Biggest difference between Cubs and Brewers has been on full display in World Series

Much to the chagrin of Chicago Cubs fans, the Milwaukee Brewers, statistically speaking, are closer than ever to capturing their first World Series championship. Up 2-0 in the best-of-seven series, Pat Murphy's team has nickel-and-dimed the Tampa Bay Rays into a Fall Classic hole, seeming to will their way to success in big spots in two games at American Family Field.

Now, the series shifts to Tropicana Field for Games 3, 4 and (if needed) 5, where the Rays hope they can stem the tide at home and slow the Brewers' momentum. The problem, though, is Milwaukee's offense is simply relentless, doing whatever it takes to produce runs. That's a stark contrast to how the Cubs created offense this year, living or dying with their ability to slug.

The Brewers erased a 4-0 Rays lead in a come-from-behind Game 2 victory, and, yes, Sal Frelick hit a big home run, but there was an air of inevitability for anyone familiar with this team. In the dugout and, for those of us at home, there was little surprise in their rally and subsequent victory.

“We’re down to the end of the season here,” Murphy said. “They’re going to tap us on the shoulder here at some point and tell us, ‘No more.’ Guys just, they don’t give up. They believe, and they don’t give up. They just keep going.”

Cubs must use offseason to add more dimension to their offense

The only reason the Chicago Cubs squeaked into the MLB playoffs this year was because Pete Crow-Armstrong's historic season helped them paper over some serious flaws with the roster, particularly on the pitching side of things. I'm not saying we should go into 2027 expecting the bottom to fall out for PCA, but you need to build a lineup that's capable of picking up the slack.

Losing Seiya Suzuki and, for all the flak he caught this year (rightfully so at times), Ian Happ opens up multiple areas Jed Hoyer can leverage to reshape the roster. Both outfield corners and the DH spot could see new faces in 2027 and adding more talent that can help manufacture offense could give this team a fresh look next year.

The Cubs have a decent amount of age among its position player group but can get younger, as well, this winter. When you have a dynamic group of talent that's capable of wreaking havoc and finding ways to push across runs when the slug isn't there (which is especially important given the ups-and-downs Wrigley Field brings each year), you can avoid the lengthy stretches that can be the difference between playing in October and staying home.

Chicago had a pair of 10-game winning streaks, but also a 10-game losing streak. Milwaukee, meanwhile, avoided those peaks and valleys, never winning more than five straight but never losing more than six. Consistency delivered a franchise record 103 wins for the Brewers, and the Cubs would do well to take a page from their book.

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