Mark Polishuk's NL Central comments

[mikechamp]

These comments came from a chat with MLB Trade Rumors' Mark Polishuk that occurred on April 19. Yes, I know this is from more than a week ago. I was out, so I'm getting caught up.

Same number of questions as last... issue. There are 2 bonus questions to help: one about expansion and one about recent changes. Enjoy the read!!

The link to the entire chat can be found here: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/04/ ... t-121.html
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Are the Pirates for real this time?

Mark Polishuk
While we’re seen the Pirates collapse after hot starts before, this does legitimately seem like the best roster the Buccos have fielded in quite some time. I’d say they’re for real, but with the caveat that the entire NL Central currently has a winning record, so the Pirates haven’t even done much to separate themselves from the pack.
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Do you have any changed ROTY picks from the beginning of the year now nearly a month in?

Mark Polishuk
My ROY picks were Sal Stewart and Kazuma Okamoto, so a .500 record isn’t bad.
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Reds have to be encouraged with their pitching depth considering their ridiculous 10-0 record in close games, and Hunter and Lodolo yet to return, right?

Mark Polishuk
That kind of record in close games (Reds are 6-0 in one-run games specifically) is bound to regress, though there are always a couple of teams every year with absurdly slanted close-game records. Maybe this is Cincinnati’s year to get lucky, and you’re right that it’s particularly good that the Reds are banking these wins without arguably their two best arms.
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I think the Rockies should be open for business with a Vodnik to the Cubs or Phillies trade. Any thoughts?

Mark Polishuk
Presumably the Rockies would have a high asking price on Vodnik or anyone right now, hoping to take advantage of some desperate teams in April.

If someone is willing to meet that price, more power to the Rox, but I doubt teams will be too eager to give up much for a reliever with such unimpressive secondary metrics.
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PCA is beyond atrocious against LHP. No matter how good he is on defense, he needs to sit against lefties.

Mark Polishuk
The Cubs find themselves in a bit of a Catch-22 with PCA, especially now that they’re committed to him on a long-term extension. He’s not going to get better against left-handed pitchers if he doesn’t face them, but his platoon splits are so glaring that the Cubs are costing themselves at-bats whenever Crow-Armstrong faces a lefty.

The other issue is that if PCA sits against lefties, there’s no obvious other center field option to take his place.
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So what happens when the Reds start hitting?

Mark Polishuk
They never really started hitting last year and still made the playoffs. So getting even halfway decent offense puts the team in good position, as long as the pitching holds up and gets healthy.

One has to wonder how much rope the Reds will continue to give McLain and Hayes in everyday roles. Stewart’s started to cut into McLain’s time at second base, and while Hayes is a glove-first player, he can’t literally the worst everyday hitter in baseball.
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Should I be worried about the Brewers bullpen? Most have a track record to say they should get some leash but man there are few if any I trust in that pen right now.

Mark Polishuk
Megill has had some rough outings, so that’s been the real glaring issue since late-game meltdowns always tend to magnify things.I’d still trust that the Brewers will figure things out, or Megill and company will get on track.
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Haven’t seen a Cardinals post yet, so I just wanted to give them some respect for a good start.

Mark Polishuk
They’ve done well to overcome some very shaky pitching, though I’d be surprised if they keep it up.

Still, for what’s year #1 of a proper rebuild, it’s always a good sign that the team is still playing competitive baseball.
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What do you make of Buster Olney’s remark on the Baseball Tonight podcast last month (March 17) that a source told him Oakland could be a frontrunner for expansion?

Mark Polishuk
Oakland deserves another team, but I’d have to imagine several cities are ahead of them in terms of expansion candidates.
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What change do you enjoy more? Pitch clock or ABS?

Mark Polishuk
I’m a fan of both, but the clock has had a bigger-picture impact on the in-game experience, so that’s my pick.
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[cardsfantx]

I've never understood the PCA hype other than his hot start last year

his defense is elite, but nothing ever screamed out to me that he was a superstar