NL Central

Chicago Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta tossed a no-hitter in Thursday's 16-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds, becoming just the second player ever to throw a pair of no-hitters without taking any losses in the time between, per ESPN Stats & Info.

There were doubters—critics and naysayers who said Jake Arrieta was destined for regression after his otherworldly 2015 campaign.

When Chicago Cubs slugger Kyle Schwarber tore his ACL and LCL on April 7 after colliding in the outfield with Dexter Fowler, it wouldn’t have been a surprise if a few fans reached for a defibrillator.

Hysteria consumed parts of a tortured Cubdom on social media, with some fans panicked that the promising Cubs’ 2016 season was trashed. But that was just an overly emotional reaction.

Two former St. Louis Cardinals returned to Busch Stadium in Chicago Cubs uniforms Monday. One of them made an indelible impression in the Cubbies' 5-0 win.

The Pittsburgh Pirates announced Sunday infielder Jung Ho Kang will begin his rehab assignment with the team's Triple-A affiliate, and it is uncertain when he will be able to return to action.  

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And now for a question that's simultaneously the last thing the St. Louis Cardinals want to ask, and also the first thing they currently can't ignore:

What if Adam Wainwright isn't Adam Wainwright anymore?

Veteran pitcher Justin Masterson agreed to a minor league deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reported. Adam Berry of MLB.com later confirmed the news.  

The St. Louis Cardinals lost some pitching depth for the 2016 season because southpaw Marco Gonzales is reportedly set to undergo Tommy John surgery. 

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With the Pittsburgh Pirates facing stiff competition in the loaded National League Central, an injury to star pitcher Francisco Liriano's hamstring will be a cause for concern. 

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Cincinnati Reds shortstop Zack Cozart has gotten off to a solid start at the plate, but a leg injury may derail his progress.

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