The Cubs are in Tokyo, and we should be talking about a potential NLCS preview by this time next week. Yes, the Cubs are still a top-of-rotation starter away and the Dodgers can win 125 games, but the projection feels right. Jed Hoyer and Carter Hawkins have done a fantastic job creating divisional separation, but they need a guy like Dylan Cease to leap ahead of the Mets and Braves.
The Tokyo Series will be a nice tease, a popshot ahead of the rest of the regular season. Still, the front office must keep its eyes on the prize once the team returns.