Just like any other division in fantasy baseball, the NL Central is going to have implications in the performance of some players, so this is a good time to look at some fantasy predictions that will come out of the NL Central in the 2026 MLB season.
Why Elly De La Cruz Is the Top 2026 Fantasy Baseball Player in the NL Central
Unlike other divisions, the NL Central doesn’t have a lot of “Top 15” players in fantasy baseball ahead of the 2026 season. That’s not expected to change throughout the year.
While there are several players who should be considered above-average, perhaps the only position player who’s locked into a Top-15 spot is Elly De La Cruz, with Jackson Chourio being around the Top-20 range. Paul Skenes is also a player worthy of a first-round pick, but he’s a pitcher and won’t play every day.
De La Cruz will be the best fantasy player in the NL Central again in 2026. The shortstop might be prone to making mistakes in the field, but he’s outstanding when it comes to fantasy categories.
He has above-average power, excellent speed, and a solid, yet unspectacular, on-base percentage. De La Cruz has all the traits to be a complete player in fantasy, and he will show that again in 2026.
Why Cade Horton Will Be a Top-20 Fantasy Baseball Pitcher in 2026
Paul Skenes is the overwhelming favorite to win the NL Cy Young for a second straight season, as he won the award unanimously in 2025. Nothing suggests that Skenes won’t be a dominant pitcher once again in 2026, but Cade Horton is another pitcher who will turn heads in fantasy this upcoming season.
Horton was promoted to the majors early in the 2025 season by the Chicago Cubs, and the star hurler posted impressive numbers across the board. He went 11-4 with a 2.67 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP across 23 appearances (22 starts) in 2025, including an 8-1 record with a 1.03 ERA across 12 starts after the All-Star break.
Nothing suggests that he’ll pitch at that level throughout the entire 2026 campaign, but he certainly has the talent to make a big impact on the mound if he stays healthy. If his ERA stays below the 2.90 mark, he could be a Top-20 pitcher across the board, which should translate to him being an early pick for drafts in 2027 and beyond.
Why the St. Louis Cardinals Won’t Have Any Top-100 Fantasy Baseball Players
Just like any other division in fantasy baseball, the NL Central is going to have implications on the performance of some players.
This is far from a surprise, but if we look at the other teams, the difference is clear. The Cincinnati Reds have Elly De La Cruz. The Cubs have Pete Crow-Armstrong. The Milwaukee Brewers have Jackson Chourio, and the Pittsburgh Pirates have Paul Skenes.
There are no St. Louis Cardinals players in the Top 100, and since the team is in a clear rebuilding mode, that’s not changing any time soon. Maybe one of the young hitters or pitchers will sneak into that range, but that’s not expected to happen in 2026. Don’t target any Cardinals players in the early or mid-rounds of your fantasy baseball leagues.
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