5 favorites to win the 2016 World Series

By John Buhler | Mar 18, 2016

Nov 1, 2015; New York City, NY, USA; Kansas City Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer (35) celebrates with teammates after scoring a run against the New York Mets in the 9th inning in game five of the World Series at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /

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Oct 12, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant (17) hits a two run home run during the fifth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals in game three of the NLDS at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /

9. . National League. Central. Chicago Cubs. 2. player

The 2016 Chicago Cubs have both a young and dynamic roster for manager Joe Maddon to potentially navigate the National League en route to a trip to the World Series. Chicago may have elite young players like Kris Bryant, Jorge Soler, Kyle Schwarber, and Addison Russell, but the Cubs have history against them with regards to winning a World Series.

The Cubs haven’t played in a World Series since 1947, pre-expansion era in the MLB, and haven’t won the World Series since 1908. 107 years and counting, but the Cubs have arguably the best roster in baseball entering the 2016 MLB season.

They have the reigning Cy Young Award winner in ace Jake Arrieta and have further bolstered their roster with the free agent signings of Ben Zobrist and Jason Heyward this winter. Chicago will have a tough task to win the National League Central against the rival Cardinals and Pirates in 2016, but if they do, this is a team that should find itself no worse than playing for a trip to go to the World Series in the NLCS again this fall.

Chicago burst on to the scene last season en route to the 2015 NLCS where they lost to the New York Mets. The Cubs haven’t historically handled lofty expectations entering a season well, but there is something potentially special about this group of players playing on the North Side that could end the biggest curse in North American professional sports.

Chicago should be the favorite to represent the National League in the 2016 World Series, as long as this young corps learned from last year’s postseason run and is mentally tough enough to challenge a historical culture of losing.

Next: 1. Kansas City Royals

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