The National League Central remains the only MLB division with all five of its teams above the .500 mark this season.
The Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates have identical 22-19 records, and are tied for fourth place in the Central, five games behind the first-place, 27-14 Chicago Cubs.
Fox Sports MLB analyst Dontrelle Willis, who played for the Cincinnati Reds in 2011, and Eric Karros expect multiple teams in the division to finish the season above .500, but neither included the Reds among them.
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Chase Burns (26) delivers a pitch in the first inning of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros, Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
Cincinnati Reds first baseman Spencer Steer (7) tags out Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) in the first inning of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros , Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
Houston Astros pitcher Spencer Arrighetti (41) delivers a pitch in the first inning of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros , Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
Houston Astros shortstop Braden Shewmake (28) is embraced by teammates after hitting a homer in the fifth inning of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros , Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly de la Cruz (44) hits a single in the fifth inning of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros , Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
Cincinnati Reds right fielder Will Benson (30) scores in the fifth inning of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros , Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
Cincinnati Reds first baseman Spencer Steer (7) slides safely into second base in the fifth inning of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros , Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
Houston Astros catcher Christian Vázquez (2) tags out Cincinnati Reds second baseman Matt McLain (9) in the fifth inning of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros , Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
Houston Astros catcher Christian Vázquez (2) gestures after tagging out Cincinnati Reds second baseman Matt McLain (9) in the fifth inning of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros , Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) misses a catch in the sixth inning of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros , Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
Cincinnati Reds third baseman Sal Stewart (27) celebrates after stealing third base in the sixth inning of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros , Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Brock Burke (49) delivers a pitch in the seventh inning of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros , Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
A Cincinnati Reds fan heckles Houston Astros players in the eighth inning of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros , Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Graham Ashcraft (23) celebrates after closing out the eighth inning of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros , Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Pierce Johnson (52) delivers a pitch in the ninth inning of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros , Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
Cincinnati Reds fans cheer for Cincinnati Reds pitcher Pierce Johnson (52) after closing out the ninth inning of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros, Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati. Reds won 3-1.
Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly de la Cruz (44) and Cincinnati Reds right fielder Will Benson (30) celebrate a 3-1 win against the Houston Astros, Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.1 / 17
Cincinnati Reds face Houston Astros in series. See photos
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Chase Burns (26) delivers a pitch in the first inning of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros, Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
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Cincinnati Reds face Houston Astros in series. See photos
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Chase Burns (26) delivers a pitch in the first inning of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros, Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
2 / 17
Cincinnati Reds face Houston Astros in series. See photos
Cincinnati Reds first baseman Spencer Steer (7) tags out Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) in the first inning of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros , Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
3 / 17
Cincinnati Reds face Houston Astros in series. See photos
Houston Astros pitcher Spencer Arrighetti (41) delivers a pitch in the first inning of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros , Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
4 / 17
Cincinnati Reds face Houston Astros in series. See photos
Houston Astros shortstop Braden Shewmake (28) is embraced by teammates after hitting a homer in the fifth inning of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros , Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
5 / 17
Cincinnati Reds face Houston Astros in series. See photos
Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly de la Cruz (44) hits a single in the fifth inning of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros , Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
6 / 17
Cincinnati Reds face Houston Astros in series. See photos
Cincinnati Reds right fielder Will Benson (30) scores in the fifth inning of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros , Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
7 / 17
Cincinnati Reds face Houston Astros in series. See photos
Cincinnati Reds first baseman Spencer Steer (7) slides safely into second base in the fifth inning of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros , Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
8 / 17
Cincinnati Reds face Houston Astros in series. See photos
Houston Astros catcher Christian Vázquez (2) tags out Cincinnati Reds second baseman Matt McLain (9) in the fifth inning of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros , Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
9 / 17
Cincinnati Reds face Houston Astros in series. See photos
Houston Astros catcher Christian Vázquez (2) gestures after tagging out Cincinnati Reds second baseman Matt McLain (9) in the fifth inning of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros , Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
10 / 17
Cincinnati Reds face Houston Astros in series. See photos
Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) misses a catch in the sixth inning of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros , Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
11 / 17
Cincinnati Reds face Houston Astros in series. See photos
Cincinnati Reds third baseman Sal Stewart (27) celebrates after stealing third base in the sixth inning of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros , Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
12 / 17
Cincinnati Reds face Houston Astros in series. See photos
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Brock Burke (49) delivers a pitch in the seventh inning of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros , Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
13 / 17
Cincinnati Reds face Houston Astros in series. See photos
A Cincinnati Reds fan heckles Houston Astros players in the eighth inning of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros , Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
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Cincinnati Reds face Houston Astros in series. See photos
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Graham Ashcraft (23) celebrates after closing out the eighth inning of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros , Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
15 / 17
Cincinnati Reds face Houston Astros in series. See photos
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Pierce Johnson (52) delivers a pitch in the ninth inning of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros , Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
16 / 17
Cincinnati Reds face Houston Astros in series. See photos
Cincinnati Reds fans cheer for Cincinnati Reds pitcher Pierce Johnson (52) after closing out the ninth inning of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros, Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati. Reds won 3-1.
17 / 17
Cincinnati Reds face Houston Astros in series. See photos
Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly de la Cruz (44) and Cincinnati Reds right fielder Will Benson (30) celebrate a 3-1 win against the Houston Astros, Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
"For me, it's gonna be three teams," Karros said. "And it's gonna go in this order: Cubs, Brewers, Pittsburgh. And all three are gonna get into the postseason."
"I'm gonna go Cubs, Brewers, St. Louis," Willis said. "Maybe a little youth movement down there in STL, baby! Watch out!"
"(Willis) was on the Reds as one of the top five teams last week!" Karros joked.
"No! I know," Willis replied. "I cursed them. I cursed them bad!"
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Fox's Dontrelle Willis, Eric Karros don't expect Reds' winning record
