Handing out Cubs starting rotation midseason report cards

Cubs Midseason Report Card - Justin Steele: A+

Justin Steele broke out in a big way down the stretch last season and hasn't slowed down a bit here in 2023, earning the first All-Star nod of his young career. The left-hander has an NL-best 176 ERA+ and MLB-best 0.4 HR/9 and you could make have easily made the case he deserved to start the Midsummer Classic for the National League this year.

Trying to poke holes in Steele's success is difficult, to say the least. He's been as effective against lefties as righties, great at Wrigley and away from the North Side, although he seems to really vibe in front of the home faithful and has been largely consistent, regardless of the run support he receives.

In the second half, the thing to watch will be his workload: last season, Steele's 119 innings pitched marked a career-high. Already here in 2023, the lefty is at 91 1/3 innings of work - so he's poised to blow way past that mark even before the calendar hits September. But the returns halfway through the year are stellar - and you really can't ask for more than what you've gotten from Steele so far.

Cubs Midseason Report Card - Hayden Wesneski: D+

Out of spring training, Hayden Wesneski nabbed the final spot in the Cubs starting rotation as Kyle Hendricks continued to work his way back from 2022 shoulder surgery.

Almost immediately, things went sideways for the young right-hander and, although he's provided some value out of the bullpen as the year has progressed, his work out of the rotation has been inconsistent and ineffective.

In 10 starts, Wesneski has totaled just 47 innings - and his 5.55 ERA tells you what you need to know about how well those outings have gone. In some starts, he's been hit hard. In others, even when he's kept runs off the board, he's really labored - and failed to work deep into the game, taxing the bullpen in the process.

Meanwhile, out of the pen, he's made five appearances and thrived, pitching to a 1.98 ERA. Back at Triple-A Iowa getting stretched out, it seems likely we'll see him back in Chicago in the second half. If the Cubs wind up selling, potentially trading Smyly, Stroman or Kyle Hendricks, Wesneski might get a long leash as he works his way through struggles as the 2023 season winds down.

Cubs Midseason Report Card - Kyle Hendricks: B+

Kyle Hendricks has been everything the Cubs hoped for in their wildest dreams since returning to the mound. If this is his swan song on the North Side, he's going out on a high note, re-establishing his standing as a reliable member of the starting rotation.

He's made nine starts for Chicago, working to a 3.04 ERA, 3.73 FIP and 1.031 WHIP. Given how the 2021 and 2022 seasons went for Hendricks, you just hoped he'd return and be serviceable - but he's been much more than that, giving the Cubs a chance to win every time out.

The future is unclear for Hendricks, who's in the final year of the extension he signed back in 2019. On one hand, he's a proven, established leader in the clubhouse - the last man standing from the 2016 World Series championship team. On the other, if the Cubs wind up selling, there could be plenty of clubs looking to add a pitcher of his pedigree to the rotation for an October run.

Cubs Midseason Report Card - Jameson Taillon: F

There are bad first impressions and then there's the first impression Jameson Taillon made upon signing a four-year, $68 million contract to join the Chicago Cubs.

If not for a brilliant final start of the first half against his former club in the Bronx, there would be literally no bright spots from his 15 starts. He's been bad at home, bad on the road - and has been absolutely torched by left-handed hitters, to the tune of a 1.003 OPS.

I still can't help but think there's just no way he pitches this poorly over the course of his contract, or even the rest of this season for that matter. His track record has been so consistent that you have to believe he's going to get back to being a stable middle-of-the-rotation presence for this ballclub.

But we're here to give out grades for what we've seen so far. And, so far, we've seen a disastrous signing that ranks among the worst in franchise history. Remember: Edwin Jackson comps are not good things.

Cubs Midseason Report Card - Marcus Stroman: A+

Marcus Stroman is pitching like an ace - and a man who's going to get paid when he opts out of the final year of his contract at season's end. He's put the ball in Jed Hoyer and Carter Hawkins' court when it comes to any sort of extension or new contract, while continuing to go out and dominate on the mound.

The right-hander leads the league with 19 starts, a complete game and one shutout - carrying a 2.96 ERA into the All-Star Break. He could be the Cubs' most valuable trade chip come the trade deadline, but he's made it clear that he wants to stay in Chicago long-term.

Stroman made five starts in June and was lights-out, putting up a 2.17 ERA. His final two starts of the first half really stood out (and not in a good way) from the body of work, as a whole, and prompted him to skip this week's festivities in Seattle as he looks to rest and get ready for the second half.

Given how solid he's been, especially since about this point last season, the Stroman signing has been a steal for Chicago. Like several other names on this list, he could wind up pitching somewhere else come August, but he's checked every single box during his Cubs tenure.