Cubs: Three takeaways from this weekend’s series against the Pirates

Cubs: Jake Arrieta, Zach Davies looked to be in midseason form

Expectations for Jake Arrieta this year are, well, tampered a bit. He’s coming off a three-year run with the Phillies where he looked like a shell of his former self. Pretty much all the preseason projections are low on the right-hander, chalking up Chicago signing the veteran to a fan service.

Well, apparently someone forgot to tell Arrieta.

The 2015 NL Cy Young winner dazzled on Saturday afternoon in his return to Wrigley, tossing six innings of one-run ball – all without utilizing his change-up, which was one of his strongest pitches last season in Philadelphia. It wasn’t the Arrieta was saw in Chicago a half-decade ago, but he was effective, nonetheless.

Then on Sunday, newcomer Zach Davies made his Cubs debut and looked like he was on cruise control out there before Colin Moran took him deep for a two-run shot in the sixth. Still, 5 2/3 innings of two-run ball is a pretty strong first impression.

"“It looked like he was in complete control — very efficient early on,”Ross said. “I feel like that’s what we can expect out of him a lot.”"

Now Arrieta and Davies putting the Pirates on lockdown is one thing. Consistency will be key for both guys moving forward and they could match up against Pittsburgh again at PNC Park next weekend, depending on how Ross lays out the rotation this week.