Chicago Cubs: Our staff makes their predictions for the 2017 campaign

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Oct 22, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jon Lester gets beer poured on his head in the clubhouse after defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers in game six of the 2016 NLCS playoff baseball series at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports /

After predicting 103 wins in 2016, Blazek ups the ante in ’17

After guessing the win total on the money last season (so I needed a game to not be completed) I’m going for two in-a-row. I believe the Cubs will finish the season with a 105-57 record, with a more consistent level of play throughout the year.

The team will finish in first. The Cubs are peaking while the rest of the division is rebuilding. The Cards may push the Cubs thanks to Dexter Fowler, but they won’t be close enough to make it exciting at the end.

Must Read: Everyone is already clamoring over Jason Heyward's struggles this spring. But does it even matter with a roster this talented?

As far as major awards go, Addison Russell, Javier Baez, Anthony Rizzo all win Gold Gloves. I don’t think the Cubs will win any of the major awards, but they’ll litter the finalists in all of them.

In the battle between Rizzo and Bryant, all I see is KB progressing more and more with each passing year. After working to adapt his swing and take out some of the uppercut he had, he did just that and added the MVP to his trophy case. This season he’s focusing on hitting to the opposite field -which is his only glaring weakness at the plate. Rizzo has a good season, but it’s Bryant again.

I’m taking the over on the .260 mark with Heyward. Even with the results lacking this spring, I’ve seen a change in his confidence and approach at the plate. It’s might not be by much, but Heyward will surpass the .260 mark and hit in the .270 range.

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