Cubs World Series Odds, Betting Picks & 2021 Predictions

Chicago Cubs Odds

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Chicago Cubs Pick

Under 78.5 Wins

On true talent, the Cubs are certainly a better team than the win total put out by various books. Despite trading Yu Darvish, the core of Kyle Hendricks, Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, Javier Baez, Jason Heyward and Willson Contreras is good. Maybe not as good as it was in, say, 2016, but good, and sure to be better than a year ago when many of those players suffered through career-worst seasons.

So why am I taking the under? I don’t trust Cubs ownership to keep those guys around through the trade deadline. The Ricketts family has been crying broke for a while now, and with Baez, Bryant and Rizzo set to become free agents after the season, there’s a good chance they blow it up. All of this is to say, there’s a good chance the Cubs in July look a lot different than the Cubs in April, and a lot worse. Hence, an under bet is the logical conclusion.

Projected 26-Man Roster

Courtesy of FanGraphs

Starting pitchers: Kyle Hendricks, Jake Arrieta, Zach Davies, Trevor Williams, Adbert Alzolay

Bullpen: Craig Kimbrel, Andrew Chafin, Brandon Workman, Jason Adam, Ryan Tepera, Dan Winkler, Rex Brothers, Dillon Maples, Alec Mills

Catchers: Willson Contreras, P.J. Higgins

Infielders: Javier Báez, Anthony Rizzo, David Bote, Kris Bryant, Matt Duffy

Outfielders: Ian Happ, Jason Heyward, Joc Pederson, Jake Marisnick, Eric Sogard