The National League Central wasn't supposed to be like this. Before the season started, everyone expected that the Chicago Cubs were poised to run away with the division title for a second straight season, but their slow start has left them mired around .500 along with their chief rivals, the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Brewers have capitalized thus far, taking a slim lead for first place, and even the Pirates and Reds are hanging around in what has become perhaps baseball's tightest division.
Here's what each team needs to do to stay in the race and potentially win the NL Central.
Chicago Cubs: The Cubs don't necessarily need to make a move. We know Anthony Rizzo is going to hit better than he has. The same is probably true for Kyle Schwarber and Addison Russell. The talent is there to take the division, but the team has not been without its struggles. Schwarber should turn things around, but he might not be the slugger who was hitting 30 percent better than league average in 2015 and has had so many big playoff moments the past couple of years. The team has missed Dexter Fowler in center field and at leadoff, and the pitching staff might be showing some signs of wear after two straight deep runs into the postseason.