Close. 2016 Cubs spent one day in second place (after April 8’s loss to Arizona the Cubs were 3-1 and Pittsburgh was 4-0).

The comparisons between the 2016 Cubs and the 2026 Brewers are kinda nuts: Both won 103 games: ✅ Both teams’ top player finished with 7.3 bWAR (Bryant and Turang): ✅ Both won 97 games and were swept out of the NLCS the previous season: ✅ Both won the World Series: ❓

Start the lockout early

As the old saying goes, good pitching always beats good hitting. This season proved just that. The Cubs’ number one objective this offseason is revamping the pitching staff to prevent the home run ball. Thanks for the memories, 2026 (mainly PCA). On to 2027.

That concludes our look back at all 2016 players and manager. Daily Random Cubs will begin after the World Series wraps up.

Ben Zobrist (2016-2019) Zobrist appeared in 147 regular season games and 17 postseason games in 2016. He was named 2016 World Series MVP after hitting .357/.419/.500 with five runs, three XBHs and two RBI. - 2016 Cubs 10 years later -

Rob Zastryzny (2016-2018) Zastryzny appeared in eight regular season games in 2016 and posted a 1.13 ERA in 16 innings. He was on the NLCS roster but did not appear in a game. - 2016 Cubs 10 years later -

Travis Wood (2010-2016) Wood appeared in 77 regular season games and nine postseason games in 2016. His most memorable postseason moment was Game 2 of the NLDS when he relived an injured Kyle Hendricks, homered, and picked up the win. - 2016 Cubs 10 years later -

Adam Warren (2016) Warren appeared in 29 regular season games in 2016. He was traded back to the Yankees in the deal for Aroldis Chapman on 7/25/16. - 2016 Cubs 10 years later -

Matt Szczur (2014-2017) Szczur appeared in 107 regular season games in 2016 hitting .259/.312/.400 with five home runs and 24 RBI. He did not appear in a postseason game. He is retired from baseball and is now an artist. -2016 Cubs 10 years later -

Idea for @WatchMarquee as PCA closes in on 40/40: “PCA Cam” in the bottom corner of the screen while he’s on base. Builds the suspense to see if he’s moving on the pitch.

Pedro Strop (2013-2019, 2021) Strop appeared in 54 regular season games and eight postseason games in 2016. He is one of the franchise’s greatest relief pitchers of all time throwing in 413 games with a 2.88 ERA, 142 ERA+, 10.3 K/9, and 29 saves. - 2016 Cubs 10 years later 🧢-

Jorge Soler (2014-2016) Soler appeared in 86 regular season games and 8 postseason games in 2016. The 2016 World Series was the first of two rings Soler would win. He was named WS MVP in 2021 with Atlanta when he hit .300/.391/.800 with three home runs. 2016 Cubs 10 years later

Joe Smith (2016) Smith appeared in 21 regular season games in 2016. He pitched to a 2.51 ERA over his 14.1 innings. He did not appear in the postseason. - 2016 Cubs 10 years later -

Kyle Schwarber (2015-2020) Schwarber appeared in two regular season games and five postseason games in 2016. He hit .412/.500/.471 with a double and two RBI in 20 plate appearances in the World Series. He also stole a base. - 2016 Cubs 10 years later -

That was one ugly ass game

Addison Russell (2015-2019) Russell appeared in 151 regular season games and 17 postseason games in 2016. His six RBI in Game 6 of the World Series are tied with Albert Pujols and Hideki Matsui for the most RBI in a single World Series game. - 2016 Cubs 10 years later -

David Ross (2015-2016 & manager: 2020-2023) Ross appeared in 67 regular season games and eight postseason games in 2016. He remains the oldest player in MLB history to homer in a World Series Game 7. - 2016 Cubs 10 years later -

Hector Rondon (2013-2017) Rondon appeared in 54 regular season games and seven postseason games in 2016. He saved 29 games in 2014, 30 in 2015, and 18 in 2016. For his Cubs career, he had a 3.22 ERA and 124 ERA+. - 2016 Cubs 10 years later -

In the World Series, he hit .360/.484/.600 with a homer and five runs driven in. World Series hero and franchise legend. - 2016 Cubs 10 years later -