Bernfield: Chicago Cubs' Hendricks might be NL's best pitcher
No one anticipated that Kyle Hendricks would earn his way into the discussion for the 2016 National League Cy Young award - not even Kyle himself.
"I definitely didn't see myself being a part of that," Hendricks said when asked about it after 7 scoreless innings in his last start, against the Pittsburgh Pirates. "I had my sights set a little lower."
Though Hendricks began the year as the Cubs' fifth starter, he hasn't pitched like one since April. He has been their most consistent starter, and now sits atop baseball's leaderboard in earned run average.
Hendricks' sparkling 2.09 ERA illuminates his consistent dominance this season. It's four-tenths of a run lower than every other pitcher in baseball. Hendricks has allowed 3 earned runs or fewer in 18 consecutive starts and has been particularly stellar at Wrigley Field.
With a 0.82 ERA in his last 10 games at the Friendly Confines, Hendricks has limited opponents to just 44 hits in 65⅔ innings pitched, all while throwing fastballs under 90 mph.
"Put the radar gun in your back pocket and look at what he's doing," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "There has to be strong consideration (for the Cy Young)."
Hendricks doesn't look or act like a dominant major-league pitcher. Unlike closer Aroldis Chapman, who puts on a show with blazing fastballs at triple-digit speeds, Hendricks challenges batters with location and movement. It's a nuanced approach with a low margin for error, yet it's not as sexy.
That's why some baseball observers can't admit Hendricks' performance is worthy of serious Cy Young consideration. Typically, pitching dominance is associated with velocity, not savvy.
Hendricks has an unassuming yet affable personality. If you saw him on the street, you might guess he was an elementary-school teacher in Lakeview.
But he studies video of opposing hitters like a professor. He formulates game plans to keep hitters off balance by changing speeds and avoiding hard contact.
According to FanGraphs, Hendricks produces soft contact 26.1 percent of the time, the highest rate in baseball. His changeup is rated the most effective in the sport this year.
If the season ended today, Hendricks would compete with the Giants' Madison Bumgarner, the Mets' Noah Syndergaard, the Marlins' Jose Fernandez, the Nationals' Max Scherzer and teammates Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester for the Cy Young Award.
Hendricks has a higher WAR than both his teammates and a better FIP. His ERA is nearly a half-run lower than Syndergaard's, seven-tenths of a run lower than Fernandez's, and eight-tenths of a run lower than Scherzer's. He has a lower WHIP (0.98) than all but Scherzer's (0.91).
His numbers say he has been one of the National League's best pitchers, even if the radar gun doesn't.
"To be up there, I'm just taking it in stride," Hendricks said. "But in order to stay there, I have to keep doing the things I've been doing. Consistency and keeping a simple mindset."
With a strong September, voters may have to change up the way they view dominance. Hendricks might just be the National League's best pitcher.
• Jordan Bernfield is an anchor and co-host of "Inside The Clubhouse" on WSCR 670-AM The Score. He also works as a play-by-play broadcaster for ESPN. Follow him on Twitter@JordanBernfield.