Chicago Cubs: Expect Jose Quintana to keep the team in the game Tuesday

While he may not be flashy, Chicago Cubs left-hander Jose Quintana does what matters: he keeps the team in the game and gives them a chance to win.

In a star-studded Chicago Cubs rotation, it’s pretty easy to overlook what Jose Quintana brings to the table. Two years ago, Theo Epstein unloaded two of the team’s best prospects in a deadline deal to shore up the staff – paying a king’s ransom to acquire a cost-controlled left-hander.

He may not have pitched like an ace since coming to the North Side, but that’s not to say he hasn’t brought something to the table – especially over the last month-plus. In his last seven outings, Quintana is 6-0 with a 3.67 earned run average. Chicago, meanwhile, won all seven of those contests.

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The Cubs need him to continue that trend Tuesday night in Philadelphia. The club rallied late Sunday to earn a split of the four-game series with Cincinnati and given the fact that no NL Central club is playing .500 ball on the road this year and the Cubs have dominated at home, a split of road series is the goal – at least right now.

That should be enough to keep the team on top in the division – especially once the bullpen gets its key guys back from the IL in the next week. But, again, it all starts with the upcoming matchup with Bryce Harper and the Phillies.

In his career against Philadelphia, Quintana is winless in five starts. That being said, he’s averaged 10.4 strikeouts per nine – his second-highest mark against any opponent – and his 3.77 ERA is right in line with what fans – and his teammates – have come to expect from him.

“He always goes out there and he competes. He’s so focused,” Kris Bryant told NBC Sports Chicago last month. “He doesn’t get enough credit for what he does.”

Unlike some of his rotation mates, Quintana has pretty indiscernible home-road splits, which should bode well for the Cubs at Citizens Bank Park. The veteran is looking to get on track there, though, as he’s historically struggled there in his career (5.29 ERA, 1.412 WHIP in three starts).

This series marks the middle point of the team’s currrent 10-game road trip, which could go a long way in deciding their future. A strong showing here could help give the team some breathing room, instead of continuing the endless back-and-forth we’ve seen where they build up a lead in the division at home, then see it waste away after a poor showing away from the Friendly Confines.

Joe Maddon-led Cubs teams have historically been very good down the stretch. So let’s start that trend again behind Quintana after Monday’s off-day and get rolling as we head toward October.