Slow start a concern, but Hendricks usually figures things out
The Cubs are off to a decent start, with a few notable concerns.
Topping of the list is the slow start by Kyle Hendricks. In three outings the veteran right-hander has posted a 12.08 ERA, allowing 26 hits in 12⅔ innings.
Those numbers are ugly, but keep one thing in mind: This is not the worst three-game stretch of Hendricks' career. He gave up 18 earned runs over three starts from Aug. 23 through Sept. 4, 2021.
Hendricks has always been able figure things out. There's a reason they call the former Dartmouth pitcher, “The Professor.” After tough starts Hendricks usually gives detailed explanations of what he needs to work on, whether it's balance, release point, timing or some other small detail.
On Wednesday in San Diego, he had a slightly different message for reporters when asked if he was aware of any issues to fix.
“Not exactly, no,” Hendricks said, according to cubs.com. “I can't lie about that. I would have been doing it now. So, a little bit of a search process, for sure.
“I know who I am, though. At the end of the day, I know what my strengths are. I just have to hone in on those, lock in on that, start with that.”
OK, so maybe that's cause for concern. But the Cubs don't have much choice but to give Hendricks some time to figure things out, at least until either Justin Steele or Jameson Taillon are ready to come back from the injured list. Taillon made his second rehab start Friday for the Iowa Cubs.
But even then, there's not much the Cubs can do with Hendricks, unless he goes on the injured list. The last player still on the roster from the 2016 World Series team, Hendricks is 34, so he should have some good years left. The Cubs would hate to have a rough ending with Hendricks like they did with Jake Arrieta, releasing him during the 2021 season.
Meanwhile, the Cubs did make a roster change Friday before opening a series in Seattle. Jose Cuas, with a 12.00 ERA in five outings, was sent to Iowa and the Cubs called up Keegan Thompson.
In his last 5 innings pitched at Iowa, Thompson allowed just 1 hit and no runs. He's already on the Cubs' 40-man roster, which makes for a smooth transaction.
One possible concern with Thompson is his fastball velocity is down. On Tuesday against St. Paul, his four-seam averaged 90.2 mph. Last year in the majors, it was 93.7 mph, according to StatCast.
There are a couple of veteran pitchers at Iowa who could give the Cubs some interesting choices down the road. One is Sam McWilliams, a right-hander drafted by the Phillies in 2014 who has yet to pitch in the majors. His fastball has been hitting 98 mph for Iowa.
McWilliams told his story to the Des Moines Register this week. After so many close calls and never making it to the majors, McWilliams retired and said the Cubs offered him a job as a scout, which he turned down. He started working some different jobs, then was asked to pitch in an exhibition game at the Cubs' Mesa complex.
He pitched well and was offered a spot in the Mexican league. Someone from the Cubs saw him pitch and now McWilliams, 28, is in Triple A, knocking on the door once again.
If the Cubs ever need starter depth, left-hander Thomas Pannone has posted a 0.57 ERA in his first three starts for Iowa. Pannone, who is about to turn 30, got 13 starts for Toronto from 2018-19.
Since then, he's pitched in the minors, spent time in Korea and made one appearance with Milwaukee last summer. The Cubs actually drafted the Rhode Island native out of high school in 2012, but he went to college and didn't sign.
Overall, the Cubs team ERA is 4.77, which ranks 20th in MLB. The bullpen ERA ranks 26th at 5.43.
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