Cubs predicted by ESPN as overwhelming favorites for NL Central despite losing Kyle Tucker
The Cubs lost a key starter, but got a lot better this offseason.
Cubs predicted by ESPN as overwhelming favorites for NL Central despite losing Kyle Tucker originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The Chicago Cubs are coming into the 2026 regular season with plenty of potential and hype.
While they might not be the World Series favorites, thanks to the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers , they are still in a great spot as a team. With the Cubs looking to make it deeper than ever in the postseason, 10 years since their incredible World Series run, the overwhelming majority of ESPN analysts predicted them to win the NL Central. Jesse Rogers of ESPN shared how the Cubs, despite losing Kyle Tucker this offseason, wound up as the overwhelming favorites to win the NL Central this year.
Why Cubs are predicted to win NL Central by ESPN "If not now, when? The Cubs have their highest payroll, are deeper than any of their more recent teams, had a taste of the playoffs last year, and should be playing peak Cubs baseball under now third-year manager Craig Counsell," Rogers writes. While Tucker left the Cubs for the Dodgers, Counsell's Cubs went out and signed Alex Bregman to a big free agent deal, improving their roster in a big way despite losing Tucker.
With Pete Crow-Armstrong and the rest of the outfield still in good shape, the loss of Tucker's impact bat in the lineup was mitigated by Bregman's addition. But that's not the only reason for there to be plenty of confidence in the Cubs. Other than their lineup's improvement, the Cubs have a great rotation, and their defense will once again be great.