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          Buster Olney Blog

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          Ranking strength of early NL schedules

          Starlin Castro and the Cubs are not getting help from their early-season schedule. Nuccio DiNuzzo/Chicago Tribune/MCT/Getty Images
          • Buster Olney, ESPN Senior WriterFeb 26, 2014, 10:20 AM ET
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            • Senior writer ESPN Magazine/ESPN.com
            • Analyst/reporter ESPN television
            • Author of "The Last Night of the Yankee Dynasty"
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          In following Tuesday's column ranking the American League's early-season schedules, Wednesday we have the National League. The teams are ranked toughest to easiest in caliber of early-season schedule.

          1. Chicago Cubs

          Games vs. teams with records of .500 or better in 2013: 31 of first 40.

          Home/away: 18 of their first 40 are at home.

          Notables: The Cubs basically get to run an NL Central gauntlet in the first quarter of the season, with 21 of their first 40 games against the Cardinals, Reds and Pirates.