Chicago Cubs: Darvish, Quintana, and Hendricks stellar in second half

Chicago Cubs: Quiet consistency from Quintana lately

The other guy you may have been ambivalent about amongst the top three rotation pieces at this point in the year is Jose Quintana. Quintana, as all fans love to debate and bicker about, was brought over from the crosstown White Sox for Dylan Cease and Eloy Jimenez. With the evolution, maturity, and production expected from those two at the MLB level, it’s fair to ask whether getting Quintana was worth the price.

Between his work against the Brewers last year and his recent work this season, Quintana has at least held his own in a defense of trading away those two uber-talented prospects. Quintana has gone 4-0 in six starts (34 IP)  since the break, striking out 34 and walking just six batters. Amazingly, he has miraculously escaped the bullpen implosions that have plagued his mates.

The third guy having a really good second half might just be the one guy you’d expect to see on any current Cubs’ list about great pitching: Kyle Hendricks. “The Professor” has game planned and executed to the tune of 41 IP in seven starts in the second half, giving up just 33 hits and seven walks.

Opposing hitters are hitting just .220 against him, a product of all of the changeups and sinkers on which he gets guys to take terrible swings. Hendricks has gone just 1-2 in his seven starts despite a 3.07 ERA and that WHIP sitting under one for the second half.