Chicago Cubs: Are the Milwaukee Brewers slugging their way to the top?

Chicago Cubs: Are the Brewers’ and Cubs’ infields comparable?

In other words, the Milwaukee infield averages a 115 OPS+ (an offensive value roughly 15 percent above league average). If you’re wondering, and I know you are, a healthy Cubs infield of Anthony Rizzo, Javier Baez, Addison Russell and Kris Bryant equate to a 113 OPS+.

More from Cubbies Crib

• Cubs should keep close eye on non-tender candidate Cody Bellinger
• Cubs starting pitching has been thriving on the North Side
• Make no mistake: the Cubs are very much about power hitters
• Cubs are giving pitcher Javier Assad a deserved shot
• Cubs: It’s time to start thinking about potential September call-ups

That’s right. At least, offensively, these teams are neck-and-neck on paper.

Defensively, I’ll still take Chicago 10 times out of 10 – and I don’t think I need to explain why. So let’s pivot to pitching. Did Milwaukee drop the ball on not adding a starter? Honestly, I don’t think so. And that’s not the conclusion I had initially drawn once the deadline came and went without them making a move.

Brewers starters rank fourth in the National League in terms of ERA (3.80) – far outpacing the Cubs’ 4.17 mark. Granted, they lost Brent Suter to Tommy John surgery. But they keep getting good news on Jimmy Nelson, who is yet to throw a pitch this year after going under the knife last fall.