Chicago Cubs: Cole Hamels is absolutely this year’s Justin Verlander

Chicago Cubs: Hamels has been just what the Cubs needed

So let’s look at Justin Verlander’s five starts in Houston. Then, we’ll take a peek at Hamels again and see what we can learn.

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In 28 cumulative innings across his first four outings, Verlander allowed just two earned runs. In his fifth and final regular season start for the Astros, that total doubled, as he allowed two earned over six innings of work (which works out to a 1.06 ERA). The powerful right-hander rode the strikeout, punching out 43 batters as Houston headed toward October.

He took his earned run average from 3.82 at the time of the deal all the way down to 3.36 when the book closed on the season. More importantly, though, the Astros won all five of Verlander’s starts – which is exactly what you want from a late-season pick-up.

Shifting to Hamels, the left-hander boasts a 0.72 ERA in his first four outings – but he’s gone about his business in a very different way.

Hamels has pitched to a staggering 59 percent ground ball rate in a Cubs uniform – and you saw that on full display on Friday when Chicago tied a Major League record, turning seven double plays.

"“There’s days where you get those ground balls and you get those double plays. And just, gosh, it’s surprising the matter of how many we were able to get,” Hamels said. “But they are a pitcher’s best friend. Just to see how great they stayed with it, and were able to pull that off, especially to end innings and stop rallies. With such a tight game, you can’t afford one mistake. And the guys just came through.”"

That’s not say he’s not capable of taking matters into his own hands. In two of his four outings, Hamels struck out nine batters. But he’s letting the incredibly talented defense behind him do what they do best – and it’s led to tremendous success.

Chicago Cubs: Hamels has been just what the Cubs needed

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