Chicago Cubs: Top five performances so far this season

Jake Arrieta shows he’s the real deal

Some thought last season was an aberration for Cubs’ right-hander Jake Arrieta, who put together the best season of his big league career in his first full season on the North Side of Chicago.

A month-and-a-half into the 2015 campaign, Arrieta has shown that he’s the real deal and his domination has been just as impressive as it was late last season. The former Baltimore Orioles prospect is tied for the team lead with four wins, and leads the staff in both strikeouts (62) and earned run average (2.95), despite a sub-par performance his last time out.

Still just 29 years old, Arrieta could easily help form a dominant one-two punch atop the Chicago rotation with Jon Lester for years to come – and that is a promising thought for Cubs fans who are so often reminded of the team’s lack of pitching depth in the minors.

Arrieta has pitched at least seven innings in four of his nine outings, and he’s struck out at least seven in half-a-dozen starts.

He’s been downright filthy at Wrigley Field – a trend that dates back to last season, as well – and if he can improve his work away from the Friendly Confines, he could emerge as a Cy Young candidate once again in 2015.

Next: 1) 25 years old and a future MVP