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.

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.