Chicago Cubs: Do the Cubs stand a chance against historic Red Sox?

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It’s fun to look ahead at potential matchups and one that Chicago Cubs fans have probably thought about this season is the chances of facing off against the Boston Red Sox in the World Series.

The Chicago Cubs, in terms of their record, at least, look like the team to beat out in the National League. However, they have had their bumps in the road.

Whether it’s the stagnant offense that’s either hot or cold, the inconsistent starting pitching or injury bug, the Cubs faced plenty of adversity this season. The question remains if they can use these hurdles to help them down the stretch and in October.

While the Cubs have been battling daily in the NL, the Red Sox are on a historic run. It’s Aug. 25. The Sox are 90-40. Boston has 90 wins before Sept. 1. The 2016 Cubs team that won 103 games didn’t win their 90th game until Sept. 9 in a 2-0 win over the Houston Astros.

Furthermore, this season’s squad lost their 39th game July 20. The Red Sox lost their 39th game 35 days later. The New York Yankees are 79-47. That record is better than any team in the National League. They’re 8 1/2 games back in the AL East coming into Saturday.

It helps having an American League Cy Young candidate in Chris Sale and two AL MVP candidates in Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez.

Chicago Cubs: Boston getting favored by weak American League?

One could argue that the Red Sox, like in this Forbes piece, are on such a hot streak because from top to bottom the AL is very top-heavy while the NL is competitive, as a whole.

This season, four teams are on pace for 95 losses or more. The Kansas City Royals and Orioles are a combined 3-19 against Boston. Both of those teams are on pace for more than 110 losses.

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Besides the AL West, each division is set for the postseason it seems. The only team in the AL that’s on the outside looking in is the Seattle Mariners and that’s for the final wild card spot. The Cleveland Indians haven’t been challenged all season in the AL Central with three teams 20 or more games behind them.

Meanwhile in the NL, the standings could change with one bad week from any given team. A month and a half ago, most thought the St. Louis Cardinals were selling at the trade deadline after moving Tommy Pham to the Tampa Bay Rays but they suddenly own the top NL Wild Card spot after a hot start to the second half of the season.

The NL West is wide open in a three team race and the NL East has been a surprise with the Washington Nationals plummeting while the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies have battled for the top spot all season long.

Then there is the Cubs, who like I stated, have been on a roller coaster because of the latter three issues stated above, yet have the best record in the NL and lead the NL Central.

Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox – a World Series of epic proportions

Could the Cubs compete with the Red Sox a potential World Series matchup? First, let’s talk about the storylines that series would create.

Theo Epstein and Jon Lester goes up against their former team. The TV ratings would sky-rocket with these two major market franchises that play at the most historic ballparks in baseball, Fenway Park and Wrigley Field.

Both teams broke historically long championship droughts in recent years.

Last season, when the Cubs played a three-game series at Fenway Park, writers clamored over how the Red Sox played a major part in the Cubs winning their first World Series in 108 years in terms of trades and free agency signings.

The Red Sox would own home field advantage, but that could be to the Cubs favor, as we saw in 2016 against the Indians. As we all know, the playoffs are all about starting pitching. The key for the Cubs would be the starting rotation against the Red Sox high-powered offense.

Chicago Cubs: Are they outmatched by the Red Sox?

Could the Cubs get wins against Chris Sale and David Price? Price, most notably, has not performed well in the postseason. Sale struggled in his playoff debut in 2017. However, if they reach the World Series, let’s assume they got past their playoff woes.

Overall, I’d still have to side with Boston winning this series. The Cubs could win a one or two games, but that’s about it. Imagine watching Lester taking the mound back at Fenway and putting on one of the classic Lester performances that Cubs fans have come to know. With Cole Hamels pitching well of late, too, who knows. Maybe the Cubs could win a few games.

If the Cubs reach the World Series, I’d believe they got there because Kris Bryant came back and performed very well to put the team over the top against the rest of the teams in the NL to go with a starting rotation that we’ve seen recently emerge to an elite status. Javier Baez and Anthony Rizzo continued to help bolster the offense. And Kyle Hendricks, Lester and Hamels became a tandem that will be remembered for years to come.

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Time will tell,but at the very least, this potential matchup would be one for the ages that we’ve all wanted to see.

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