Chicago Cubs: This starting rotation could be even better than in 2016

Starting pitching dominance played an integral role in the Chicago Cubs winning the World Series two years ago. To reach the Fall Classic again in 2018, they’ll need more of the same.

Pitching and defense wins championships. Period. The Chicago Cubs followed that formula to perfect in their 2016 World Series championship run and hope to replicate that again this season.

With the addition of Yu Darvish to the rotation, Joe Maddon now has control over one of the best starting fives in all of baseball. The right-hander, at least from a roster standpoint, replaces Jake Arrieta – who, at times, seemed to be on the decline in 2017. Tyler Chatwood, of course, replaces John Lackey, who remains unsigned.

Darvish joins the Cubs’ core trio of Jon Lester, Kyle Hendricks and Jose Quintana atop the rotation. This group is so talented that if you ask five different people how you should order these starters, you may very well wind up with five different answers.

It’s an enviable position.

Here’s how this pitching staff could at the very least match – and perhaps outperform – the rotation from two years ago. And yes, it is possible.

Chicago Cubs: Darvish can take things to a new level

In his introductory press conference Tuesday, Darvish received a question regarding the Cubs’ usage of metrics and run prevention. He said, through a translator, that he hadn’t seen them before and was intrigued to see how it could help him improve.

Combine Chicago’s elite defense and the fact that Darvish boasts the third-highest strikeout rate in baseball since joining the league (trailing only Max Scherzer and the late Jose Fernandez) – and you have a recipe for success.

In his career, Darvish boasts a 63 percent quality start rate – well above the league mark of 50 percent. He’s been largely effective at keeping the ball down – and with more than half-a-dozen pitches at his disposal, it’s easy to see how he keeps opponents off-balance.

Last year, for the second consecutive campaign, Jake Arrieta led the league in wild pitches and posted a 2.96 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Darvish replaces that with a 3.60 strikeout-to-walk ratio that was even better with Los Angeles (4.69).

For Yu Darvish to have success, he needs to limit the long-ball, take advantage of the infield behind him and keep the Cubs in ballgames. Chicago doesn’t need eight-inning shutouts from the right-hander. They’ve got the offensive firepower to win ballgames – Darvish needs to turn in quality innings and be ready come October.

Chicago Cubs need another strong campaign from Kyle Hendricks

Since making his Major League debut, Kyle Hendricks has a sub-3.00 ERA across 100 career games. Last year, he took a bit of a step backward (but still put up overall outstanding numbers).

In 24 starts, the soft-tossing right-hander put up a 3.03 ERA, 3.08 strikeout-to-walk ratio and 3.88 FIP. Those numbers are a far cry from his Cy Young runner-up campaign of 2016, but turned in quality starts in 14 of his 24 outings. The year prior, two of every three starts he made were quality starts.

So while not quite as lights-out, Hendricks enjoyed plenty of success. But with Jon Lester taking a step in the wrong direction and Jake Arrieta seeking greener pastures, the ‘ace’ title is there for the taking.

Darvish could conceivably become that guy, but having Hendricks at his best takes the pressure off his new teammate, who admitted he felt the pressure of his six-year, $126 million contract on Tuesday.

Keep the ball on the ground and limit home runs. Perhaps more than any other pitcher on this staff, Hendricks can take advantage of the defense behind him. If he does that, you’re going to see something very similar to his Cy Young-caliber 2016 season.

Chicago Cubs have a guy who flies under the radar in Jose Quintana

Somehow, people continue to under appreciate Jose Quintana.

But this is the year that all changes. One of baseball’s best starters over the last half-decade, the southpaw was a stellar addition to the Cubs at the deadline last season. On most teams, he’s a solid number two – maybe even your ace. Chicago just happens to have (at least) four high-level arms in the rotation.

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Following his trade from the White Sox to the Cubs, he posted a 3.25 FIP in 14 starts, including an absolutely lights-out, 12-strikeout debut. With a normal offseason under his belt and, soon, a full Spring Training with his new team, Quintana may settle into a groove we haven’t yet seen.

Chicago has a rotation built similar to its powerful offense. One guy doesn’t need to win 20 games – the same as Kris Bryant or Anthony Rizzo doesn’t need to blast 50 home runs – for this team to be very, very good.

If every guy simply holds his weight and does what he’s capable of, this is the deepest, most talented rotation in the league (at least where we currently stand).

At season’s end, I wouldn’t be surprised in the slightest if Jose Quintana was a Top 10 Cy Young finisher. Maybe I’m crazy, but I think we’ve seen what this guy is capable of and, now that he’s more comfortable, I expect big things.

Chicago Cubs just need Tyler Chatwood to not be John Lackey

Okay, maybe that’s oversimplifying things. But at the end of the day, there’s truth there.

John Lackey was one of the worst starting pitchers in baseball last season. He served up home runs like he was flipping burgers at McDonalds. His WAR ranked among the lowest in baseball for starting pitchers and, well, good riddance.

In steps Tyler Chatwood.

What gives him such a great upside is the pure stuff. He brings a mid-90s fastball and devastating breaking stuff that could turn him into the bargain of the offseason. But, as I’ve said time and time again, he is your undisputed number five guy heading into Spring Training.

Don’t hurt the team. Do that on a daily basis and you’ve fulfilled your duties. And, to be frank, I think the infrastructure around him and the defense behind him are going to change him from a fringe pitcher to one of the biggest surprises in the National League.

So, there it is. This rotation is certainly more than capable of matching what the team did two years ago. And it’s a weight that can be distributed evenly. We don’t need a Cy Young winner. We need every guy to take the ball and turn in quality starts more often than not – and let the defense do its job.

Next: PECOTA looking for big things from Cubs' Schwarber

Seems simple enough, right?