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By the end of the season, the Cubs finally had Adbert Alzolay, Justin Steele and Keegan Thompson back in the clubhouse together — the three pitchers at the frontline of refurbishing the club’s reputation for developing pitching.
The core of that “next great Cubs team” is poised to be centered on pitching. And in the midst of an unpredictable postseason with a new format, the playoffs have made one thing clear: the importance of homegrown talent.
Take the two teams headed to the World Series, for example. Besides the Astros’ 2017 sign-stealing scandal, the club is best known for its player development, which has kept its championship window open long after the Cubs’ snapped shut.