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Chicago Cubs Ranked as the Top Offensive Lineup in MLB

By Dan Schmelzer

Aug 30, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo (44) is greeted by second baseman Javier Baez (9) after hitting a two-run home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 30, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo (44) is greeted by second baseman Javier Baez (9) after hitting a two-run home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports /
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According to MLB.com, the Chicago Cubs have the best offense in Major League Baseball.

The Chicago Cubs are back for more after their historic World Series championship last season. The Cubs offense is absolutely loaded with talent up and down the lineup. They scored a ton of runs last season, but is this offensive squad even better?

Ahead of Opening Day, Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com put together a list of the five best offensive lineups in Major League Baseball. In a surprise to nobody, the Chicago Cubs topped the list.

Castrovince leaves out the part where the Cubs have to replace leadoff hitter Dexter Fowler, but he is certainly right to believe that the Cubs will add more punch to their lineup with a full season of Kyle Schwarber. Here is part of what he had to say about putting the Cubs number one:

"“The Cubs are devastatingly deep, and that’s a major reason why they did what they did last season,” Castrovince wrote. “They have a counterpunch for just about every hit a 183-day season has to offer. Assuming health, manager Joe Maddon will have to continue to get creative with player positioning in his nightly nine.”"

The Cubs extreme depth up-and-down the lineup is unparalleled across Major League Baseball and seems to be a huge reason why Castrovince thinks they are the top team. They have an answer for everything and are undoubtedly in a great position to put up some huge runs scored totals this season.

The Cubs scored an impressive 808 runs last season, the third-most in baseball. They trailed only the Boston Red Sox (878) and Colorado Rockies (845) in runs scored last season. The Rockies playing in Coors Field probably inflates their numbers a bit. The Red Sox have a loaded offensive lineup, but losing David Ortiz is undoubtedly going to hurt them. I think the Cubs are clearly the most explosive offensive team of the bunch.

Next: Predicting NL MVP Candidates for the Cubs

The Cubs are followed on Castrovince’s list by the Houston Astros, Boston, Washington Nationals and Cleveland Indians. With a top three of Schwarber, Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo along with their ridiculous depth, it is easy to see why the Chicago Cubs top this list.

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