Chicago Cubs 2026 record prediction sees them finishing in an all-too-familiar position
The Chicago Cubs are starting the 2026 MLB regular season this week as they wrap up Spring Training. Indeed, there is a great deal to like about this year’s roster, including the fact that top prospect, Moises Ballesteros, has already been told he made the Opening Day roster.
That being said, there are quite a few questions that remain unanswered. Is the starting rotation going to be good enough? Will the Cubs miss Kyle Tucker, whom they lost in free agency over the winter?
These questions, along with others, have some thinking that Chicago may have to wait a little longer before reclaiming the National League Central Division.
Chicago Cubs predicted to finish 2nd in the NL Central (again)
Tim Kelly of Bleacher Report recently released an article in which he predicted the 2026 record for each MLB team. And while he had the three-time reigning NL Central champion Milwaukee Brewers winning seven-fewer games than they did in 2025, he still picked them to win the division.
As for Chicago, he, once again, has them coming in second:
“Cubs fans should be excited that the team added Bregman, but while he is considered one of the best leaders in the sport, he’s probably a worse player at this point than Kyle Tucker, who Jed Hoyer and company made no effort to re-sign this winter.
“Once again, the Cubs feel like a lineup where there’s a lot of good, with pieces like Bregman, Seiya Suzuki, Michael Busch, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Ian Happ. But is there a superstar that can consistently carry Craig Counsell’s lineup? That’s fair to wonder.
“There also seem to be a wide variance of possible outcomes for the starting rotation. Will Shota Imanaga pitch more like he did in 2024 than 2025? Can Matthew Boyd replicate the career-year he had at 34 years old? Will Cabrera stay healthy? A rotation that also will include Cade Horton and Jameson Taillon has a high ceiling, but it’s not difficult to imagine things going south, either.
“Overall, the Cubs feel like a good team, but owner Tom Ricketts doesn’t flex the financial muscle of the organization nearly enough, which is why they seem more likely to be an 89-win club than a 99-win one.”
Prediction: 89-73 (Over)
His projection has the Cubs finishing one game behind the Brewers. This is not anything new, though. Chicago has finished second behind Milwaukee in each of the past three seasons.
Indeed, Kelly does point out some serious concerns. While the Cubs are poised to have a potent lineup, how good can they really be? Alex Bregman, the big free agent signing, is expected to improve his offensive production from last season.
But he may not, and he certainly may not out-produce Tucker, whose bat he is replacing.
The starting rotation, too, is basing its hopes for success on Matthew Boyd, who struggled in the WBC, and Shota Imanaga, who is looking to bounce back in 2026 after a disappointing 2025.
Undoubtedly, the Cubs are going to win a lot of games this season. The big question, though, is if they will win enough.
More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports
- Cubs get interesting lineup ranking from former MLB executive
- Cubs latest first round pick already facing injury setback
- Cubs shed 2 pitchers, 1 infielder, from roster
For More Chicago Sports
Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks
The post Chicago Cubs 2026 record prediction sees them finishing in an all-too-familiar position appeared first on ChiCitySports.
Source: https://www.chicitysports.com/chicago-cubs-2026-record-prediction-nl-central/
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