A look at the 2015 Chicago Cubs starting rotation options

Jul 6, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jake Arrieta (49) pitches during the first inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

2) Jake Arrieta

• 2014 statistics: 10-5, 2.53 ERA, 0.989 WHIP, 25 GS, 156.2 IP
• 2015 projected: 10-9, 3.60 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 27 GS, 153 IP

After beginning the year on the disabled list, right-hander Jake Arrieta stormed out of the gates to quickly emerge as the ace of the Cubs starting rotation in 2014. Finishing the year ninth in the National League Cy Young balloting, the former Baltimore Orioles prospect solved his once-rampant control issues last season, issuing just 2.4 walks per nine to go along with an equally as impressive 2.26 FIP in his 25 starts.

He took no-hitters into the seventh inning or later on three separate occasions, and after Jeff Samardzija was dealt to Oakland on the Fourth of July, the reins were handed to Arrieta, who is now heading into his age 29 season. Projections indicate that he will be solid, although nowhere near as dominant as he was in 2014 – leaving plenty of room for improvement.

Things to take into account will be the fact that teams will have more advanced scouting on Arrieta in 2015, given last season was just his first in the National League Central, he is a year removed from a season in which he experienced very little challenge and that he is once again out of the spotlight, settled in behind Jon Lester in the Cubs starting rotation.

How Arrieta responds to rough stretches in 2015 could very well determine what type of season the right-hander puts together for himself. If he can stay focused and hone in as he did last year, don’t be surprised to see the righty exceed projections and form a formidable number two behind Lester in Chicago.