NL Central

After going two decades without making the playoffs, the Pittsburgh Pirates have cracked the postseason in each of the past two seasons. Maybe it's not completely accurate to call them a team "on the rise," but they have the pieces to become a perennial powerhouse in the National League for years to come.

There is an overwhelming hope that the 2015 Chicago Cubs will be a competitive group. That hope comes from the fact the team made several savvy offseason moves and its prospects are finally ready to make an impact at the big league level.

In just over two weeks, the season will open at Wrigley Field and the Cubs will take on the rival St Louis Cardinals. You better believe the atmosphere is going to be the most electric it's been in Wrigleyville in several years.

Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Tony Sanchez has shown glimpses of stellar play at times with his bat over the last two seasons as one of the Pirates' backups.  

At other times, he has looked completely lost.  

Such is not the case this spring, as Sanchez has been undoubtedly the Pirates' best player in camp, and if he makes the Opening Day roster, it would be perhaps the most soothing story for Pirates fans.

The few position battles that were happening within the Reds spring training camp are just about over. When last we visited this topic, the only true battles happening were for the back of the rotation and the bullpen, with a potential for a shortstop scrap. Some players have been removed from the mix, while others have come out of nowhere to win the nod. 

Kris Bryant has been labeled a future star ever since his college days at the University of San Diego. He crushed a nation-leading 31 home runs in his junior season, and that incredible production made him the second overall pick in the 2013 MLB draft.

His effectiveness at the plate has not decreased as he has risen up the professional ladder. As hard as it is to believe, it has improved.

The Chicago Cubs don't have a ton of position competitions during this year's spring training, but a few key battles are currently going on.

Most aren't at key spots, but the outcomes of the battles could end up being very important nonetheless.

At these four spots, the competition is starting to heat up. Here's a look at which players have the upper hands in those battles based on their overall skill sets and what they've shown so far this spring.

Much like the zombie outbreak that will inevitably consume the globe and drive humanity onto floating colonies at sea, the spread of pinkeye can only be slowed by containment.

You isolate the infected, protect the healthy and remain vigilant for any signs of the disease spreading in the community or its pillows (NSFW language).

This is just a checkup. It's only a glimpse into faux baseball, one where starters routinely exit after two at-bats and the final score is irrelevant. This is just to provide a sense of who isn't quite performing well when nothing matters, so read into it what you will. 

Last year, Chris Heisey finished the spring batting .310, while Skip Schumaker hit .441. Spring training performances aren't indicative of much, but it's interesting to check it out.

By all rights, the biggest star on the field during Thursday's exhibition between the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Angels should have been the guy who played Ron Burgundy, Ricky Bobby and Lord Business.

Perhaps the most difficult struggle throughout winter 2015 in Chicago is not the frigid cold, but instead the anxious await of the return of baseball to Wrigley Field. As the Cubs get into the full swing of spring training, fans of the Lovable Losers can't help but become even more excited about the upcoming season.