Chicago Cubs have two ace-caliber pitchers in Lester and Hendricks

Chicago Cubs starter Jon Lester is widely considered to be the ace of the pitching staff. Has Kyle Hendricks’ success with the Cubs elevated him to an ace, as well?

Just over a week into the 2019 season, many Chicago Cubs fans were ready to throw in the towel and wave the “there’s always next year” white flag we’ve all heard in the past. After 12 games, the Cubs were 4-8, with their pitching staff off to an especially awful start. In their first six games, Cubs pitchers gave up an astonishing 46 runs.

Thankfully, the Cubs have done a complete 180-degree turnaround and are firing on all cylinders through the middle of May. A particular bright spot has been a streak of excellent starts by Jon Lester and Kyle Hendricks.

After a slow start for Hendricks and an April injured list stint for Lester in April, the two are on fire in May. As reported by Forbes’ Jared Wyllys, Lester and Hendricks have combined for an astonishing 0.20 ERA over their last 44 2/3 innings pitched. For Hendricks, this hot streak is a welcomed turnaround after going 1-4 and giving up 15 earned runs across five starts in April.

While Hendricks is a product of the Cubs’ farm system, 35-year-old Lester is in his 14th season in the Majors, spending the first nine with the Red Sox and a half-season with Oakland before signing with the Cubs in 2015. Many would argue that Lester’s signing is perhaps the best free agent move that the Cubs have ever made.

Both pitchers have been successful overall in their time with the Cubs, with Lester taking on a leadership role among the pitching staff pretty much from day one. Because of his dominance, he is seen by most to be the ace of the staff, but Hendricks’ success in his short career has shown that he has what it takes to be an ace as well.