The Chicago Cubs' 2016 rotation deserve a rightful spot in MLB history

Former Cubs starting pitcher Jake Arrieta throwing out ceremonial first pitch
Former Cubs starting pitcher Jake Arrieta throwing out ceremonial first pitch | Matt Dirksen/GettyImages

In a recent list, Fox Sports' Rowan Kavner ranked his Top 10 starting rotations in MLB history. The 2016 Chicago Cubs made the list at No.6, behind the 2010 Giants and ahead of the 2021 Dodgers. That got the gears shifting in my mind, so let's take a look back at that stacked and powerful Cubs rotation.

The rotation included Jake Arrieta, John Lester, Kyle Hendricks, John Lackey, and Jason Hammel.

Arrieta was undoubtedly the ace, as he was in the midst of his dominant stretch over the 2015 and 2016 seasons. The stretch Arrieta went on was one of the greatest in MLB history and it was unfortunate to see the way that his time in a Cubs uniform came to an end. We will always have the memories of that magical run from Arrieta atop of the Cubs staff.

Jon Lester is widely regarded as the best free agent signing in Chicago Cubs history. Lester finished the 2016 season with a record of 19-5 with a 2.44 ERA.

His Cubs career ended with 77 wins and a 3.64ERA during his six seasons in Chicago. Lester also had a wonderful postseason career with Chicago including pitching in Game 7 of the Chicago's 2016 World Series win. Big John changed the course of the franchise when he was signed prior to the 2015 season, and he was instrumental to Chicago's World Series run.

Kyle Hendricks, The Professor, one of the greatest Cubs of all time, was a solid third man in the rotation, finishing with the lowest ERA in the Major Leagues with a mark of 2.13. That 2016 season propelled Hendricks to Cubs royalty, especially his performance in Game 6 of the NLCS when he went 7.2 innings of shutout baseball against the Dodgers.

Much like Arrieta, Hendricks had a rocky ending to his Cubs career but that does not take away anything from the things he accomplished while pitching on the North Side.

John Lackey was in Chicago for just two seasons, with 2016 being the better of the two. He finished 2016 with a solid 3.35 ERA, before a rocky 2017 season with a 4.59 ERA.

Lackey brought a veteran presence that the Cubs very much needed and was a fan favorite because of his energy and passion he brought to the mound with him every time he made a start.

Hammel won 15 games in 2016, five more than he ever won in any other season of his career. Hammel did not see the mound in the 2016 postseason, but his solid regular season helped Chicago to the 2016 NL Central title.

Each of those five starters made at least 29 starts in that 2016 season and were as reliable as a starting rotation could've been. The 2016 World Series run will forever be special and those five starters should always be remembered for the way they led the team throughout the season.

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