Chicago Cubs: A chat with Eduardo Perez ahead of Sunday Night Baseball

Chicago Cubs: Don’t sleep on the Pirates or Cardinals just yet

With reinforcements in the form of Bryant, Darvish and Brandon Morrow likely coming in the final six weeks of the season, the Cubs are in a good place. They enter Sunday with a two-game edge in the division with an upcoming series against the Brewers coming up this week – a team in danger of fading, if you ask Perez.

"“The strongest part of the Milwaukee Brewers in the first half was their bullpen. The problem is they haven’t been the same team when it comes to the bullpen of-late. And if that falters, they’re in trouble.”"

Perez remains high on two surging teams in the second half in St. Louis and Pittsburgh. Neither can be counted out of the postseason picture just yet. The Cardinals are just 2 1/2 games out of a playoff spot and the Pirates sit just four back.

But no matter who you have representing this division come October, don’t expect a resolution anytime soon. That hardly comes as a surprise given how close the race was last year. People forget – the Cubs wrapped things up extraordinarily early in 2016 – which makes sense given they ran off 103 wins in the regular season.

"“I don’t think this division is going to be won going into September. It’s going to be decided deep in the month.”"