MLB Betting – Chicago Cubs 2020 Season Preview

• Cubs winning the World Series pays 29-1 odds

• Hiring of David Ross seen as a risky move

• Pitching rotation appears solid but aging with Yu Darvish looking to build off an impressive close to 2019

• Bookmaker is offering a generous welcome bonus with a maximum of $1000

Following a magnificent four-year run that included four postseason trips, two NL Central titles and a World Series championship, the Chicago Cubs were a disappointment last year. With a bloated payroll they won just 84 games and missed the playoffs, causing management to hit the reset button – sort of. Joe Maddon won 471 games in five years and was relieved of his duties, but the Cubs retained a number of players responsible for the team’s first championship in over a century. They should be in the thick of the division race with a return to the postseason a likely scenario.

2020 Chicago Cubs At A Glance

Chicago Cubs World Series Odds +2876

Chicago Cubs NL Pennant Odds +1419

Chicago Cubs NL Central Odds +207

2020 Chicago Cubs Overview

Maddon did what he was hired to do, leading the Cubs to the 2016 World Series title. He was unable to rekindle the magic in subsequent years and following 84 wins and a playoff-less 2019 campaign from a group that underachieved, the team and coach parted ways.

The Cubs have a roster with plenty of potential to return to lofty heights. The hiring of David Ross is odd since he has no experience. Maybe management is hoping his years as a player and in the broadcast booth can get the team to respond better than a seasoned field boss like Maddon. It’s a risky gamble but the Cubs have an experienced roster to overcome the likely mistakes Ross is going to make on the bench.

Their poor ending to 2019 and little movement in the offseason put the Cubs down on the list of contenders in the NL. That could be a blessing since the lineup still has pop and the bullpen should be better with a full season of Craig Kimbrel and the return of Brandon Morrow. There is no clear-cut favorite in the division and if the season is played the Cubs are in position to claim it.

Pitching

Plainly put the bullpen stunk. There is hope that things can turn around, though. Did Craig Kimbrel suffer from a shortened season after joining the club in the middle of the year? His numbers were awful and it was a drastic fall for a guy who was one of the top closers for several seasons. Morrow was the closer in 2018 with 22 saves and 1.47 ERA. However, injuries limited him to 35 games and he missed all of 2019, so he’s more of a question mark.

The rotation appears solid with Yu Darvish looking to build off an impressive close to 2019. He posted a 2.76 in the second half finishing 6-8 with a 3.98 ERA overall. Kyle Hendricks might be the most reliable starter. He had another solid campaign at 11-10 with a 3.46 ERA in 177 innings.

The solid but aging rotation is bolstered by veteran lefties Jon Lester and Jose Quintana, who each posted a team-high 13 wins in 2019. Lester allowed 205 hits in 171.2 innings with a 1.50 WHIP and a 4.46 ERA. He may have a few good years left but he is 36. Quintana also conceded a bunch of hits with a 4.68 ERA. All four are over 30 years old.

Hitting

It’s easy to say the Cubs were a byproduct of their faults last season, but keep in mind they have a potentially destructive lineup. They were a top-10 team in scoring and probably could have been better if not for a high number of strikeouts. One critical component of the offense is Kris Bryant and how he responds after an offseason struggle between him and the front office. Hoping Bryant keeps it between the lines he should build off a campaign where he hit .282 with 31 bombs and 77 RBIs. Anthony Rizzo at first and Javier Baez at short give the club mashers in the middle of the lineup.

Once considered a liability in the outfield, Kyle Schwarber has developed into a decent fielder and his plate potential started to catch up in the second half of last season. Schwarbs hit .280 with 20 bombs after the break, finishing with 38 homers. Forced to swap defense for offense when Albert Almora struggled at the dish, Ian Happ hit .264 with 11 homers in 140 ABs. Wilson Contreras is a monster behind the plate hitting .272 with 24 homers in 2019.

2020 Chicago Cubs Season Pick

I see why Ross was hired. A quick glance around MLB shows a high number of former catchers having solid careers as managers. They know the game and are in tune with a pitching staff. They need to get younger on the bump, though. A potential bounce back season is waiting. And not getting much attention from the baseball pundits could be exactly what motivates them to a division title. There are concerns with the bullpen and the rotation is getting up there, but this team has a lot of upside and I like their chances of getting back to the postseason on the heels of a division title in what is a wide open NL Central.

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- Phil Simon, Gambling911.com