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Chicago Cubs: Cole Hamels showing no signs of slowing down
By Jake Misener
Chicago Cubs, Hamels both enjoying home cooking at Wrigley
When people talk about this year’s Cubs team, one thing seems to always come up: the club’s dramatic home-road splits. Despite posting one of the highest home winning percentages in the league, Maddon’s squad has limped to a dismal 21-33 mark away from the Friendly Confines.
Those splits jeopardize the Cubs’ hopes of winning their third division crown in four years – and advancing to the postseason for a fifth-consecutive season. So when they take the field at Wrigley, every win is even more critical. For his part, Hamels has been everything you want and more when he toes the rubber on the North Side.
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Last season, Hamels was terrific – pitching to a 3.42 FIP with the Cubs. This season, he’s mirrored that, turning in a 3.46 FIP across 18 starts. But what he’s done at home has been nothing short of spectacular.
In nine home starts this year, the veteran hurler boasts an impressive 1.081 WHIP, 3.33 strikeout-to-walk ratio and 2.35 ERA.
Oddly enough, he has just two wins at Wrigley in 2019 – but is yet to lose a start. Chicago, as a team, is 7-2 in thoes games – a testament to what Hamels brings to this team.
The Cubs’ rotation is dripping with experience. Hamels pairs with fellow veteran southpaw Jon Lester, while former Major League ERA leader Kyle Hendricks forms the third head of this loaded rotation. Jose Quintana and a resurgent Yu Darvish round things out, but you can’t say enough about the experience Hamels and Lester bring to the table.