Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers poised for years of showdowns

The Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers each have a pennant to their credit in the last two years. But which team is better set up for success long-term?

One year ago to the day, the Chicago Cubs did it. Fans across the world watched as Kris Bryant fielded a slow chopper, firing the ball across the diamond to Anthony Rizzo to complete one of the best Game 7s in baseball history.

And what a day it was.

This year, though, the Los Angeles Dodgers bested the Cubs in the National League Championship Series, running roughshod through the reigning champs – taking the series in five games. Then, the Dodgers pushed the Fall Classic as far as it can go, forcing last night’s winner-take-all contest in Chavez Ravine.

But looking ahead, which one of these teams is most likely to return to the World Series?

Chicago unloaded most of its top minor league talent over the last few years, adding pieces like Aroldis Chapman and Jose Quintana in deadline deals. Chapman, of course, headed back to the Bronx last winter – while Quintana remains a big part of the Cubs’ future plans.

Los Angeles has a core that remains enviable – even as some of their premier talent starts on the big-league roster. Cody Bellinger will follow Corey Seager to make it two-straight Dodgers to win the NL Rookie of the Year. And, of course, a rotation headlined by Clayton Kershaw is nothing to sneeze at.

Let’s try to put these clubs side-by-side.

Chicago Cubs have talent and questions in the outfield

Jason Heyward brings a lot to the table. He could very well win a fourth-straight Gold Glove Award in the next month and his Game 7 weight room speech will live on in Cubs’ lore forever. But his bat comes with plenty of questions to – despite his improvements in 2017.

If he can get back to the offensive the offensive threat he once was, this assessment looks very different. But I’m not banking on it – I have no reason to logically. He put up some worrisome numbers this year and I’m taking a wait-and-see approach heading into the winter.

We’re not really sure who is the Cubs’ center fielder of the future. I’d like it to be Albert Almora Jr. He showed a lot of improvement in 2017 and veteran Jon Jay took him under his wing as a mentor, which is very promising – especially considering his .298 average.

In left, you assume Kyle Schwarber has the job again in 2018. But he is a sub-par defensive outfielder and struggled with the bat – despite hitting 30 home runs. He epitomizes the all-or-nothing approach that has taken over baseball in recent years.

Athleticism rules Dodgers’ outfield

On the other side of things, Chris Taylor is cemented into center field for Los Angeles. He lit the Cubs up in this year’s NLCS and put up an .850 OPS during the regular season. Taylor also swiped 17 bases, as well.

Yasiel Puig, love him or hate him, is an extremely talented piece. He’s one of the three finalists (including Heyward) for the right field Gold Glove this year. The powerful outfielder set career-highs in both homers and runs batted in this year and has one of the best arms in baseball.

And, of course, Joc Pederson rounds things out – along with utilityman Kike Hernandez. Pederson, we’ll consider the starter for argument’s sake. He struggled through the worst year of his career, but his athleticism – combined with the all-around talent of Taylor and Puig make the Dodgers a clear-cut front-runner in the outfield. The Cubs have the potential to take it back – but they need to prove it first.

Advantage: Los Angeles

Chicago Cubs have more questions than answers in rotation

Let’s just call it like it is: the Cubs don’t have someone to go toe-to-toe with Clayton Kershaw.

Sure, in a head-to-head, Chicago went to Kyle Hendricks in the past and came out on top. But Kershaw is in a league of his own when it comes to the big picture. The guy led the league in wins and earned run average again in 2017 and may win his fourth NL Cy Young Award.

Behind him, Los Angeles brings back everyone outside of Yu Darvish for a shot at a second-straight pennant. That gives Dave Roberts the likes of Rich Hill, Scott Kazmir, Kenta Maeda, Alex Wood and Brandon McCarthy to round out the rotation.

Hill and Wood are clearly the best of the group, sliding in behind Kershaw. Any time you have three quality left-handers in your rotation, it’s an enviable position to be in. Wood pitched to a 2.72 ERA this year and Hill came in in the low-3.00 range.

Hendricks then who?

For Chicago, Hendricks is the ace heading into 2018. He came back from injury and settled in nicely down the stretch for Maddon. His first start next year will be the 100th of his career – and he’ll carry a 2.94 ERA into that contest. Hendricks is easily one of the most underrated starters in baseball today.

