The expectations couldn't be any higher for the 2018 Chicago Cubs.
It's 2016 all over again. The goal isn't just a trip to the playoffs or another NL pennant. It's World Series or bust for this group of North Siders.
With that, let's take a look at all of the teams that could stand in the way of the Cubs getting back to the Fall Classic:
St. Louis Cardinals
2017 record: 83-79, 3rd in NL Central
Offseason additions: Marcell Ozuna, Francisco Pena, Yairo Munoz, Miles Mikolas, Dominic Leone, Bud Norris, Luke Gregerson
Offseason departures: Lance Lynn, Aledmys Diaz, Randal Grichuk, Juan Nicasio, Zach Duke, Seung Hwan Oh, Trevor Rosenthal, Stephen Piscotty
X-factor: Paul DeJong
The Illinois State University product burst onto the scene in 2017, making his MLB debut, smacking 25 homers and finishing second in the NL ROY voting.