Cubs: Kyle Hendricks’ top 5 outings against the Cardinals

Chicago Cubs right-hander Kyle Hendricks looked like “The Professor” Friday night in his start against the St. Louis Cardinals. His gem improved his career record against the Cardinals to 13-3, with a 2.69 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in 25 starts. Eleven of those starts came at Busch Stadium, where he sports a career 2.45 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in 69 2/3 innings. Where does this rank among his best starts against the Cardinals? Here is a look at the top five.

Cubs: Kyle Hendricks’ 5 best starts v. St. Louis: #5 – September 7, 2020

8 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 68 Game Score (GSc)

Drawing closer to a division title, the Cubs defeated the Cardinals 5-1 at an empty Wrigley Field. The pandemic season was memorable for Hendricks, as he finished the year with a 2.88 ERA, 3.55 FIP and 0.996 WHIP.

Hendricks opposed Johan Oviedo, who the Cubs chased out of the game in the fifth scoring five runs off him. The only blemish on Hendricks that day was giving up an RBI single to Matt Wieters in the seventh inning. He threw 97 pitches in eight innings, inducing 11 groundballs and 12 flyballs. 72 percent of his pitches he threw for strikes.

This was one of his five starts in 2020 in which he pitched at least into the eighth inning.