Chicago Cubs need starting pitching, but it’s still complicated

(Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
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The Chicago Cubs have one glaring need: pitching. A team with title aspirations has Theo Epstein in a tough spot with just a week till the trade deadline.

Despite a star-studded rotation on paper, inconsistencies and injuries throughout the pitching staff continue to cause issue for the Chicago Cubs. As the deadline approaches, a prime opportunity to shore up this weakness must be seized.

Luke Farrell got lit up for six earned runs in less than four innings of work. The Cubs rolled into 2018 with a rotation that seemed primed to carry the North Siders back to a fourth straight National League Championship Series.

They had Jon Lester and Kyle Hendricks complimented with the additions of Jose Quintana from the 2017 trade deadline and Yu Darvish, after signing the right-hander to a lengthy six-year deal in the offseason. It appeared that Epstein had created a four-man starting core that could compete with anyone in the league.

(Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
(Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

Chicago Cubs: A strength becomes a weakness for team

While nobody could have anticipated the Cubs being in the market to add a starting pitcher, here we are.

Both Kyle Hendricks and Jose Quintana have been up and down, although the latter has been more consistent of late. Staff ace Jon Lester has been really good, but analytics project his numbers to decline during the second half of the season. Darvish has notoriously battled mental hurdles, along with injuries, and remains a major question mark and may not prove to be a reliable contributor this season.

So what now?

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Despite the aforementioned troubles in the Cubs rotation, the team has the best record in the National League. Thanks in large part to a lineup led by MVP candidate Javier Baez and a steady bullpen, the Cubs have survived the rotation issues.

They’ve been linked to starters such as J.A. Happ, Cole Hamels, Nathan Eovaldi and even Jacob degrom.

Any of these additions would be an instant boost to the club, but how would they fit in. Lets look at how all of this would shape up if the Cubs were to make the playoffs-which they should.

In a five-game series, the Cubs would undoubtedly turn to Lester and Hendricks to head the rotation. Both have shown the ability to pitch at their best in big games. Quintana would also figure to be in the mix, especially with how he’s pitched in his last few outings.

(Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
(Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Chicago Cubs: What to do with Darvish

Here’s where it gets interesting. Yu Darvish has thrown just 40 innings thus far, and after another setback to a lingering triceps injury, there is no timetable for a return.

Darvish has been throwing off flat ground recently, but with the deadline approaching rapidly, it might be best to move forward with the assumption that Darvish won’t be a part of the fold this season.

If the Cubs decide to go out and land a big-name arm such as Happ, Hamels or deGrom, it might be best to shut Darvish down for this season to give him an opportunity to be healthy and confident going into 2019.

The Cubs have too much invested in Darvish to let him fall apart in year one of a six-year deal. When Darvish finishes his rehab, he would probably only have about three to six starts to get ready for the postseason. I don’t think this is enough time for him to get himself ready both mentally and physically for a playoff run.

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It’s time for the Cubs to get an arm to team with Lester, Hendricks and Quintana for the remainder of the season. If anything, I could see Darvish being in intriguing option out of the bullpen in October, especially given his swing-and-miss stuff.

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