I don’t remember the date or even the year, but how I viewed Cubs games changed when I was allowed to go to games by myself. I know it was years before I got my driver’s license because I still relied on a parent to get me to the park or the Linden El station.

Back then, my friends and I considered which of the Cubs starting pitchers would lead the team in victories; Ray Burris, Mike Krukow or Rick Reuschel. Suffice to say, nobody was checking the odds on such things (even if they existed) it was merely conversation. Subconsciously, I think fans of every team do this at the outset of every season no matter the overall outlook. If the leader is completely unexpected that can spell doom or an abundance. Only time (162 games) will tell.

Flash forward to 2026 where one can bet on most anything and odds are available 24/7. Yesterday morning I caught a radio show whose host was discussing who would lead the 2026 Cubs in victories. I missed the part where he mentioned the specific odds associated with the contenders. It’s a fair discussion when one tries to project/predict/guess how one’s favorite team will do. There is a fine line between project, predict and guess. Regardless, it’s a topic I wish to pursue.

One of the Cubs biggest offseason acquisitions is Edward Cabrera, formerly of the Miami Marlins. Cubs brass and their media lackey would lead one to believe he was always their primary target and not his former teammate, Sandy Alcantara, the 2022 NL CY winner.

Even as he struggled to regain his form (11-12, 5.36 ERA, 174.2 ip and 142 K) last season, that same lackey had the Cubs interested in him for a postseason push. Everyone always considered Cabrera to be the unheralded and less expensive alternative to Alcantara, a diamond in the rough. Yet it’s Alcantara who was expected to ascend after winning the CY. Of course, Tommy John surgery and a lost season puts a crimp on future greatness.

Because of my irrational ability to connect players with similar names and abilities, Sandy Alcantara always scared me a little bit. Too much history with Cubs named Sandy and Reds pitcher, Santo Alcala (talk about a guy whose star burned bright for all of 17 minutes). I told you it was irrational, but I’ve been burned before.

Given how nobody has any idea how the Marlins will play this season and that the Cubs have the greatest lineup this side of Los Angeles, who will win more games this season, Alcantara or Cabrera?

Other than a brief glance at his ordinary ST stats, I’ve not heard a single thing about Alcantara this spring. Whereas Cabrera is expected to develop into a great pitcher with the help of the Cubs pitching lab. To hear the locals tell it, nobody has done more to resurrect careers than the Cubs pitching lab since Dr. Rudy Wells “reinvigorated” Col. Steve Austin.

Luckily for the Cubs, Cabrera need only have the third most wins among the rotation for the team to be successful and reach its potential.