Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros Ready to Take Next Step

Last season, the Chicago Cubs and the Houston Astros both got a taste of the postseason. Now, they appear poised to take that next step.

The Houston Astros and Chicago Cubs both didn’t have expectations of making the playoffs last season. But with some surprise performances and quick development from both clubs top prospects, each team was able to make the postseason and do a little damage in the process.

Looking at both clubs, there ares some glaring similarities. For one, both teams rely on getting production for a young core of players, who won day, should be some of the best in the game at their respective positions. For the Cubs, guys like Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber, Addison Russell and Jorge Soler were young players who had big roles in 2015. Likewise, Houston relies on young studs like Carlos Correa, who at 21, is arguable the best shortstop in the game, George Springer, Preston Tucker and Lance McCullers. These players make up the core of their team and will be main contributors to the teams’ success for many years to come.

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While both teams made great playoff runs last season, both teams still had significant work to do going into the offseason. The Cubs certainly made improvements this winter by signing arguable the best position player on the market in Jason Heyward and added two good veteran players in Ben Zobrist and John Lackey, The Astros focused on rebuilding the bullpen by acquiring Ken Giles, who was very effective for the Phillies last season and re-signing Tony Sipp and Colby Rasmus for another run at the postseason.

And just through the first couple games, it seems that both teams have improved. Carlos Correa looks like he’s due for an MVP caliber season, many of the young Cubs players look to have continued to develop and both teams really feel more complete. Analyzing both of these teams rosters, you can see that each team has good players at pretty much everyone position, most of them who are probably going to be better than they were in 2015. Each club has shared a similar formula in letting young talent pile up and have them come together at one time while supplementing their teams with talent in th offseason and during the trade deadline.

The Cubs and the Astros look like they may both be favorites to compete the World Series not only this year but in many years to come. If both of the teams’ young nucleuses continue to get better in 2016, both squads will be tough outs when October comes around.

Next: Rob Manfred believes in Tampa Bay

Do you think that the Astros and Cubs should be favorites to get to the World Series in 2016. Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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