Chicago Cubs: Examining the back end of the starting rotation

Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

KYLE HENDRICKS: 5-5, 4.08 ERA, 1.234 WHIP

Kyle Hendricks has been the Cubs fourth starter this season. Although he has pitched brilliantly at times he has been extremely inconsistent. In May and July, Hendricks recorded a 2.81 and 2.90 monthly ERA respectively. In the other three months of the season, his ERA was 5.23 in April, 4.78 in June and 5.40 in August. In one start in September, he surrendered one run and three hits in five innings of work. Hendricks doesn’t have plus speed on any of his pitches. He must hit all of his locations to be successful and relies on meticulous pre-game preparation to outsmart hitters. He has been a mainstay in the Cubs rotation since his MLB debut on July 4, 2014.

This season marks the first time that Hendricks has pitched meaningful games in August and September. However, at the moment, he is the fourth best pitcher on this roster and the Cubs really don’t have any other better option but to continue to rely on Hendricks for the rest of the season.

Next: Travis Wood