The 2022 Chicago Cubs finished the 2022 season with a 74-88 record with their best record coming in the final full month of the season with a 15-11 September record. Chicago had a solid offseason adding key pieces spending big at shortstop and adding depth in the outfield.
While the team is clearly not a World Series threat, there is reason to believe in an expanded playoff field the Cubs could become surprise Wild Card contenders. With the bar set low within their own division and the National League clearly being top-heavy, the Cubs have a unique opportunity.
Winning 80-85 games is absolutely on the table for this roster and would be enough to keep the team relevant deep into the season.
The Cubs being relevant is great for the game as well. Meaningful September games being played at Wrigley Field haven’t happened in far too long, and this roster that has a chance to reverse that if everything falls perfectly into place. The reasons to believe in this team are clear.