By facing the Cubs on Sunday, Kyle Hendricks completed the MLB starter cycle

With his 4-3 defeat Sunday at the hands of the Chicago Cubs, Kyle Hendricks completed one of the rarer feats. He has now made at least one start against all 30 Major League teams.

That’s especially noteworthy for Cubs fans, of course, since Hendricks compiled all but the last part of that distinction as a Cub. Between his 2013 debut and April of 2022, Hendricks faced every big league team except Chicago. The completion of that cycle became possible when the Angels signed Hendricks this past offseason after the Cubs parted ways with the veteran.

In his 30 debut games, Hendricks has compiled a record of 12-5 with 13 no-decisions. The Cubs went 19-10 in Hendricks’ team debuts; the Angels, obviously, went 0-1.

Here's a team-by-team summary of how Hendricks completed this rare achievement.

July 10, 2014, Cubs 6, Reds 4, 12 innings, Great American Ballpark. In his major league debut, Hendricks started and gave up four earned runs in six innings. He left with the Reds leading 4-3, but the Cubs tied the game and won it for Blake Parker on Luis Valbuena’s two-run 12th inning triple.

July 22, 2014, Cubs 6, Padres 0, Wrigley Field. In his first home start, Hendricks delivered seven shutout innings, allowing five hits. This was his first major league win.

July 27, 2014, Cardinals 1, Cubs 0, Wrigley Field. His first defeat was a gut-buster, a 1-0 pitcher’s duel with Adam Wainwright that turned on Matt Holliday’s first-inning home run. The irony is that Hendricks has had greater success against the Cardinals than any other team; he’s 14-4 lifetime with a 2.53 ERA in 28 starts against them.  

August 1, 2014, Cubs 8, Dodgers 2, Dodger Stadium. Hendricks pitched seven innings of four-hit ball and drove in a run with a fifth-inning infield hit.

August 7, 2014, Cubs 6, Rockies 2, Coors Field. Pitching eight comfortable innings, Hendricks rode Javier Baez’s three-hit, four-RBI game.

August 12, 2014, Cubs 3, Brewers 0, Wrigley Field. Hendricks pitched shutout ball into the eighth before being removed in favor of Pedro Strop in a bases loaded, one-out situation, Strop got a double play.

August 18, 2014, Cubs 4, Mets 1, Citi Field. Hendricks ran his rookie season record to 5-1 with a three-hit performance over seven innings.

August 23, 2014, Cubs 7, Orioles 2, Wrigley Field. Hendricks only lasted two innings, being touched for five hits and two runs. But he escaped with a no-decision when the Cubs launched an 11-hit attack and the bullpen picked Hendricks up with seven shutout innings.

Sept. 10, 2014, Blue Jays 11, Cubs 1, Skydome. The Jays are one of only five teams – the Rays, Red Sox, Angels and of course the Cubs being the others – that Hendricks has never beaten. In his Skydome debut, he pitched five strong innings before weakening in the sixth and taking what turned out to be a one-sided loss.

April 23, 2015, Pirates 5, Cubs 4 PNC Park. Hendricks pitched five strong innings but was removed in the sixth with the Cubs ahead 4-2, one out and a runner on third. The bullpen gave up that lead, handing Hendricks a no-decision.

June 7, 2015, Cubs 6, Nationals 3, Nationals Park. Hendricks was pulled after five innings, his team clinging to a 4-3 lead. He got the win.

June 19, 2015, Twins 7, Cubs 2, Target Field. In one of his lesser showings, he lasted just five innings, giving up 11 hits and seven runs.

July 5, 2015, Cubs 2, Marlins 0, Wrigley Field. Hendricks pitched five-hit ball into the eighth inning.

July 10, 2015, White Sox 1, Cubs 0, Wrigley Field. This was a tough no-decision for Hendricks, who allowed just five hits and walked nobody over seven innings. But the Cubs failed to score against Carlos Rodon,  and the Sox scored the game’s only run on an eighth inning sacrifice fly.

