For Jake Arrieta, Sunday’s Grounders Were “A Step in the Right Direction”

Chicago Cubs’ starter Jake Arrieta began the 2017 season with a couple of nice performances against the Cardinals (6.0 IP, 0 ER, 67 Game Score) and Brewers (7.0 IP, 3ER, 67 Game Score). Unfortunately, questions and concerns about his command and velocity arose in conjunction with those starts, and were exacerbated by a really tough stretch thereafter.

Indeed, over his next six starts (which does not include Sunday’s effort against the Brewers), Arrieta’s ERA ballooned to 6.82, despite owning an xFIP down below 4.00. And the weird thing is/was that – like his peripherals – our eyes seem to tell a different story than his ERA. Arrieta looked like a good version of himself and was still frequently keeping batters off-balance. Further, he wasn’t really walking many guys (6.2 BB%) and was striking hitters out at an above average clip (22.8%).

It’s likely that an uncharacteristically low groundball rate (38.2% during that stretch vs. 48.2% for his career) and an ugly HR/FB ratio did him in. In fact, that continues to be my operating theory.

But the results from yesterday’s start against the Brewers were much better than the recent six-game skid. Through 6.0 innings, Arrieta did not allow an earned run, walked just one batter, and struck out six. So what was different?

Typically, one might point to the 6.00 K/BB ratio (and 16 whiffs) as the key to the game, but that’s not quite where I land. While those numbers are both impressive and encouraging (don’t get me wrong, you’ll take that every time); it was his ability to induce ground balls that excited me, and Arrieta, the most.

Take it from the man, himself:

Your browser does not support iframes.

If you can’t watch the video, you can read about Arrieta’s start here at MLB.com or here at ESPN Chicago. But, in short, Arrieta’s closing statements got to the heart of everything:

“It felt good,” Arrieta said. “I was able to bear down and make a few good pitches. I kept the ball on the ground quite a bit today, which is nice. That’s an indicator of a step in the right direction. Just look to build off that.”

Yesterday, Arrieta recorded a 50% groundball rate, which is the best single-game mark he’s posted since the first game of the year. And his ability to keep the ball on the ground proved crucial, as all five Brewers hits (against Arrieta) were singles (fly ball revolution in reverse).

The start was far from perfect – Arrieta pitched with runners in scoring position in all but one of his innings, threw three wild pitches, and hit a batter – but that’s sort of the beauty of getting a lot of ground balls. Big innings are much harder to execute – even when you’re making mistakes – when batters aren’t dropping line drives in for extra bases or hitting dingers over the wall.

Arrieta’s next start will be against the Dodgers this Friday night. And while I’ll certainly keep an eye on his command, I’ll be looking closer at the number of groundballs he’s able to induce. If he can continue to make batters hit the ball on the ground, the results, I suspect, will improve immediately.

written by

Michael Cerami began covering the Chicago Cubs for Bleacher Nation as a part-time contributor in 2015. One year later, he joined Bleacher Nation full-time, covering the Chicago Cubs and Major League Baseball. Today, Michael runs Bleacher Nation, contributing as a writer (Cubs, MLB) and an editor for all sections of the site, including the Chicago Bears, Bulls, and Blackhawks, as well as MLB, NBA, NHL, and NFL. In 2019, Michael was the co-host of NBC Sports Chicago's Cubs Post-Game Show Outside the Ivy. You can find him on Twitter/X @Michael_Cerami

more cubs news

Maybe the Cubs Are the Favorites in the NL Central, After All?

ESPN was the first to throw some love the Cubs way this week, with an overwhelming majority of their writers, analysts, and editors picking the Chicago Cubs to win the NL Central in 2024. But the love doesn't end there....

The Season Begins, Love for Morel, Counsell’s Value, and Other Cubs Bullets

You know where you want to spend your Opening Day morning? The hospital! Suffice to say, this is not how I imagined getting HYPED for the Cubs' opener. I guess I'll just have to think about all the possible lineup...

Cubs vs Rangers: The First Series of the Year!

Cubs vs Rangers — THE REGULAR SEASON IS HERE! Wake up and rejoice. Later tonight, the Cubs will begin their march toward October Baseball against the (reigning World Series champion) Texas Rangers in Arlington. Justin Steele is getting the nod...

The 2024 Chicago Cubs for Dummies

Boom. We made it. The offseason is over, and the Cubs regular season - and those elevated expectations - begins tomorrow. But in case you slept through the winter, I'm here to catch you up on everything you need to...

I’m Expecting More This Year, Cubs — It’s Time to Start Winning

There's no way around it: The Chicago Cubs did *not* have the offseason we hoped they might after making Craig Counsell the highest paid manager in MLB history. Not that they did poorly, mind you. Cody Bellinger, Shota Imanaga, and...

