The first half of 2026 has seen the National League Central race unfold similarly to how it has for quite some time, much like last year, when the Brewers won the division with a five-game advantage over the Cubs. In fact, when looking at the history of the NL Central, four of the past five seasons have seen Milwaukee take the division. Chicago has not won since the shortened season in 2020.
The Cubs have been aggressive in free agency, but this season, they once again find themselves in second place. Now, many Cubs players are under pressure if they wish to catch the Brewers, who have been one of the best teams in the league, and win the NL Central race.
Behind the NL Central Race
The division had an electric start to the season, which saw all teams exceed expectations and appear to contend for the division crown. However, since then, things have calmed down. It is far too early to rule anything out, but it looks like the Brewers have eliminated most of the teams from competing, having one of the best records in the entire league. The Reds have completely fallen out of the race; the Cardinals and the Pirates both look promising but remain double-digit games behind in the NL Central race. The only team that has managed to stay somewhat close is the Cubs, but they are six games behind as of July 21st.
The Red Sox enter the Top 5 in our latest MLB power rankings 🍿 @JoelReuterBR pic.twitter.com/2ysNRxGVvL
— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) July 20, 2026
Chicago’s first half of the season was far from perfect, but they remain in the NL Central race. It was a swing of emotions, having both a 10-game winning streak and a 10-game losing streak. Despite this, they have found a way to stay one of the top 10 teams in the league nearly every time power rankings are released. The Cubs have been locked in a Wild Card spot for a while now, including holding the top spot and with a comfortable margin over the final spot, which is a tightly contested race in a competitive National League.
here’s that michael conforto homer you ordered! pic.twitter.com/0BTckO3Wy5
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) July 22, 2026
What Chicago Has to Do to Catch Milwaukee
If the Cubs wish to catch up in the NL Central race, then it starts with addressing their biggest weaknesses. From pitchers to hitters, everyone on the team has struggled at some point. For the hitters, this included long cold stretches and struggles with leaving runners on base. For pitchers, this was due to allowing too many home runs and countless injuries. While the coaching was also inconsistent, many of the struggles are due to the players.
The one bright side is that the Cubs may be getting healthier, as the latest injury updates have given some belief that, within the next month, they may be getting back numerous players. Both the starting rotation and bullpen could be getting key pieces, like Daniel Palencia and Edward Cabrera, back by mid-August. Chicago has all the talent in the world, and on paper, they have a better roster than most. The key way to stay in the NL Central race is to find a way to stay healthy.
Finally, the Cubs may need an aggressive trade deadline strategy to stay competitive. Despite their talented roster, it is clear they have not lived up to the hype. For most of the first half, the starting rotation struggled to go deep into games and allowed far too many home runs. The bullpen also had its troubles, as the injuries depleted their high-leverage arms. With this, it was hard to fill innings in close games, although the Cubs found ways to win due to clutch offensive performances.
Last Word on the NL Central Race
Unless the Cubs can find a way to become more consistent, catching the Brewers could be difficult. Chicago has had their hot stretches, but so far, it has not been enough. The Brewers are playing like one of the best teams in the league, and it is hard to see them falling off. However, the NL Central race is far from over. Despite Milwaukee’s dominance, the division usually comes down to the last few weeks of the season. If the Cubs wish to close the gap, then they need to take action now, as they can not afford to fall behind any more than they already have.
Main Photo Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
