2020 CHICAGO CUBS PREVIEW
2019 STATISTICS
RECORD – 84 wins / 78 losses
OVERALL MONEY -$1,150 (based on $100 wagered per game)
RETURN ON INVESTMENT -5.3%
HOME RECORD – 51 wins / 30 losses (+$690)
ROAD RECORD – 32 wins / 48 losses (-$1930)
RECORD AS FAVORITE – 71 wins / 53 losses (-$390)
RECORD AS UNDERDOG – 13 wins / 25 losses (-$760)
OVER/UNDER RECORD – 77 Overs / 76 Unders / 9 Ties
2019 OFFENSIVE STATS
BATTING AVERAGE – .252 (14th in the Majors)
OPS (on base + slugging) – .783 (8th)
HOME RUNS – 256 (6th)
RUNS PER GAME – 5.02 (10th)
2019 PITCHING STATS
ERA – 4.10 (7th)
FIP (fielding independent pitching) – 4.25 (10th)
WHIP (walk + hits allowed per inning) – 1.32 (16th)
STRIKEOUT to WALK RATIO – 2.70 (13th)
RUNS ALLOWED PER GAME – 4.43 (8th)
ASA CHICAGO CUBS ANALYSIS – After making it to the post-season in 4 consecutive seasons, the Cubs finished 3rd in the NL Central last year and were left out of the playoffs. They lost a few key cogs in the off-season with key reserve outfielder Nick Castellanos (.277 career batting average) and P Cole Hamels moving on in free agency. They also INF Addison Russell who never really developed into the player they thought he would become. As far as improving their team through free agency, the purse strings were tight in the off-season as the Cubs didn’t really add anyone of significance. The one person they did bring in who they hope can make a difference is new manager David Ross, former Cubs catcher. The Joe Maddon era has ended in Chicago which may not necessarily be a good thing as he led the Cubs to a 471-339 record in his 5 years finishing with at least 92 wins in every year but one (84 wins last year). Despite losing Hamels, their top 4 starters with Darvish, Hendricks, Lester, and Quintana have the potential to be one of the better rotations in the National League. Chicago put up one of the more powerful line ups in the Majors last year with 256 HR’s, the most EVER from a Cubs team (at least back to 1960). Six of their nine projected starters this season each tallied at least 21 long balls last season. This team is used to finishing at the top of the division. Last year they were in playoff contention late in the season but finished with a 2-10 record over their last 12 games. Expect the Cubs to bounce back with a chip on their shoulder this season and finish near or at the top of the NL Central once again.
