5 reasons the Chicago Cubs will still win NL Central
The Chicago Cubs will face a difficult challenge to win another division title, but will ultimately stand victorious at the end of the season.
For the second year in a row, the Chicago Cubs entered the regular season as the odds-on favorite to win the NL Central title. For the second year in a row, the Cubs have gotten off to a slow start and face several formidable challengers. It won’t be as easy to brush off the revamped Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals. Surprisingly, the Pittsburgh Pirates are also hanging around despite trading Andrew McCutchen and Gerrit Cole this winter.
It cannot be stated clearly enough, however, this is still the Cubs division to lose.
Last season, the Cubs got off to a slow start with the bats, but they are already third in the NL in runs and second in OPS despite seeing MVP candidate Anthony Rizzo just now lifting his batting average over the Mendoza Line. By the end of the year, this is likely the NL’s best offense.
The Cubs are also third in the NL in team ERA and carry a plus-43 run differential. This really is a team that’s sitting pretty and poised to run away with another division title. Here are the five biggest reasons that is exactly what will happen as the rest of the season plays out.
5. The bullpen is for real
Though he had All-Star closer Wade Davis waiting to record the last three outs of most victories last year, actually getting to the star reliever frequently proved a gargantuan task for Cubs manager Joe Maddon. The Cubs did manage to finish with a top-ten bullpen last year based on overall ERA, but it was often a bumpy ride, especially in the second half.
The Cubs bullpen has been nothing short of spectacular this year, led by Carl Edwards, who could give Milwaukee Brewers lefty Josh Hader a run for his money when it comes to piling up strikeouts. Edwards has a 0.53 ERA through 16 appearances and has struck out 15.9 per nine. The right-hander went through his sophomore slump in the second half and postseason last year and has emerged as one of the most electric bullpen arms in the league.
Theo Epstein had elected to fill his closer’s slot via trade the past two years, but took a more novel approach this year, signing setup men Brandon Morrow and Steve Cishek and passing on a big-money closer. Morrow is only in his second year as a full-time reliever but has handled the ninth inning very well. Overall, this looks like the most complete bullpen Maddon has had to work with since taking the reins in Chicago.