Cubs have a trio of starters – all of whom can be called an ace

Chicago Cubs are getting what they hoped for from Yu Darvish

Yu Darvish labored through his first start of the year, lasting just four innings and allowing three earned runs. But from there, the right-hander has dominated every five days, allowing just two earned runs over 20 innings of work.

On Thursday, things came to a head when he took a no-hitter against Milwaukee into the seventh, striking out a season-high 11. Perhaps the bigger item of note is the fact that Darvish is yet to walk more than two batters in a single start. Of course, that was a huge issue early in his Cubs career.

“He had really good command of his offspeed stuff,” Ross said after Thursday’s start. “The breaking ball was working, the slider, the cutter in on those lefties was going in deep. He’d finish with some splitters or some fastballs late. Really kept them off-balance.”

This year, Darvish is throwing the cutter more than ever before – nearly half the time. Meanwhile, he’s cut back on his four-seamer. Last year, opponents squared off on that pitch, so clearly Darvish is continuing to use his whole arsenal and adapting as he goes. That’s good news for the Cubs – and bad news for the rest of the league.

Chicago Cubs: One shaky start is the only blemish for Hendricks

We talked about how well Alec Mills has induced weak contact this year. It’s the same story with Hendricks, who has long relied on mixing his pitches and hitting his spots to keep hitters off-balance. This year, he’s mixed in a curve ball more effectively – keeping hitters off his change-up and sinker more effectively.

Hendricks ranks in the top 10 percent of the league in hard-hit rate and his trademark control has been as good – or better – than ever before. He’s walked just 1.9 percent of opposing hitters and, like Darvish, has struggled just once this year.

The soft-tossing righty got the 2020 season going by tossing a complete game on Opening Night, allowing just three hits to the Brewers’ nine hitter, Orlando Arcia. That outing marked just the fifth Opening Day shutout since 1993 – a testament to just how well Hendricks pitched that night.

His second time out, the Reds hit him hard. But in the two starts since, it’s been the same old Hendricks. He’s allowed just three runs in 13 innings of work – and he hasn’t walked a single batter in that stretch.

Chicago Cubs couldn’t have asked for more from Lester

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I know, I know. Darvish has an arsenal unlike any other pitcher in the league and Hendricks mixes and matches his pitches better than just about anyone out there.

But the one guy who faced the most questions this spring is 36-year-old Jon Lester.

He doesn’t throw hard anymore. He doesn’t strike people out like he used to. Still, Lester is inducing a ton of soft contact, out-thinking hitters, rather than overpowering them. Looking at his strikeout rate, which has precipitously dropped off in his first three starts of 2020, you might be worried.

Lester has allowed just three barrels on the year and carries the second-lowest ERA in the NL (1.06) behind only Trevor Bauer of the Reds. He’s far outperforming his FIP (3.85), but at the end of the day, results are results – regardless of how you’re getting them.

It probably won’t last. And that’s alright. Lester is pulling his weight in what may very well be his last go-round with the Cubs. With this trio firing on all cylinders, Chicago is off to a stellar start with an eye on bringing a second title to the North Side to mark the end of an era.