high expectations, center fielder Shin-Soo Choo has been everything and more than the win-now Reds had hoped he'd be from the leadoff spot this season.

The Cubs could use a miracle or two, but instead they'll send Edwin Jackson against the Pirates in Thursday's matinee and hope the offense can give him some run support to prevent a sweep of the three-game series.

Jeanmar Gomez tries to pitch the Pittsburgh Pirates to a three-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs Thursday when the National League Central foes close their set from PNC Park.

Jeanmar Gomez tries to pitch the Pittsburgh Pirates to a three-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs Thursday when the National League Central foes close their set from PNC Park.

The Cincinnati Reds currently own the third-best record in baseball, and sit just a game-and-a-half behind the St.

The Brewers went down meekly in the rubber game of their series with the Los Angeles Dodgers at Miller Park Wednesday afternoon, 9-2. The Dodgers pounded starter Wily Peralta who never made it out of the second inning.

The Dodgers will welcome the National League's top team on Friday, as manager Don Mattingly's club tries to continue to right the ship after a series win in Milwaukee.