Pirates still at the bottom of hotly contested NL Central

TL;DR

The Pittsburgh Pirates are currently at the bottom of the NL Central despite a winning record of 19-16. The division is highly competitive, with every team holding a winning record.

Key points

Pittsburgh Pirates are last in the NL Central with a 19-16 record
Every team in the NL Central has a winning record
Cubs lead the division with a 22-12 record
Pirates have a .543 winning percentage, higher than teams in other divisions
Upcoming series against Cardinals and Cubs later in May

Pittsburgh PiratesCincinnati RedsCleveland GuardiansAthletics

PITTSBURGH, PA - MAY 03: Braxton Ashcraft (35) of the Pittsburgh Pirates walks to the dugout after being relieved in the eighth inning during an MLB game against the Cincinnati Reds on May 03, 2026 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images The Pittsburgh Pirates are coming off a series sweep of the rival Cincinnati Reds, but they still find themselves at the bottom of what’s been a tightly contested National League Central division all season long. Despite the last place distinction that the Pirates hold, they still have a record over .500, as they are currently 19-16 on the year. The NL Central has just been stacked to start the year with every squad having a winning record in the division; this is the only division in baseball where every team has a winning record. The Pirates’ last place .543 winning percentage is greater than the division leading Cleveland Guardians in the American League Central (.514) and the Athletics in the AL West (.529). In the division, the Pirates are playing above .500 baseball, but have been far from perfect against these clubs. They currently have a and hold a .563 winning percentage against NL Central opponents. They have been very successful against the Reds as they won both of those series this year. They were uncharacteristically successful against the at Wrigley Field, as they won two out of the three games in that series. Their lone series against the was also a victory as they took two out of three games at American Family Field. The club did suffer a devastating four game sweep at the hands of the . The Cubs currently lead the division with a 22-12 record, which is the third best in baseball. The Reds and Cardinals both hold 20-14 records, while Milwaukee is just narrowly ahead of Pittsburgh with an 18-15 record. has the best record against division opponents as they currently sit at 4-0 in NL Central play. The Cubs and Brewers both hold 1-2 records in the division while Cincinnati has a division worst 1-5 record against NL Central opponents. May has only just begun, but the way the division is playing out now could very easily forecast what the race for the postseason could like at season’s end. This is the most competitive division in baseball right now as even the “worst” team in the division is playing at a high level. The Pirates have completely transformed their lineup, and yet only time will tell if they did enough to win the NL Central or earn to even earn a Wild Card berth. Pittsburgh has seen the most action from opposing NL Central teams to start the season which could benefit them down the stretch, but it’s looking like it’s going to be a tough grind for any team to gain any real separation at the top. The Pirates will be playing out of division until the end of May. Starting on May 19 Pittsburgh will be in a three game series against St. Louis and then starting on May 25 the Pirates will host the Cubs for a four game series.

Q&A

What is the current record of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the NL Central?

The Pittsburgh Pirates have a record of 19-16 in the NL Central.

How does the Pirates' winning percentage compare to other divisions?

The Pirates' .543 winning percentage is higher than the division-leading Cleveland Guardians in the AL Central and the Athletics in the AL West.

Which teams are currently leading the NL Central division?

The Chicago Cubs lead the NL Central with a 22-12 record, followed by the Reds and Cardinals at 20-14, and the Brewers at 18-15.

When will the Pirates play their next series against division rivals?

The Pirates will face the St. Louis Cardinals in a three-game series starting on May 19, followed by a four-game series against the Cubs starting on May 25.