National League Central News

A walk-off, bases-loaded error gave the Pirates a 5-4 win against the Houston Astros at PNC Park Friday night.

The Mets did the Cubs and the rest of the N.L. Central a favor Thursday by defeating the Cardinals .

Each weekday, Star reporter Mark Ambrogi, a life-long Reds fan, will provide links to Indy's four favorite teams -- the Reds, Cubs, Cardinals and White Sox -- and other hot topics in baseball.

The Milwaukee Brewers will need to take advantage of every opportunity they can in order to get back into the NL Central race.

The Milwaukee Brewers have lost 12 of their last 14 games, are in last place in the National League Central division and have the third worst record in the league.

The St. Louis Cardinals have arrived at the first-quarter turn in the baseball season, running ahead of the pack and trying to stay that way.

The Reds will get their ace back next week. Johnny Cueto, who has been on the disabled list since the middle of April with lat/oblique issues, will start Monday against the Mets, reports John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer .

In this week's Awards Watch, I take my first isolated look at the year's Cy Young races and find past winners and perennial contenders for the award leading very competitive fields in both leagues.

The rolling St. Louis Cardinals look to compete a rare four-game sweep of the slumping New York Mets Thursday at Busch Stadium.

The Milwaukee Brewers have lost 11 of their last 13 games, which has dropped them to last place in the National League Central division.

There's no shame in giving up singles to the Reds' Mike Leake or to the Cubs' Travis Wood, guys who take swings like they know their way around the tee.

Yovani Gallardo got himself back on track Wednesday night, and it still wasn't enough to lift the Milwaukee Brewers to a victory.

Shortstop Zack Cozart, third baseman Todd Frazier and catcher Ryan Hanigan were all out of Wednesday's starting lineup.

Manager Dusty Baker has been plugging a hole in left field since Ryan Ludwick tore cartilage in his right shoulder while sliding headfirst into third base during Cincinnati's season opener.

The Brewers are 16-21, and their extra-inning loss to the Pirates on Tuesday was their eighth defeat in 10 games.

Over the next 13 days, the Padres play 12 games against one division leader and three division runnersup .

After stealing a series victory in Washington over the weekend, the flight back to Chicago must have been real enjoyable.

The White Sox are last in almost every offensive category, and outside of lone all-star pitcher Chris Sale, it looks like it could be another 88 years before any champagne is served in the clubhouse.

The Reds are in Miami today to kick off a three game set vs. the Marlins following their Monday off-day...which followed their Thursday off-day way too closely.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are a few games out of first place but that has more to do with how good the St.