Fantasy Outlook for 2020 Chicago Cubs

Chicago Cubs: Darvish leads the way for fantasy pitchers

Let’s make one thing clear- the Cubs don’t have any elite “ace” type guys that are no-doubters to be drafted highly. That being said, there are a couple of guys who might be worth a gamble if you feel like the team and the player will have a good year. The guys with the most upside fantasy-wise for the Cubs on the pitching staff have to include Yu Darvish and Craig Kimbrel.

Because of the way Darvish ended last season and how he has pitched historically, there’s reason to believe Darvish could score a ton of fantasy points for owners in leagues that value strikeouts. If healthy, Darvish will strike out a ton of hitters, and with a little luck, he could even get a bunch of wins if the Cubs play well.

He is by far the most likely of the Cubs starters to help you out in fantasy. The only downside to Darvish is that he hasn’t been known to pitch deep into games for the Cubs- but that could change with his better command and David Ross as manager.

In the bullpen, Craig Kimbrel might be worth a flier if you’re banking on the reliever returning to elite status as closer of a contending team that should win its fair share of games. When right, Kimbrel will strikeout plenty of hitters and rack up saves.

When he’s not- well, you saw what that looks like last summer. While neither of these two guys is sure things like a Max Scherzer or Justin Verlander, they might be right under the truly elite pitchers as guys who could blow up under the right circumstances and have a massive year for their fantasy owners.

If you’re considering Kyle Hendricks, Jon Lester, or Jose Quintana for your fantasy rotation, they would be third-tier options because none of them will end up striking out a ton of hitters, and it’s also unlikely they’ll rack up colossal innings. They could be reliable pick-ups, but don’t waste high picks for any of them. If you’re looking for a gamble, a late-round Tyler Chatwood, Alec Mills, or Adbert Alzolay choice could work in your favor if one sticks as the last guy in the rotation and is productive.