Chicago Cubs: Who is the highest rated Cub in MLB The Show 17?

The Chicago Cubs are a week away from wrapping up Cactus League play in Mesa, Arizona. Which means it’s nearly time for gamers across the globe to battle it out online.

If you’re not familiar with the world of video games, then you have no idea what this article is about. For the longest, Chicago Cubs’ fans had to rely on MLB The Show, a Sony Playstation exclusive title, to live out their World Series dreams.

At one point, MLB The Show put together a launch trailer which put the World Series in Chicago and the Cubs winning it all. And honestly, that video made a ton of people emotional.

Right in the feels. It ended with a man watching the final moments of the big game with a smile on his face. Not to mention, an older gentleman taking scissors to his beard as fireworks lit up the Windy City.

Fast forward a few years later and that commercial became reality. Millions of people filled the streets of Chicago as our heroes cruised by, celebrating a World Series title.

Now, it’s time for us to see if we can make it a repeat starting March 28th. That’s the official launch date of MLB The Show 17 which features Ken Griffey Jr. as the cover athlete.

Initial Ratings

Whenever a sports game is released, people hound the internet ahead of time to check out the ratings of their favorite teams and or players. If you just so happened to click on this article for that reason, I have some numbers for you.

According to Sporting News, Jake Arrieta, Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, Jon Lester, Kyle Hendricks Ben Zobrist, and Wade Davis are the highest rated Cubs in the upcoming video game.

Our reigning MVP, Kris Bryant, holds the highest rating at his position along with former Cubs’ prospect, Josh Donaldson. Both men sit with a red-hot 94 overall following a year in which they combined for 76 home runs, 211 RBI, and 340 hits.

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Insane numbers which helped lead their clubs to the postseason. Next to Bryant’s 94 overall is Jake Arrieta and his 92. Arrieta pitched his second career no-hitter in 2016 but battled consistency issues.

However, Arrieta flirted with history, again, only this time during the World Series while visiting the Cleveland Indians. Although his postseason ERA was 3.63, Jake was still an important part of Chicago’s historic run.

Same goes for Jon Lester who holds the ninth-best rating for starting pitchers with 90. Lester was co-LCS MVP along with Javier Baez. He ended 2016 with a record of 19-5 and an ERA of 2.44 — his best since his brief stint with the Oakland Athletics in 2014.

When it was time for him to take the mound in October, Lester was absolute lights out. In six appearances (five starts), Lester held opposing teams to eight runs on 27 hits in 35 2/3 innings of work. Once Game 7 concluded, his record stood at 3-1 with an ERA a little above two.

Bullpen Ratings

Next up is new closer, Wade Davis. Davis was acquired in a trade with the Kansas City Royals for outfielder Jorge Soler during the offseason. Soler never really blossomed with the Cubs as he battled with multiple injuries, so a move made sense.

Considering the fact that Aroldis Chapman ran back to the New York Yankees, Chicago was in need of a closer. Wade’s 91 overall is the fourth highest in the game among closers behind Kenley Jansen (95), Zach Britton (92), and Chapman (92).

A few other Cubs’ relievers sit at or under the 84 mark. Those men being Pedro Strop and Hector Rondon at 84 and former Red Sox closer, Koji Uehara at 83.

World Series MVP and company

Last but not least, you have some of the other heroes of the postseason, Zobrist, the World Series MVP, drove in the go-ahead run after a short rain delay in Game 7. Meanwhile, his back-up, Javier Baez, launched a home run earlier on when Chicago had a comfortable lead.

Ben sits a few slots ahead of Baez with an 85 overall while the young Puerto Rican star ties Starlin Castro at 81. First baseman and original piece of this puzzle, Anthony Rizzo, holds a solid 89 overall which may seem a little low.

Gold Gloves

Rizzo is a serious contender to win National League MVP honors this year but took home multiple awards in 2016. Including a Gold Glove, Silver Slugger, and Platinum Glove honors.

Speaking of Gold Gloves, Jason Heyward continued to dominate right field when it came to that specific award. However, his rating is 78 in the game which is pretty much due to his lack of offensive production in 2016.

Had he hit 20 or so home runs while driving in say, around 70 RBI, he could be sitting in the middle of the pack. But who knows. Even Giancarlo Stanton and Jose Bautista failed to reach the 90’s as Bryce Harper and Mookie Betts were the only two to do so.