The Chicago Cubs have been Major League Baseball’s lovable losers for such a long time it’s hard to believe that they are one of the best MLB teams this season. As a matter of fact, the Cubs currently have the best record in baseball, and according to online MLB sportsbook odds, they are the favorites to win the World Series.
One of the reasons that the Cubs have been so successful this season is the fact that they have arguably the best pitching rotation in baseball. The team’s best pitcher Jake Arrieta, won the Cy Young award last season, and hasn’t showed any signs of cooling off.
Before their loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday, the Cubs had won 24 consecutive games that Arrieta started. Arrieta also leads the National League with 9 wins this season, and he is second with a 1.56 ERA.
In addition to Arrieta, the Cubs also have veterans like Jason Hammel, Jon Lester, and John Lackey, who have all pitched well for the team this season.
While their pitching staff deservedly gets most of the attention, the Cubs also have very good hitters. Players like Kris Bryant, Ben Zobrist, and Dexter Fowler have been playing very well, and are a big reason why the Cubs are second in on base percentage and third in runs scored.
Not only do the Cubs have a talented roster, they also have one of the best managers in the game in Joe Madden, so it isn’t very surprising that they are the World Series favorites.
According to MyBookie.ag, the Cubs are currently +200 to win the World Series, which won’t surprise many considering the way they have played so far. Before the season began, Chicago was one of the favorites to win it all due to the way they played the previous season.
Many people expected the young Cubs to fold under the pressure of the high expectations, but the pressure doesn’t seem to be affecting them.
The Cubs are averaging 5.5 runs per game, and their pitching staff has a 2.69 ERA, which makes them the most complete team in baseball. If the team can stay healthy and maintain their current pace, they will likely win more than 100 games, which is something they haven’t achieved since 1935.
Right now, the only team that is better than the Cubs offensively is the Boston Red Sox, who are averaging 5.97 runs per game. However, Boston’s pitching staff is not as good as Chicago’s, which will give the Cubs the edge if they should meet in the World Series.
The Red Sox currently have the best record in the American League and are the favorites to advance to the World Series in the AL. Boston’s odds of winning the World Series is currently +900.
Even though Boston is currently on top of the AL East, they will likely face some competition from the Baltimore Orioles, who have been playing better after a slow start to the season. The Orioles odds of winning the World Series is +1600.
The other contenders to win the World Series are the Washington Nationals, who are at +1100, the New York Mets at +1000, the Los Angeles Dodgers at +1600, and of course the San Francisco Giants, who seem to find ways to win the World Series in even numbered years, at +600.
