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2015 Chicago Cubs Season Predictions | MLB Betting Preview & Odds

2015 MLB Team Season Previews – Cubs

The Cubs, by far, made the biggest moves this off season and grabbed the attention of bettors. The question people are beginning to ask are whether or not the Cubs can live up to the big expectations people are giving them or is it just an overhype? Chicago will look to bring the World Series trophy to Wrigley for the first time since 1908.

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2015 MLB Team Previews – Chicago Cubs

NL Central: +300
National League: +700
World Series: +1600

Key Additions: SP Jon Lester, OF Dexter Fowler

The Cubs have rarely been relevant in the NL Central. However, this season the Cubs fans have high expectations going into the 2015 season.

Projected Starting Line-Up

1. Dexter Fowler CF
2. Starlin Castro SS
3. Anthony Rizzo 1B
4. Jorge Soler RF
5. Javier Baez 2B
6. Miguel Montero C
7. Tommy La Stella 3B
8. Chris Coghlan LF

The lineup for the Cubs doesn’t stand out on paper. There’s no star or dominating player that pitchers would be scared of. However, the team has shaped up to a nice balance of speed, power, and average.

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With Dexter Fowler leading off, followed by Starlin Castro, the Cubs will have a lot of speed at the top of the lineup. Dexter Fowler stole 11 bases in 2014 and hit for an average of .276. Castro did only steal 4 bases, but hit for an astounding .292 average. The pair figures to get on base and set the table for the big bats in the middle.

Anthony Rizzo blasted 32 homeruns last season for the Cubs and figures to equal or surpass those numbers in 2015. With Jorge Soler protecting him in the lineup, Rizzo should see a lot less intentional balls being thrown to him. In 2015, Soler only played in 17 games for the Cubs. This spring, he’s hit for 4 home runs and looks to be in top shape.

The Cubs made a questionable move this spring by sending down star prospect Kris Bryant, who looked incredibly ready for the MLB. Bryant was tearing apart the opposition in spring ball, but was surprisingly sent down. The move not only made fans mad, but Bryant has shown his unpleasantry toward the move.

Projected Starting Rotation

1. Jon Lester
2. Jake Arrieta
3. Jason Hammel
4. Kyle Hendricks
5. Travis Wood

The pitching staff gives a much different look than the one the Cubs offered in 2014. When the Cubs went out and took Joe Maddon away from Tampa, Maddon went out and recruited Jon Lester.

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In 2014, Lester went 16-11 with a 2.46 ERA. The Cubs will likely only go as far as their ace Lester takes them. There are very high expectations on the south paw to equal or do better than his 2014 season.

As for the 2 and 3 starters, Arrieta went 10-5 with a 2.53 ERA. He was the star of the Cubs rotation in 2014. Jason Hammel started 17 games for the Cubs in 2014 and went 8-5 with a 2.98 ERA. The two pitchers bring back sub 3.00 ERAs and come off impressive seasons. A repeat of the those stats would spell success for the Cubs.

Kyle Hendricks is one of the best 4 pitchers in the National League. He went 7-2 in 13 starts with a 2.46 ERA in 2014. He allowed just 4 home runs on the season.

Closer

Hector Rondon RP
Pedro Strop RP
Jason Motte RP

The Cubs closer situation last year was about as sketchy as it comes.

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They went through multiple pitchers and could never find somebody to lockdown the back end of the bullpen. That is not the case this season. With a busy offseason, the Cubs solidified the back end of their bullpen and should be locked down. Rondon and Strop can easily reach over 100 mph on the radar gun and can cause hitters a lot of problems. Middle relief will be the biggest key in the bullpen for Chicago as they hope the likes of Phil Coke and Neil Ramirez can keep them in games went called upon in the 5th or 6th inning.

2015 Prediction:

The public has pounded the Cubs season win total and futures. If anything, having Joe Maddon at the manager position is a major piece itself. Maddon continued to take a young Rays team and had them competing in the tough AL East division. He’ll have a similar situation, but this time will have many veterans in the clubhouse.

The Cubs will compete, but maybe may need to wait a year. They’ll flirt around or just above .500, but that won’t be enough to win them the division title this season.

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By Tony M

Tony is new to Cappers Picks and has been betting on sports since the first day he turned 18. He is a 22 year old Cleveland native who lives and breathes Indians baseball. His dream is to be part of a championship celebration at the corner of Carnegie and Ontario.