NEWSLETTER
Kyle Hendricks gets the honor, and the duty of covering the Cubs for two NLDS starts if the series goes to Game Five.
Today, Joe Maddon revealed that Hendricks would be the first starter to go for the Cubs this postseason, to be followed by Jon Lester in Game Two, Jose Quintana in Game Three, and Jake Arrieta in Game Four (Sharma).
Hendricks, who dealt with diminished velocity and command in the first half of the season, and then went on the DL with a hand issue, came back in a big way in the second half, posting a 2016-like 2.19 ERA over 13 starts. He’s pitching as well as he ever has, and him getting the ball in Game One should provide you with nothing but comfort.
From there, the Cubs will go with Lester, who has not been himself in the second half, but does come with the long track record of success and big game mindset.
The only other question was whether Arrieta, who is still getting over his hamstring issue, would go in Game Three or Four, and the Cubs will opt to give him that extra day of rest. The only real difference between those slots is that Arrieta is now not guaranteed to make a start in the series, but it’s not as if you should have a problem with Quintana, who has been as hot as Hendricks, getting that start.
ANYONE ELSE FEELING REALLY JACKED UP RIGHT NOW?!?!?!? IT’S NOT JUST THE COFFEE AND FIVE COKE ZEROS AT LEAST I DON’T THINK!!!!
