Cubs pitcher Hendricks still trying to fix timing issues
The best hope for the Cubs to make some noise in the postseason is likely getting pitcher Kyle Hendricks back on track.
Yu Darvish, who was just named NL pitcher of the month for August, has been one of the best pitchers in the majors. So a strong 1-2 punch in the rotation would be an appealing situation.
But Hendricks, who snapped a personal three-game losing streak against the Pirates on Wednesday, admitted he's been working through some issues with arguably his best pitch.
"My changeup just isn't feeling good," Hendricks said after Wednesday's victory. "Last outing and this outing, it's just not feeling right, not coming out of my hand right. So that's something I've really got to focus on, really got to work on at my side this week.
"In game, we just had to make the adjustment to go to more heaters and curveballs, but it was a little bit part of the plan too."
Losing the mechanics on his changeup might help explain Hendricks' slide. He allowed 10 hits and 5 runs in his previous start in Cincinnati.
"It's kind of been that way through my last few starts," he said. "I've just been searching for it, it's just been a grind, it doesn't feel quite right. I've been putting a lot of work in my sides and stuff, and it feels good at times there. But then I get to game day and it's just off again.
"It was better, it's getting closer, so I've just got to take those positives. But it's just a timing issue. My mechanics are good, the ball's coming out fine, just a little bit of timing at the top of my balance point. I just rush through it a little bit at times. I've just got to keep working on it, keep grinding and it will come."
Hendricks said it release felt the best it has in a while completing the sixth inning in Pittsburgh before the left the game.
"I've got to be on time so my hand gets out front for my changeup to get depth on it, and it's just coming out completely flat right now or I'm just burying it right in the ground," he said. "It's probably a timing issue with that. If I just throw it a bunch, maybe I'll get my timing back.
"The sixth inning, my timing felt the best it had, just taking my time, focus all on the glove. So I'm really going to take those thoughts I had in the sixth inning and just build on those."