4 reasons the 2024 Chicago Cubs are playoff contenders

If you haven’t been paying attention, the Chicago Cubs are crushing in Spring Training. Mostly, it’s the starters doing a lot of the work, but this organization has proved from top to bottom that it has vastly improved in the last couple of years. Now, the Cubs have all the making of a well-rounded team to make the postseason in 2024. Let’s go over four reasons this Cubs team is a playoff contender.

4 reasons the Cubs are playoff contenders - Cubs offense should rake 

Last season, the Cubs were one of the better offenses in the league. Granted, re-signing Cody Bellinger wasn’t a boost but rather a way to solidify the team's batting to be at least what it was a year ago, with the opportunity to have an even higher upside. Michael Busch looks ready to crush at the major league level, while Seiya Suzuki is probably your Cactus League Player of the Year in Spring training, if there was such a thing. 

Dansby Swanson had a down season offensively, as many predicted could happen after he came off a career season in 2022. The hope for Swanson is that he can find more consistency on offense in his second season with the Cubs. Elsewhere, if Christopher Morel keeps up his torrid home run pace of 39 per 162 games, as witnessed a year ago, this team will have no problem crossing the plate this season. The offense is probably their greatest strength heading into Opening Day. 

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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