Chicago Cubs struggling last few times through rotation

Chicago Cubs: He’s actually trending up

Darvish is one of the few that has been trending ‘up,’ although many of you don’t believe that or just don’t care. Darvish has been getting deeper into games, and while he allowed six in his last outing, that is somewhat misleading as Maddon left him out there intentionally. The line might have looked a little better if Maddon was able to make a change when he wanted. But the pen needed a rest, and Darvish was going to have to provide it.

More from Cubbies Crib

• Cubs starting pitching has been thriving on the North Side
• Make no mistake: the Cubs are very much about power hitters
• Cubs are giving pitcher Javier Assad a deserved shot
• Cubs: It’s time to start thinking about potential September call-ups
• Cubs: P.J. Higgins deserves to be in the lineup on a daily basis

The best thing for Darvish is that he seems to have the walks under control. When you’re a strikeout pitcher and also are walking five-plus batter a game?

Your pitch count rises, and you’re out before the fifth inning is done. His ability to reel in his fastball helped him get six and seven innings in his last two starts.

Hendricks and Cole Hamels haven’t pitched terrible, but luck has not been on their side. Hamels had several opportunities to pitch his way out of trouble in his last start, but bloopers and seeing-eye singles kept that from happening.

Hendricks has still put up a quality start in two of his last three, but we’ve come to expect better of him. That’s not realistic to expect eight innings out of him. But that’s how good he’s been since joining the Cubs.