Wait, the Cubs aren’t projected to be the best team in 2017? Yep, you read that correctly. Not only are the world champs not projected to be the best, but PECOTA — one of the most accurate projection systems known to man — believes the Cubs will win 91 games and finish with the fourth-best record, behind the Dodgers (98), Astros (93), and Indians (92).
How does a team with a 108-win Pythagorean expectation, 107-win BaseRun total, and 103 actual wins in 2016 not follow up with the best projection for 2017?