Forget 2015, Brewers look more like 2016 Cubs

While the Milwaukee Brewers are about to launch the NLCS, many fans and Cubs experts have started comparing them to the 2015 Cubs.

At first glance, it's easy to understand why – they are in the playoffs for the first time as a neglected team and "surprise" – but it's not the recent team of Cubs to whom we should be compare the Brewers 2018.

This Milwaukee team looks a lot more like the 2016 Cubs.

Here's why:

<p class = "canvas-atom canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "1. They are not a surprise."data-reactid =" 19 ">1. They are not a surprise.

Nobody expected the 2015 Cubs to win 97 games and end up in the NLCS. We were expecting them to compete very quickly, but everything went well in August. They carried Jake Arrieta's right arm to the NLDS, then flipped the Cardinals to the LCS, where they ran into the brick wall that was Matt Harvey. and and the Mets pitch staff.

The 2018 brewers are not – and should not be – a surprise. Everyone who was caught off guard by the fact that this team was so good did not pay much attention. The Brewers were leading NL Central in 2017 for much of the year before the end of the season coincided with the Cubs' end – of – season wave.

This Milwaukee team was always supposed to be one of the best teams in the NL in 2018 and it really took its pace in September to hunt the Cubs. Still, it took a 163 game to force a change of guard at the top of the division.

<p class = "canvas-atom canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "2. They have greatly improved expectations with a fat free agent, OF, during the winter."data-reactid =" 23 ">2. They have greatly improved expectations with a fat free agent, OF, during the winter.

Jason Heyward had the Cubs between 2015 and 2016. The Brewers had Lorenzo Cain.

Cain offended a little more offense in the first season of his $ 80 million, 5-year contract, but Cain and Heyward both led club teams and elite defense in the field. The first years.

<p class = "canvas-atom canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "3. The Brewers have the MVP NL."data-reactid =" 26 ">3. The Brewers have the MVP NL.

This one is an easy comparison to make, even if the Cubs fans will hate it.

Christian Yelich is the NL MVP this season. Sorry, Javy Baez fans. "El Mago" had a good season, but it is impossible to award the prize to anyone except Yelich.

Yelich winning the most coveted trophy in the league would be another perfect link with the 2016 Cubs, who won the title of Kris Bryant MVP NL.

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Josh Hader made a good impression on Aroldis Chapman in 2018 as an absolutely dominant left-handed marketer. Unlike Chapman, Hader spent the entire season with the Brewers, but like Chapman in 1916, Hader will rely heavily on his many innings in the other series.

<p class = "canvas-atom canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "5. They have picked up valuable assets in season."data-reactid =" 32 ">5. They have picked up valuable assets in season.

The 2016 Cubs traded for Chapman, but they also traded for reliever Joe Smith and called Willson Contreras in the middle of the year, which provided spark to the offensive.

The 2018 brewers have gained many valuable assets throughout the season, ranging from Mike Moustakas to Jonathan Schoop to Erik Kratz (more on him later) and Gio Gonzalez. But one of their most important additions (especially in October) was the promotion of the best hope Corbin Burnes, a right-handed torchist who scored a silver in 2.61 in 30 regular season games and 'allowed only one sure blow in four shutout in the game. DS.

<p class = "canvas-atom canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "6. They are on a mission with a chip on their shoulder."data-reactid =" 35 ">6. They are on a mission with a chip on their shoulder.

The 2015 Cubs had a small token on the shoulder as they were trying to defeat the divisional central that is the St. Louis Cardinals. But again, they were a surprise candidate – even within this club (especially in early 2015). But after failing in the NLCS, the Cubs reorganized during the winter and came back with one goal in mind: to win the World Series.

It was a goal that they accomplished. We'll see if the Brewers will be able to do the same, but they certainly came to play in 2018 with a token on the shoulder and the ultimate goal of winning the last MLB game of the year .

The Brewers did not take the lead of the division from day one and were unable to reach October, but they still ended up with an advantage on their court during the playoffs. the LN.

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It's fun.

The 2016 "Cubs" had David "Grandpa" Rossy, who was still deafeningly acclaimed every time he appeared on the giant Wrigley Field video board. The 2018 Brewers have Kratz, who has recently become a fan favorite and has been qualified for the final of the LNDS.

The story continues