Cubs: Kyle Hendricks’ top 5 outings against the Cardinals

Cubs: Kyle Hendricks’ 5 best starts v. St. Louis: #4 – July 31, 2019

7 IP, 7 H, 0 ER, 7 K, 0 BB, 70 GSc

Seventy-five of 104 pitches Hendricks threw at Busch Stadium that night were strikes as he and the Cubs blanked the Cardinals. He induced nine groundballs and 12 flyballs while recording a solid seven strikeouts. Despite giving up leadoff doubles in the second, third and fourth innings, Hendricks prevented the Cardinals from scoring each time.

Ian Happ had the go-ahead RBI single in the top of the sixth, with an insurance run added in the eighth thanks to some “El Mago” magic. The ninth inning was rocky, but Craig Kimbrel got the save.

Hendricks finished 2019 with a 1.59 ERA in four starts against the Cards, winning three of them with a no-decision in there, as well. He pitched more innings against them than any other opponent that year.

Cubs: Kyle Hendricks’ 5 best starts v. St. Louis: #3 – June 24, 2022

7.1 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 73 GSc

It was nice to see the struggling Cubs blank their biggest nemesis on the road Friday night. Fans were justifiably nervous about taking on the Cardinals in St. Louis coming off losing three of four in Pittsburgh. Hendricks delivered in a big way in the Cubs’ 3-0 win. He only gave up one extra-base hit, a double to Harrison Bader, and held Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt to a combined 0-for-7 mark.

For the third time this season, Hendricks made it at least seven innings. This includes the near-complete game shutout he threw in San Diego and the 21-0 win against the Pirates back in April. All three times he surrendered zero runs.

It is worth noting that Hendricks sports a 2.42 ERA and .219 average against with Yan Gomes behind the plate so far this season. Go figure that Gomes was indeed catching the game Friday night.

Cubs: Kyle Hendricks’ 5 best starts v. St. Louis: #2 – September 12, 2016

8 IP+, 1 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, 81 GSc

Fans were on the edge of their seats when Hendricks entered the bottom of the ninth. The eventual ERA title winner had not surrendered a hit and was just three outs away from history. Facing Jeremy Hazelbaker to lead it off, The Professor got ahead of him 0-2, but he left his 81-MPH two-strike pitch over the heart of the plate and Hazelbaker blasted it over the right field wall for a home run.

It was a bummer moment, but the Cubs still won 4-1 and Hendricks lowered his season ERA to 2.03. Hendricks was pulled after the home run and Aroldis Chapman got the final three outs. He threw 96 pitches and induced nine groundballs and eight flyballs. Hazelbaker would indeed be the only Cardinal to record a hit that night.

That outing remains to this day the closest Hendricks has gotten to a no-hitter. Hopefully, he will go all nine without giving up a hit one day.

Cubs: Kyle Hendricks’ 5 best starts v. St. Louis: #1 – May 3, 2019

9 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 82 GSc, 81 pitches

Eighty-one pitches is all it took for Hendricks to blank the Cardinals at Wrigley Field on May 3, 2019. Getting 12 grounders, 15 flyballs and seven line drives to result in just four hits and zero runs, The Professor tapped into his inner Greg Maddux.

Hendricks praised the defense around him for being well-positioned and making all the necessary plays to help accomplish this feat. The Cubs won 4-0 over Cardinals ace Jack Flaherty, who surrendered a three-run homer to Anthony Rizzo in the third inning. It was not a blowout by any means, but the game felt incredibly safe with the way Hendricks was getting so many quick outs. The game lasted 2:28.

The top five in the Cardinals order went a combined 0-for-18 and did not reach base once. 78 percent of the pitches thrown by Hendricks were strikes. Hard to ask for better command than that.

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It has been a tough go for Hendricks overall since the start of 2021. However, he continues to show us he can still throw a gem from time to time. This probably felt even better than the 8 2/3 innings he threw against the Padres considering the opponent. If Hendricks continues to have success against the Cardinals, Cubs fans will surely love that.