4 reasons the 2024 Chicago Cubs are playoff contenders

3. Bullpen is quietly a strength 

Last year, the bullpen was worn down to a nub at the end of the season. Still, the team’s three late-inning relievers, Adbert Alzolay, Julian Merryweather, and Mark Leiter Jr., played vital roles that helped the Cubs attain as much success as they did in 2023. Alzolay recorded a career-best 2.67 ERA with 22 saves, while Merryweather (3.38) and Leiter Jr. (3.50) earned respectable marks.

Those three arms are still there, along with Hector Neris, who is fresh off a career year, and Yency Almonte, who had a down season last year but was elite a year prior. Other than that, Luke Little looks like he will be a critical piece for the Cubs before long, and the team will likely have Jose Cuas, who did well in his own right once he was traded to Chicago at the deadline in ‘23. 

2. Craig Counsell’s managerial skills 

I will say this with complete confidence: If Craig Counsell managed the Cubs last year, they would have made the playoffs. From his record in close games to expertise in matchup-to-matchup situations, Counsell has all the skills of a manager who can lead a team to the promised land. Although the Milwaukee Brewers have yet to make it very far in the playoffs, they have been there a staggering five times since 2018 with Counsell at the helm, which speaks for itself. 

Gone are the days when we scratched our heads and wondered what the manager was thinking late in games. Instead, we can rest assured that, night in and night out, Counsell will put the team in the best situation to win. After all the players signed by the Cubs this offseason, it may be Counsell who will be the number one free agent the team acquired over the winter. 

1. Division opponents have more questions than answers

For example, all four division opponents’ starting rotations lack anything that stands out on paper. Milwaukee lost both Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff, and elite closer Devin Williams will be shelved for at least a few months with two fractured vertebrae in his back.

Outside of Sonny Gray, St. Louis's rotation has three pitchers who were among the bottom five in hits allowed a season ago. Pittsburgh's rotation is nothing to write home about. Cincinnati may actually have a few guys step up, and they are my pick to be the Cubs’ biggest threat to capturing the NL Central crown. 

Still, the Cubs have the best pitcher in the division, Justin Steele, followed by Shota Imanaga, who looks to have elite swing-and-miss capabilities as long as he keeps the ball in the park. After that, you have ol’ reliable Kyle Hendricks and Jordan Wicks, who has built on an impressive display at the end of the 2023 campaign, recording a 2.53 ERA in 21.1 IP this spring. Combining the upside of the Cubs’ rotation and the offensive and bullpen strengths mentioned above, it’s easy to see why the Cubs have the most complete team in the NL Central on paper.

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