After that, the waters grow a bit murkier. Jon Lester will be the team’s number two and Jose Quintana slots into the three-spot. From there, it’s anybody’s guess. Jake Arrieta and John Lackey are both free agents. Any impact pitching prospects in the system are at least three years from being big-league ready.

This comparison isn’t even close. The Dodgers are leaps and bounds ahead of the Cubs when it comes to the starting rotation. Theo Epstein has his hands full this winter – but if there’s anyone to get the job done, it’s him.

Advantage: Los Angeles

Chicago Cubs need late-inning answers in the bullpen

When it comes to the ninth inning, I genuinely have no idea what the Chicago Cubs will look like in 2018. Wade Davis will be one of the most highly sought-after arms available on the free agent market this winter. And, to be blunt, he was the team’s only reliable reliever come postseason play.

Carl Edwards Jr. could be that guy. But, down the stretch, he faded and by the time October rolled around, he was running on fumes. If he can pitch like he did early in the year, then he might be the answer.

But you can’t be sure. Pedro Strop, meanwhile, is a quality setup man – whether you like how he wears his hat. In five seasons on the North Side, he owns a sub-3.00 ERA – including a 69-appearance 2017 campaign in which he put up a 2.83 ERA.

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The rest of the gang set to return: Hector Rondon, Justin Wilson, Justin Grimm and Mike Montgomery. After peaking in 2015, Rondon has trended in the wrong direction. After the Cubs made a deadline deal to pick up Wilson and Alex Avila, the left-hander forgot how to throw strikes. Grimm is a question mark at this point and Montgomery will once again serve as a swing man.

The best closer in baseball?

For Los Angeles, Kenley Jansen is locked up for the next four years. He is indisputably the best closer in the National League – maybe even all of baseball. You’ll also have whoever doesn’t make the cut in the rotation out there in the Dodgers’ pen.

But the Dodgers face several impending free-agent departures in Brandon Morrow and Tony Watson. Similar to the Cubs, Los Angeles will be a big player in the Hot Stove market this offseason – and you can expect the bullpen to the at the top of Andrew Friedman’s wish list.

This one is hard because of the impending free agencies on both sides. But, when you boil it down, the Dodgers have a ninth-inning answer and the Cubs do not. At least not a clear one.

Chicago Cubs have a long-term answer in Willson Contreras

If not for an injury, Willson Contreras may very well have made a run at 30 homers and 100 RBI. At the very least, he’d have come up close to 25-90. He runs well – and has one of the best (and most aggressive) throwing arms in the game.

He led the league in back-picks this year and, thanks to the combo of Russell and Baez, caught a good portion of would-be base stealers. His passion and leadership on the field embodies someone far older and more experienced.

Chicago Cubs

That’s not to say he doesn’t make mistakes because he does. He led all catchers in errors in 2017. But he also learns from these shortcomings and adjusts accordingly. That’s key for a young player – especially one entrusted with a team’s pitching staff.

Austin Barnes handles things behind the plate for Los Angeles with Yasmani Grandal. Barnes his .289 this year, striking out 43 times and drawing 39 walks. He’s far from a catcher who gives away his at-bats. He’s just a slightly above-average defensive catcher by most measures – and he caught 23 percent of would-be base stealers.

Grandal, meanwhile, just finished off his second-straight 20-plus homer campaign. Defensively, he led the league in passed balls (16) – but caught 32 percent of base stealers. (For the record, Contreras clocked in at 27 percent).

Between Barnes and Grandal, the Dodgers have the best all-around catching. But with the all-around value Contreras brings to the table, we’ve got to tip our cap to Chicago – but this is probably one of the closest when you put these teams side-by-side.

Advantage: Chicago

Chicago Cubs have work to do this offseason

If the Chicago Cubs want to remain competitive with the Los Angeles Dodgers moving forward, they have a lot of work to do. I’m not just talking about this upcoming offseason – that speaks for itself. Chicago has a lot of holes and they’re going to need to make moves to fill them. There are a lot of tough choices ahead.

But, perhaps even more impactful will be the continued focus on drafting and player development. Chicago has the chance to develop a new generation of Cubs starters internally – with an intense focus on pitching. Do that and you can be successful for a long time.

And, objectively speaking, I have to admit. This Dodgers organization is in the best shape it’s been in for a long, long time. A farm system still-loaded with talent and no major holes on the big-league roster.

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Either way, this much is clear. For the foreseeable future, both the Dodgers and Cubs will be contenders. These teams – and their fans – will enjoy meaningful baseball deep into September and, likely, into the month of October.