Did the Tokyo Series really even count? “Domestic” opening day seems like the perfect launching point of the Kyle Tucker era for the Chicago Cubs.
The 2025 season is officially upon us, but before we get started, I asked the CHGO Cubs staff a few questions heading into Opening Day. Here’s what everybody had to say:
THE CUBS’ RECORD IN 2025 WILL BE…
- Cody Delmendo: 90-72
- Luke Stuckmeyer: 87-75
- Brendan Miller: 88-74
- Corey Freedman: 88-74
- Jared Wyllys: 87-75
- Patrick Norton: 93-69
- Joey Christopoulos: 88-74
THE CUBS WILL FINISH AHEAD OF…
- Cody Delmendo: Everyone in the NL Central.
- Luke Stuckmeyer: Brewers, Reds, Cardinals, and Pirates.
- Brendan Miller: Everyone in the NL Central.
- Corey Freedman: Everyone in the NL Central.
- Jared Wyllys: Reds, Cardinals, Brewers, and Pirates.
- Patrick Norton: Reds, Brewers, Cardinals, and Pirates.
- Joey Christopoulos: Everyone in the NL Central.
THE CUBS’ MOST IMPORTANT PLAYER IN 2025 IS…
- Cody Delmendo: Matt Shaw.
- Luke Stuckmeyer: Matt Shaw. They pushed all their chips in on their top prospect. No pressure! Lots of key players this season, but there are limited backup plans at 3B. In Shaw they trust.
- Brendan Miller: Kyle Tucker.
- Corey Freedman: Pete Crow-Armstrong.
- Jared Wyllys: Dansby Swanson.
- Patrick Norton: Pete Crow-Armstrong. You arguably can’t pluck a single player from this lineup and expect long-term success without them. But removing PCA is the ultimate death sentence to the 2025 Cubs. He might have the occasional power and elite speed to be the best in the National League.
- Joey Christopoulos: Just dial 1-800-KYL-TCKR for my answer.
WHO WILL BE THE CUBS’ HOME RUN LEADER?
- Cody Delmendo: Kyle Tucker with 30.
- Luke Stuckmeyer: Kyle Tucker with 35.
- Brendan Miller: Kyle Tucker with 30.
- Corey Freedman: Kyle Tucker with 28.
- Jared Wyllys: Kyle Tucker with 34.
- Patrick Norton: Seiya Suzuki with 37.
- Joey Christopoulos: Kyle Tucker with 37.
MOST LIKELY TO REPRESENT THE CUBS AT THE ALL-STAR GAME:
- Cody Delmendo: Kyle Tucker
- Luke Stuckmeyer: Kyle Tucker
- Brendan Miller: Kyle Tucker
- Corey Freedman: Kyle Tucker
- Jared Wyllys: Kyle Tucker
- Patrick Norton: Shota Imanaga
- Joey Christopoulos: Kyle Tucker
THE CUBS’ BEST-CASE SCENARIO IN 2024 IS…
- Cody Delmendo: The Cubs make the playoffs and find a way to get an in-season contract extension done with Kyle Tucker.
- Luke Stuckmeyer: What time is the parade?
- Brendan Miller: 95 wins.
- Corey Freedman: Win the division, lose in the NLCS.
- Jared Wyllys: Cubs win the division.
- Patrick Norton: Cubs make the World Series. Anything can happen once you get to the postseason.
- Joey Christopoulos: Cubs win 93+ and make it to the NLCS, and Kyle Tucker re-signs.
THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO IS…
- Cody Delmendo: The Cubs trade Kyle Tucker at the trade deadline.
- Luke Stuckmeyer: 83 wins. 3rd place. Rinse and repeat.
- Brendan Miller: 75 wins.
- Corey Freedman: Missing the playoffs again, winning 83 games again.
- Jared Wyllys: A losing season that prompts trade deadline selling.
- Patrick Norton: There’s no way this team loses more in 2025, right? Right?!
- Joey Christopoulos: Cubs win 83 AGAIN! Steele stinks, the bullpen stinks (again), the lineup is littered with dudes who can’t slug .400+, and Tom Ricketts jumps to the front lines of a work stoppage in 2026.
NATIONAL LEAGUE AWARDS PREDICTIONS
MVP
- Cody Delmendo: Kyle Tucker
- Luke Stuckmeyer: Shohei Ohtani
- Brendan Miller: Shohei Ohtani
- Corey Freedman: Shohei Ohtani
- Jared Wyllys: Juan Soto
- Patrick Norton: Bryce Harper
- Joey Christopoulos: Shohei Ohtani
CY YOUNG
- Cody Delmendo: Dylan Cease
- Luke Stuckmeyer: Paul Skenes
- Brendan Miller: Zach Wheeler
- Corey Freedman: Paul Skenes
- Jared Wyllys: Corbin Burnes
- Patrick Norton: Zac Gallen
- Joey Christopoulos: Paul Skenes
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
- Cody Delmendo: Matt Shaw
- Luke Stuckmeyer: Matt Shaw
- Brendan Miller: Matt Shaw
- Corey Freedman: Matt Shaw
- Jared Wyllys: Matt Shaw
- Patrick Norton: Roki Sasaki
- Joey Christopoulos: Roki Sasaki
MANAGER OF THE YEAR
- Cody Delmendo: Craig Counsell
- Luke Stuckmeyer: Craig Counsell
- Brendan Miller: Carlos Mendoza
- Corey Freedman: Rob Thomson
- Jared Wyllys: Terry Francona
- Patrick Norton: Terry Francona
- Joey Christopoulos: Dave Roberts
COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR
- Cody Delmendo: Spencer Strider
- Luke Stuckmeyer: Kyle Tucker
- Brendan Miller: Spencer Strider
- Corey Freedman: Spencer Strider
- Jared Wyllys: Ronald Acuña Jr.
- Patrick Norton: Ronald Acuña Jr.
- Joey Christopoulos: Robbie Ray
WORLD SERIES PREDICTION
- Cody Delmendo: Los Angeles Dodgers def. Boston Red Sox (in six).
- Luke Stuckmeyer: Los Angeles Dodgers def. Baltimore Orioles.
- Brendan Miller: New York Mets def. Texas Rangers.
- Corey Freedman: Philadelphia Phillies def. Baltimore Orioles.
- Jared Wyllys: Los Angeles Dodgers def. Cleveland Guardians.
- Patrick Norton: Baltimore Orioles def. Chicago Cubs.
- Joey Christopoulos: Los Angeles Dodgers def. Texas Rangers.
