National League Central News

The first half of the Pirates' season has been more notable for what happened off the field.

Veteran lefty Mike Hampton aims for his 10th career defeat of the Washington Nationals franchise tonight when the Houston Astros host the skidding National League East Division cellar-dwellars in the third of a four- game series at Minute Maid Park.

In the annals of unfortunate titles, "This is the Year!" would have to rank near the top.

Albert Pujols hit his 32nd homer, Ryan Ludwick drove in four runs and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Chicago Cubs 8-3 on Friday in the opener of a four-game series leading into the All-Star break.

The series finale in Philadelphia was messier for the Reds than a cheesesteak with extra Wiz and grease dripping through the carryout bag.

Manny Ramirez tied Mickey Mantle on the career home run chart, and Matt Kemp hit a 10th-inning grand slam and made a fantastic catch for the final out to lead the Los Angeles Dodgers over the struggling Milwaukee Brewers 12-8 on Friday night.

Bronson Arroyo became the latest struggling pitcher to overwhelm the New York Mets .

The Houston Astros will try to stay alive in the NL Central race when they resume a four-game series Friday night versus the Washington Nationals at Minute Maid Park.

The Cubs take another shot at the biggest, baddest obstacles between them and a third straight National League Central Division championship today when they open the biggest series of their season so far.

The Chicago Cubs will resume their 11-game homestand tonight with the first of three straight games versus the Atlanta Braves at Wrigley Field.

Jayson Werth homered for the fourth straight game, Chase Utley hit an inside-the-park homer and Philadelphia beat Cincinnati 9-6 on Thursday night.

In a show of unity, the Cardinals' starting rotation is brandishing mustaches. Except for some domestic objections, the idea is playing well.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have a chance to win their first road series since mid-May when they close out a three-game set against the Houston Astros this afternoon at Minute Maid Park.

The Philadelphia Phillies seem to have solved their home woes and will close out a four-game series tonight versus the Cincinnati Reds at Citizens Bank Park.

Things were starting to look up for the Chicago Cubs. They took three out of four games from the Milwaukee Brewers over the weekend and appeared to be turning the corner offensively... by TAB BAMFORD 24 reads Opinion Things were starting to look up for the Chicago Cubs.

Aramis Ramirez must have something against standing ovations. With the crowd on its feet, cheering as if Bill Murray or Vince Vaughn were leading the seventh inning stretch, Ramirez swung at Jair Jurrjens ' first offering after two months away, and grounded meekly to second, trotting toward first to end the first inning.

Prince Fielder drove in the go-ahead run with his two-out, eighth inning infield single and the struggling Milwaukee Brewers rallied to beat the NL Central-leading St.

The Houston Astros hope to stay on the winning path when they take on the National League Central-rival Pittsburgh Pirates tonight in the first of three straight games from Minute Maid Park.

When the Milwaukee Brewers departed Miller Park for Chicago last week, they held a one-game lead over the St.

Getting closer. That's the latest status update of a Cubs sale process that began on Opening Day 2007 -- a bombshell that required Lou Piniella to hold a team meeting in Cincinnati on the evils of getting distracted shortly before his first official game as Cubs manager.