NL Central, 3.0: Playoffs likely for three teams?

Let's check back in on what the SportsLine Projection Model says about the National League Central, with an eye toward how things have changed since last time.

After all, spring training is winding down and Opening Day is in the offing. So it's time for a reset ...

St. Louis Cardinals (94.5-67.5): The Cardinals, per SportsLine, pick up more than one full projected win since earlier this spring.

The most notable happening has been the signing of shortstop Ruben Tejada. Jhonny Peralta is of course out until midseason or so because of torn thumb ligaments. Tejada's not a star by any means, but he does raise the floor of what the Cardinals can expect to get from the position in Tejada's absence.

SportsLine projects Tejada for a 2016 slash line of .249/.336/.332. To put that in context, last season the average major-league shortstop hit .260/.308/380. In other words, the Cardinals may wind up getting roughly league-average production from the position.

As late-hour stop-gaps go, that's not bad. More good news: Carlos Martinez, who saw his 2015 cut short because of a shoulder injury, has looked strong this spring.

Westgate had the Cardinals' O/U at 86.5 win, so the over is shaping up to be a good play.

Chicago Cubs (90.5-71.5): SportsLine isn't quite as high on the Cubs as is the general consensus.

That said, there's been some forward momentum, as the Cubs pick up almost three wins since mid March.

On the good news front, ace Jake Arrieta seems clear of his recent blister problems, as he threw 102 pitches without problem or recurrence in his final spring start.

The team's depth may be challenged early, as Javier Baez -- he of the newly acquired and broad-based positional flexibility -- will open the season on the DL (thumb bruise) and remain there until at least April 11.

That leaves a thin bench, especially considering the very limited utility of 39-year-old David Ross.

Pittsburgh Pirates (84.9-77.1): SportsLine giveth, and SportsLine taketh away.

While the Cardinals and Cubs clawed forward since last time, the Pirates give back almost two-and-a-half wins.

In matters related, they now have a 30.7 percent chance of making the postseason. Simply put, the Pirates this season may be asking too much of brilliant pitching coach Ray Searage.

Gerrit Cole is a legit ace at the front end, but the rest? Francisco Liriano is capable when healthy, but Jon Niese, Juan Nicasio, and Jeff Locke don't make for an inspiring middle and back end.

Elsewhere, they'll open the season with infielder Jung Ho Kang and righty reliever Jared Hughes on the DL.

David Freese will hold down third base until Kang returns, and then he'll shift across the diamond and form what figures to be a solid first base platoon with John Jaso.

Milwaukee Brewers (72.1-89.9): The Brewers don't move at all since last time we checked in.

The Brewers wisely took a flyer on one-time promising prospect Rymer Liriano after the Padres decided to trade him, but the 24-year-old outfielder recently suffered multiple facial fractures when he was struck by a pitch. He'll be out for quite a while, obviously.

Ryan Braun has been dealing with some back soreness, and given his injury history that situation bears monitoring.

As the Brewers continue to rebuild, the big questions remains when/if they'll trade cornerstone catcher Jonathan Lucroy. He's enjoyed a solid spring at the plate. 

Cincinnati Reds (67.2-94.8): Raisel Iglesias will be the Opening Day starter because Anthony DeSclafani is dealing with an oblique injury.

Michael Lorenzen has yet to throw since being diagnosed with a UCL sprain. Robert Stephenson, recently dispatched to minor-league camp because of spring ineffectiveness, now will need to be a part of the big-league rotation to start the season.

That's to say nothing of Homer Bailey and John Lamb, who are still recovering from elbow and back surgery, respectively. The Reds boast quite a few upside starting pitchers in the system, most of them young.

However, recent attrition has raised concerns about how much of that upside we'll see in 2016.

It's not the strongest of plays, but give some thought to taking the under on Westgate's O/U of 69.5 wins for the Reds in 2016.