Chicago Cubs: Complete 2017 Season Preview, Predictions

Maybe you're sick of hearing it, but it's true nonetheless: The Chicago Cubs are the best, most complete team in baseball.

They can hit. They can run. They can pitch. They can catch.

And while only two teams have done it in back-to-back seasons since 1979, they're the favorites to repeat as World Series champions.

As Opening Day approaches, let's preview the upcoming season at Wrigley Field, examining the likely lineup, bench, pitching staff and bullpen, plus the top prospects waiting in the wings and the club's overall outlook.

Spoiler alert—it's good.

Lineup Preview

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First baseman Anthony Rizzo.

Projected Lineup/2016 Stats

1. LF Kyle Schwarber (4 AB, 0 H)

2. 3B Kris Bryant (.292 AVG., .939 OPS, 39 HR, 102 RBI)

3. 1B Anthony Rizzo (.292 AVG., .928 OPS, 32 HR, 109 RBI)

4. 2B Ben Zobrist (.272 AVG., .831 OPS, 18 HR, 76 RBI)

5. SS Addison Russell (.238 AVG., .738 OPS, 21 HR, 95 RBI)

6. RF Jason Heyward (.230 AVG., .631 OPS, 7 HR, 49 RBI)

7. C Willson Contreras (.282 AVG., .845 OPS, 12 HR, 35 RBI)

8. CF Jon Jay (.291 AVG., .728 OPS, 2 HR, 26 RBI)

Projected Bench/2016 Stats

C Miguel Montero (.216 AVG., .684 OPS, 8 HR 33 RBI)

INF Javier Baez (.273 AVG., .737 OPS, 14 HR, 59 RBI)

INF Tommy La Stella (.270 AVG., .763 OPS, 2 HR, 11 RBI)

OF Albert Almora Jr. (.277 AVG., .763 OPS, 3 HR, 14 RBI)

OF Matt Szczur (.259 AVG., .712 OPS, 5 HR, 24 RBI)

National League MVP Kris Bryant anchors a lineup stuffed with up-and-coming homegrown talent and augmented by solid veteran pieces.

Anthony Rizzo, Bryant's across-the-diamond bash brother, is joined on the right side of the infield by seasoned jack-of-all trades Ben Zobrist. Or the Cubs can opt for emerging stars Javier Baez and Addison Russell up the middle to form one of the slickest-fielding double-play duos in the game.

Chicago lost center fielder and on-base-percentage machine Dexter Fowler to the division rival St. Louis Cardinals, but it inked veteran Jon Jay and is counting on a full season from young slugger Kyle Schwarber. Right fielder Jason Heyward is coming off an awful season at the plate, but he remains one of the best defenders at his position.

Behind the dish, the Cubs will roll with yet another up-and-comer in Willson Contreras, while Albert Almora Jr. and Matt Szczur fill out a deep outfield pool.

Starting Rotation Preview

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Right hander Jake Arrieta.

Projected Starting Rotation/2016 Stats

LHP Jon Lester (2.44 ERA, 202.2 IP, 197 SO, 52 BB)

RHP Jake Arrieta (3.10 ERA, 197.1 IP, 190 SO, 76 BB)

RHP Kyle Hendricks (2.13 ERA, 190 IP, 170 SO, 44 BB)

RHP John Lackey (3.35 ERA, 188.1 IP, 180 SO 53 BB)

LHP Brett Anderson (11.91 ERA, 11.1 IP, 5 SO, 4 BB)

After winning the NL Cy Young Award in 2015, Jake Arrieta's numbers took a dip last season. Still, he joins anointed Opening Day starter Jon Lester to form one of the best righty-lefty duos in baseball.

Kyle Hendricks took his command game to the next level in 2016 and picked up some Cy Young votes of his own, while veteran John Lackey did good things in his age-37 season.

Brett Anderson, signed over the winter, is looking to bounce back after an injury-interrupted year with the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

Bullpen Preview

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Right-hander Hector Rondon.

Projected Bullpen/2016 Stats

RHP Wade Davis (1.87 ERA, 43.1 IP, 47 SO, 16 BB, 27 SV)

RHP Hector Rondon (3.53 ERA, 51 IP, 58 SO, 8 BB)

RHP Pedro Strop (2.85 ERA, 47.1 IP, 60 SO, 15 BB)

RHP Koji Uehara (3.45 ERA, 47 IP, 63 SO, 11 BB)

RHP Carl Edwards Jr. (3.75 ERA, 36 IP, 52 SO, 14 BB)

RHP Justin Grimm (4.10 ERA, 52.2 IP, 65 SO, 23 BB)

LHP Mike Montgomery (2.82 ERA, 38.1 IP, 38 SO, 20 BB)

After flame-throwing closer Aroldis Chapman walked for a pile of money in the Bronx, the Cubs acquired Wade Davis from the Kansas City Royals.

Davis owns a cartoonish 18.00 ERA the Cactus League, but count skipper Joe Maddon among the unconcerned. 

"You're not going to believe this, but he's throwing better than he normally does in spring training," Maddon said, per Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune. "The biggest problem he's having now is command."

Chicago has a strong trio of setup men behind Davis in Hector Rondon, Pedro Strop and Koji Uehara, while Mike Montgomery will serve as the pen's lone lefty until Brian Duensing returns from a back injury.

Prospects to Watch

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Second base prospect Ian Happ.

2B Ian Happ

Ian Happ made a huge impression this spring, hitting .415 with a 1.287 OPS and five home runs in 26 games.

The ninth overall pick in the 2015 amateur draft, Happ is just 22 and could use a bit more minor league seasoning. Still, he proved he's ready for an MLB audition at some point in 2017.

OF Eloy Jimenez 

Before a bone bruise put him out of commission, Eloy Jimenez was off to an eye-opening exhibition start, hitting .321 with four homers in 16 games.

"Sky's the limit," Cubs vice president of player development Jason McLeod said of the hyper-talented 20-year-old, per Patrick Mooney of CSN Chicago. "I think he's someone who can sit in the middle of a lineup and wreak a lot of havoc on some pitching across the major leagues."

Albert Almora Jr.

Albert Almora Jr. hit .277 in 47 games for the Cubs last season while wielding a plus glove, but he retained his rookie status. 

He's on the Opening Day roster as mentioned, and he should see plenty of action under Maddon's mix-and-match machinations. 

Outlook/Prediction

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Bryant and manager Joe Maddon.

There are no guarantees in baseball, as in life.

Injuries, surprise slumps, rogue meteors—all manner of things can conspire to derail even the best team.

Let's get real, though: These Cubbies are the class of MLB, oozing talent all over the roster with the depth to withstand disabled-list stints and play matchups till the billy goats come home.

The bullpen is stacked, provided Davis shakes off his spring malaise, and the rotation features at least two—arguably three—bona fide aces.

One season after busting professional sports' most infamous title drought, Chicago is primed to rule the NL Central once again and charge back through October.

As Sports Illustrated's Tom Verducci put it: "The only reason not to pick the Cubs is that they won last year."

Enjoy, Cubs fans. You earned it.

Prediction: Cubs repeat! Cubs repeat! Cubs repeat!

All statistics current as of Wednesday and courtesy of MLB.com and Baseball Reference unless otherwise noted.