I Dug Deep on the Cubs 2024 Schedule (And I Like What I See)

Finally, with Cody Bellinger in the fold, we can start focusing more seriously on the season ahead. So today, I thought we'd take a look at the Cubs 2024 schedule. You can flip through the Cubs 2024 schedule right here...

Here’s What I’m Betting on the Cubs for Opening Day

I get it. Sports betting isn't for everyone — like, say, the interpreter for an international baseball superstar — but some of us quite enjoy it! If you are one of those people, this article is for you. Below, I'm...

WAKE UP, BASEBALL IS BACK

The day has arrived. Opening Day. The most glorious day on the baseball calendar, save for the day of each Chicago Cubs World Series win, of course. See, I get to say things like that on Opening Day. Maybe the...

Wrigley Field is Gonna Be Lit This Year (As in New Colored Lights!)

Last year, the Cubs started using their new LED outfield lights to do a little dancing display during 'Go Cubs Go,' lighting along with the song and throwing in a W. It was very fun and I liked it. This...

Why Craig Counsell Wanted Miles Mastrobuoni on the Cubs’ Bench

I don't know why Miles Mastrobuoni bugs some folks, but it's probably heavily-weighted toward his small-sample, bad-batted-ball-luck start last year, and that time he didn't dive while playing in right field. It can be hard to shake initial impressions, I...

Latest News

Buffalo Bills 1st Round Mock Draft: Wild Crossroads at 28 – Offense or Defense?

The Buffalo Bills stand at a crossroads. The 2024 NFL Draft looms, and the 28th pick presents a fascinating dilemma. This Buffalo Bills 1st Round Mock Draft analyzes 10 different options that could be available to them at their current...

How to Watch Celtics vs. Hawks: Live Stream or on TV

The Atlanta Hawks (33-39) hope to continue a three-game home winning stretch when hosting the Boston Celtics (57-15) on Thursday, March 28, 2024 at 7:30 PM ET.In their last time out, the Celtics lost 120-118 to the Hawks on Monday....

Rangers vs. Cubs Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Thursday, March 28, 2024

The Texas Rangers open their season as -120 favorites in a home matchup with the Chicago Cubs on Thursday at 7:35 PM ET, live on ESPN.Nathan Eovaldi will get the ball for Texas while Chicago will counter with Justin Steele.Rangers...

Dejounte Murray Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Celtics – Thursday, March 28, 2024

Will Dejounte Murray make four 3-pointers when the Atlanta Hawks face the Boston Celtics on Thursday at 7:30 PM ET? If so, he'll beat his prop for the game.Dejounte Murray's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the CelticsDejounte Murray's over/under for three-pointers...

Bogdan Bogdanovic Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Celtics – Thursday, March 28, 2024

To beat his 3-point over/under, Bogdan Bogdanovic needs to make three from beyond the arc on Thursday, when his Atlanta Hawks meet the Boston Celtics on Thursday at 7:30 PM ET.Bogdan Bogdanovic's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the CelticsBogdan Bogdanovic's over/under...

Jayson Tatum Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Hawks – Thursday, March 28, 2024

At 7:30 PM ET on Thursday, it'll be the Boston Celtics versus the Atlanta Hawks, with Jayson Tatum needing three treys to beat his 3-pointer prop.Jayson Tatum's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the HawksJayson Tatum's over/under for three-pointers in this game:...

Jaylen Brown Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Hawks – Thursday, March 28, 2024

To beat his 3-point prop, Jaylen Brown must make three from beyond the arc on Thursday, when his Boston Celtics play the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday at 7:30 PM ET.Jaylen Brown's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the HawksJaylen Brown's over/under for...

Derrick White Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Hawks – Thursday, March 28, 2024

To beat his 3-point prop, Derrick White needs to make three from beyond the arc on Thursday, when his Boston Celtics meet the Atlanta Hawks, starting at 7:30 PM ET.Derrick White's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the HawksDerrick White's over/under for...

BetMGM Promo Code Boosts Your First Bet Up to $1,500 for MLB, NCAA Tourney, and Beyond

The 2024 baseball season is upon us! But before the first pitch is thrown, why not enhance your MLB betting experience with the BetMGM Promo Code welcome offer. With Opening Day right around the corner, baseball fans are eager to...

WOW: Minnesota Timberwolves Sale to Alex Rodriguez Falls Through

The Minnesota Timberwolves dropped a bomb on Thursday morning. According to a statement released by the Timberwolves and Lynx ownership group, the franchise is no longer for sale. A transition of power was thought to be in place over the...

more cubs news