Welcome to the 2020 MLB season, where we’re 10 games in yet also 1/6 of the way to the finish line. In a shortened season, a hot start matters more than ever. You don’t have six months to make up ground if you stumble out of the gate. If you hit a slump, it may last all season. Combine all of that with the offensive environment of the juiced ball era and competent starting pitching is all of a sudden pretty difficult to come by. Teams that do have it: the Washington Nationals, Houston Astros, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, were all widely expected to be playoff teams.
Chicago Cubs starting pitchers had some question marks coming into the season. That was before Jose Quintana needed thumb surgery after a dishwashing accident. The back end of the rotation concerned many when it was revealed to be aging Jon Lester, often command-challenged Tyler Chatwood and unproven Alec Mills. Yu Darvish and Kyle Hendricks were undeniably solid front end of the rotation pieces, but were either true aces in comparison to the likes of Jacob DeGrom, Max Scherzer, or Gerrit Cole?
One by one, day by day, Cubs starters have stepped on the mound and mowed down hitters to answer these questions. They’ve combined for a staff ERA of 1.95, the best mark in baseball. After two brilliant turns through the rotation, the numbers speak for themselves:
Player
ERA
WHIP
WAR
K/9
Kyle Hendricks
4.05
0.90
0.4
8.10
Yu Darvish
2.70
0.90
0.5
10.80
Tyler Chatwood
0.71
0.79
0.7
13.50
Jon Lester
0.82
0.55
.2
4.09
Alec Mills
1.38
0.77
.2
4.85
These huge numbers are even more meaningful when you consider how terrible the bullpen has been. In fact, through the first 10 games, Cubs relievers combined for a -0.7 WAR, the worst in the National League. They’ve all thrown in their fair share of meatballs to combine for a 7.55 ERA. Yuck. Big performances from the starters may become even more significant as the league begins playing seven inning doubleheaders to make up for games postponed due to weather and COVID-19.
The Cubs haven’t had starting pitchers combining to succeed like this since the 2016 championship season. Coincidentally, that was also the last time the team started out the season 8-2. In the era of launch angles and 450-foot bombs, many people are quick to dismiss the value of good pitching. But in an offensive environment like this, good starting pitching can be even more valuable given how bad many of the arms around the league get crushed.
We’re often reminded how pitching wins in October. Well in a 60-game season, every game carries more weight and feels a little closer to a playoff environment in that sense. One thing is for sure, if Cub’s starters can keep pitching like this, Chicago will keep pitching in a playoff environment past the 60 game mark.
