Bernfield: Cubs, Sox both have super starting rotations
If the Cubs and White Sox combined to form a super team, who would throw in the starting rotation?
There is no city with a better duo of aces than Chicago, but one takes the top spot. It's difficult to argue for anyone other than Jake Arrieta to throw a tone-setting series opener or a do-or-die Game 7. His last regular season loss came July 25, 2015. Since then, his numbers have been preposterous.
Chris Sale would pitch next. The righty-lefty combination would be intimidating and downright unhittable. Sale set a White Sox single-season record last season with 274 strikeouts. This year he features a pitch-to-contact approach, making him more efficient and better late in games. Prior to this historic run of dominance from Arrieta, Sale was without question Chicago's best pitcher since he moved into the Sox's starting rotation in 2012.
Jon Lester throws third. The veteran has the seventh-highest WAR among pitchers this season, and his 1.58 ERA ranked slightly ahead of Sale's entering this past weekend's games. Lester earns this spot thanks to his veteran leadership and playoff experience. While the lefty lost both of his starts in last year's postseason, he has three career World Series wins: the clincher in 2007 against the Rockies, Game 1 in 2013 against the Cardinals, and the critical Game 5 that allowed Boston to beat St. Louis in six games. No other Chicago pitcher has that many victories in the Fall Classic.
Lester's teammate in Boston, John Lackey, would pitch fourth. He's a veteran right-hander to follow the lefty Lester. While Lackey's first season in Chicago has had its ups and downs, he's another proven pitcher when the calendar flips to October. He has two career World Series victories, including a Game 7 over the Giants in 2002. He rises to the occasion in big moments. His best start this season came in a tone-setting opener against the Cardinals in St. Louis: 7 innings, 4 hits, no runs, 11 strikeouts.
Last, but certainly not least, is Jose Quintana. Over the last calendar year, he has tied reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel for the fifth-best WAR among pitchers. Quintana is off to a fantastic start this year, posting the sixth-highest WAR (1.6) and ERA (1.40). He boasts a career 3.36 ERA since joining the Sox's rotation in 2012. And despite a lack of run support, he has emerged as one of the game's best arms.
With this rotation, Chicago would be the front-runner to win the World Series.
Entering action Friday, the Cubs' staff had allowed the fewest runs in the league, with an eye-popping 2.31 ERA. Opposing hitters are batting just .198 against them.
The White Sox's pitching ranks fourth in ERA (2.83) and earned runs (81). Opponents are batting just .230 against them, which ranks seventh in the game.
Fortunately, this year Chicagoans don't need to dream up a super team that could contend.
We have two.
• 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.