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Listen, we know it's tough to catch up on everything happening in the baseball world each morning. There are all kinds of stories, rumors, game coverage, and Vines of dudes getting hit in the beans every day. Trying to find all of it while on your way to work or sitting at your desk just isn't easy. It's okay, though, we're going to do the heavy lifting for you each morning and find the things you need to see from within the SB Nation baseball network, as well as from elsewhere. Please hold your applause until the end, or at least until after you subscribe to the newsletter.
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You might have noticed already, but just in case you're a very casual baseball fan, we should tell you that the Cubs are pretty good. They're an MLB-best 25-6 -- only two other National League teams even have 20 wins -- and their latest win on Tuesday helped them tie a franchise-best mark, set back in 1907. You know 1907 is a long time ago, but to make it feel that much longer ago, remember that the last Cubs' World Series championship came a year after that start.
Saying "it's early" seems pointless, because you're aware of that. Still, it's fun to see things like the Cubs having a run differential of +103, which is more runs than the Braves have managed to even score all season. It's also a higher run differential than the 2015 Cubs finished their season with, and that team won 97 games. It's no wonder Baseball Prospectus' playoff odds have the Cubs at 99 percent to make the postseason even though we're not halfway through May just yet. A whole lot could go wrong for the Cubs between now and October, but those 25 wins are in the bank and they're on pace for 130 on the season. They've got some cushion.
Now, as far as what actually goes down in the playoffs for the Cubs ... well, as said. It's early. There will be time to think about all of that eventually. For now, enjoy this apparently very easy ride they are taking through the rest of the league.
- A 100-year-old World War II veteran celebrated his birthday at Fenway Park on Tuesday, and he even got a foul ball!
- Raul Mondesi was suspended for 50 games -- instead of 80 -- for using a cold medicine with a banned substance in it. Said substance was on the list players have, so this is 50 games for not checking the label.
- The Stephen Strasburg contract makes sense for everyone involved, and your team probably hates it.
- Well, unless your team is the Indians, as now their surplus of starting pitching is going to look even more attractive to buyers this winter.
- The Giants can't be happy about their pitching, but at least they spent all their money before Strasburg was taken off the market.
- Anthony Gose likely violated MLB's slide rule on Tuesday, and got away with it.
- How do you rank a prospect like Julio Urias, 19 and thriving in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League?
- These are the top 10 trade candidates around the game right now. Hey, if it's not too early to post Cubs' playoff odds, it's not too early for trade talks.