July 17, 2015, Braves 4, Cubs 2, Turner Field. Another no -decision for Hendricks, who lasted into the sixth inning, leaving with the game deadlocked at 2-2. The Braves scored twice in the bottom of the eighth to win it.

August 8, 2015, Cubs 8, Giants 6, Wrigley Field. Hendricks pitched into the sixth inning, leaving ahead 5-3 and surviving a shaky bullpen performance to pick up the victory.

Sept. 6, 2015, Cubs 6, Diamondbacks 4, Wrigley Field. Hendricks was pulled after five innings, leaving the game tied at 1-1. One inning later the Cubs scored five times, giving the win to Justin Grimm.

Sept. 11, 2015, Cubs 7, Phillies 3, Citizens Bank Park. Hendricks completed the cycle of National League opponents by pitching into the seventh and allowing just four hits.

Sept. 28, 2015, Cubs 1, Royals 0 (11 innings), Wrigley Field. Hendricks and Yordano Ventura locked up in a double shutout for six innings before Hendricks departed, having allowed just two hits. The Cubs won on Chris Denorfia’s 11th inning walk-off homer.

July 15, 2016, Cubs 6, Rangers 0, Wrigley Field. With the Cubs rolling along eight games up in the NL Central and on their way to a World Series win, Hendricks got his first look at the Rangers and stifled them on just three hits over six innings.

August 7, 2016, Cubs 3, Athletics 1, Oakland Alameda County Coliseum. Hendricks ran his 2016 record to 11-7 with seven and one-third three-hit innings against the A’s.

Oct. 28, 2016, Indians 1, Cubs 0, Wrigley Field. In Game 3 of the 2016 World Series, Hendricks started against Josh Tomlin and pitched shutout ball into the fifth inning. But he was pulled when Cleveland mounted a one-out threat and took a no-decision in the Indians’ 1-0 victory.

April 30, 2017, Red Sox 6, Cubs 2, Fenway Park. Hendricks’ first appearance at Fenway Park was a rough one, including a two-run Hanley Ramirez first-inning homer. Still, the Cubs did tie the game up before losing, so Hendricks escaped with a no-decision.

May 5, 2017, Yankees 3, Cubs 2, Wrigley Field. The bullpen betrayed Hendricks, who pitched shutout ball into the sixth and left with a narrow 1-0 lead. Brett Gardner’s three-run homer off Hector Rondon in the ninth turned the game.

July 3, 2018, Cubs 5, Tigers 3, Wrigley Field. Hendricks got a no-decision when he was tapped for three early runs. But he left after five with the game tied 3-3, and the Cubs scored in the seventh and eighth to win.

April 13, 2019, Angels 6, Cubs 5, Wrigley Field. Hendricks was shaky for his five innings, allowing six hits and three runs.  He left trailing 3-2 and when the Cubs failed to catch up, he was handed the loss.

May 29, 2019, Cubs 2, Astros 1, Minute Maid Park. Hendricks allowed just one run and four hits over eight innings to stifle the soon-to-be American League champions.

 Sept. 2, 2019, Cubs 5, Mariners 1, Wrigley Field. Allowing just three hits and one run over six innings, Hendricks still walked away trailing 1-0 and facing at best a no-decision. Fortunately, the Cubs hit Seattle with a 5-run seventh for the win.

April 18, 2022, Cubs 5, Rays 4, Wrigley Field. It took eight years for Hendricks and the Tampa Bay Rays to meet up, and although the Cubs won Hendricks had to settle for a no-decision. He was removed in the fifth, having allowed two runs in what at that point was a 2-2 tie. Ian Happ’s RBI single in the seventh turned the game the Cubs’ way.

August 24, 2025, Cubs 4, Angels 3, Anaheim Stadium. Wearing Angels colors and facing his old team for the first time, Hendricks was pulled in the fifth inning when the Cubs expanded their lead to 4-1.