Chicago Cubs lineup has potential to carry them to a World Series

Despite an untimely injury to Javier Baez that will force him to postpone his Opening Day experience, the Chicago Cubs’ 25-man roster is set with balance, depth and value.

Joe Maddon made it clear earlier this spring that he will (usually) bat his pitcher ninth. The continued improvement at the plate by Addison Russell has convinced the Cubs manager that Russell no longer needs protection at the very bottom of the batting order.

Watching Addison Russell’s game develop in his second full season definitely qualifies as a major point of interest throughout 2016, but the 22-year-old, who showed encouraging spurts of power in 2015 (13 home runs, 29 doubles), only scratches the surface of expected value coming from up and down the Cubs’ lineup.

It’s been talked about enough throughout the offseason that the depth and versatility the Cubs have — from bench options to eight possible starting pitchers — is invaluable compared to the competition.

Players like Jorge Soler and the aforementioned Russell could act as top or middle-of-the-order bats on other clubs, but project as seven and eight hitters in the Cubs lineup. They also addressed a historically bad issue that haunted them last year by adding contact savvy players Jason Heyward and Ben Zobrist in an effort to cut down their 1,518 team strikeouts — 126 more than second worst Houston.

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Maddon also put emphasis on capitalizing more chances with runners in scoring position, specifically third, with less than two outs. An under the radar type guy like Tommy La Stella, who was among the final pieces added to the 25-man roster, is valuable in that regard.

Anthony Rizzo is quickly establishing himself as not only among the best first-baseman in the National League but in the entire MLB. Looking past the impressive .278 average, .899 OPS, 31 homers and 101 RBIs, Rizzo ranked sixth among MLB first-baseman in wRC+, third in offensive WAR and fifth overall in total WAR in 2015, according to Fangraphs.

I’ll go out on a limb and say Rizzo is the best hitter in the Cubs lineup and traditional baseball logic suggests he should bat third. However, Maddon is expected to sandwich him between Zobrist and Kris Bryant by batting him fourth. 

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The theory is for on-base aficionados Dexter Fowler and Jason Heyward to go to work in spots one and two while the reliably consistent contact threat Ben Zobrist (10% K rate in 2015 (20% K rate is considered average) handles the three hole. Thinking there is the expectation of the Cubs top two run producers, Rizzo and Bryant, or “Bryzzo”, to clean up the mess.

After the opposing pitcher finds a way to maneuver around the first five threats, Kyle Schwarber, Jorge Soler, Miguel Montero and Addison Russell will be there to greet him.

This lineup will allow no pitcher to get to a spot in the order and say, “Alright, here’s my break inning.” Here is how the 2016 Cubs lineup is looking out to be.

1. Dexter Fowler CF
2. Jason Heyward RF
3. Ben Zobrist 2B
4. Anthony Rizzo 1B
5. Kris Bryant 3B
6. Kyle Schwarber LF
7. Miguel Montero C
8. Addison Russell SS
9. Pitcher

• Bench: Tommy La Stella, Matt Szczur, Jorge Soler, David Ross, Javier Baez (DL)

On opening night, just pencil in Soler in the seven hole and move everyone down a spot. This is could be argued as the best Cubs lineup in franchise history.

Such a bold statement before a single pitch has been thrown in 2016 may be too optimistic and premature, but the overwhelming evidence suggesting success coming from this lineup makes that claim plausible.

Next: Cubs finalize 25-man roster

Strikeouts will continue to be a problem, as Fowler, Rizzo, Bryant, Montero and Russell combined for almost half of the Cubs’ K total last season. Cashing in with runners in scoring position is another area that must improve. Last season the Cubs were among the bottom five teams in runners left in scoring position per game.

However, a balanced lineup that houses power, speed, on-base potential and plus contact rate is enough to believe the Cubs can overcome its flaws and ride it all the way to the World Series.