Can We Already Say the Cubs Have the Best Rotation in Baseball? And Other Bullets

For the first time in two weeks, I drove this morning! It was just a few blocks to take The Little Girl to school, but it still felt good. The only hiccup was when I first crutched outside and realized I was gonna have to scrape on one foot.

  • Well, the Chicago Cubs’ projected rotation is now complete, which means we can start asking questions like this:
  • As we sit here today, I think I could make a very strong argument that, yes, the Cubs have the best on-paper rotation in baseball right now (I am confessedly much higher on Tyler Chatwood as a Cub than others might be) … the problem, though, is that there are still some moves out there to be made by other clubs that could impact their own rotations. For example, if Scott Boras manages to successfully get in the ear of Nationals ownership, and they pull the trigger on Jake Arrieta? Well, then I think that’s *clearly* the best rotation in baseball. If the Dodgers find a financially feasible way to add someone like Alex Cobb? Then I could see them having a case, too. Or if the Mets landed Cobb and managed to stay healthy? A stretch, I suppose, but the talent is certainly still there. The Indians should be in this conversation. The Astros should be up there after the Gerrit Cole trade. The Diamondbacks have a sneaky good rotation. Even the Red Sox could make a case if Eduardo Rodriguez is healthy. The point here: it’s actually a pretty debatable topic, even as good as the Cubs’ rotation looks.
  • For what it’s worth, the early projections at FanGraphs have the Cubs as the third best rotation in baseball, behind the Dodgers and Astros, and just ahead of the Indians, Nationals, and Mets. The Cardinals, interestingly, rank 7th. However, that includes all pitchers projected to make starts for the team throughout the year, not just the front five. Going by only the front five, the Cubs easily take the top spot. (That said, having quality depth is an important part of having an effective rotation over the course of the season.)
  • I could say a little something here about each of the Cubs’ five starters, but I’ll just offer a reminder that Jon Lester’s down 2017 season maybe wasn’t as bad as it seemed, and he might be able to bounce right back – even at his age – in 2018.
  • (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

  • As we expected, with more and more players arriving in spring camps, you’re going to see more and more comments like this:
  • Although the Cubs did not land any prospects on the BA Top 100 this year, they did have a bunch that got votes in some of the staff writers’ top 150, with Aramis Ademan coming the closest to making the list. Others who got at least one vote include Adbert Alzolay, Jose Albertos, Dillon Maples, Thomas Hatch, and Victor Caratini.
  • You can dance if you want to:
  • I would watch this movie:
  • Would some team please sign this dude:
  • This is amazing:
  • Michael gonna Michael:
  • Meanwhile, in more serious Bears analysis, there’s a whole lotta money the Bears can spend this offseason if they want to:
  • written by

    Brett Taylor is the Lead Cubs Writer at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @BleacherNation and on LinkedIn here. Brett is also the founder of Bleacher Nation, which opened up shop in 2008 as an independent blog about the Chicago Cubs. Later growing to incorporate coverage of other Chicago sports, Bleacher Nation is now one of the largest regional sports blogs on the web.

    more cubs news

    Enhanced Box Score: Cubs 5, Pirates 4 – May 12, 2024

    It's Mother's Day. I'm hanging with the family. I don't feel like being as pissed off as a game like that threatened to make me. So I am QUITE relieved by that 10th inning (and the fact that the Cubs...

    Christopher Morel Kicks Off Mother’s Day With Some Love

    I'll just presume he was sending this one out for mom. And I'll also presume that the knee is indeed feeling good. Home run number nine on the season for Christopher Morel: https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1789713524052087082

    Pre-Gamin’: Cubs at Pirates (12:35 CT) – Lineups, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

    CUBS LINEUP — The Cubs have played thirteen series so far this season, and this is already their eighth rubber match. Let's see if Kyle Hendricks and the Cubs can bring this one in. Chicago Cubs Lineup: Nico Hoerner, SS...

    Cubs Roster Move: Kyle Hendricks Activated to Start Today

    No surprises here, as the decision to start Kyle Hendricks this afternoon against the Pirates was made yesterday, but the news has officially hit the wire, and here it is. Kyle Hendricks Activated Kyle Hendricks is returning from his short...

    Horrible History, Morel’s Knee, Almonte’s Shoulder, Hoerner, Wesneski, Hendricks, Mervis, and Other Cubs Bullets

    Happy Mother's Day to the mothers among you, and to the mothers in my life! I'll be doing some extra family stuff today, so I'm gonna cruise through these Bullets ... Up front, because this was certainly the thing most...

    Kyle Hendricks Will Start for the Big League Cubs Tomorrow

    The Sunday TBD has been D'd, and it's going to be Kyle Hendricks coming back an outing early. Instead of making another rehab start at Iowa, Hendricks is going to be activated from the IL to rejoin the rotation tomorrow:...

    Enhanced Box Score: Pirates 10, Cubs 9 – May 11, 2024

    The Cubs came within 90 feet of keeping that ridiculous game going. No dice. Stupid game. Early on, it just kinda seemed like the Cubs might lose a perfectly normal - bad, but normal - game. Justin Steele did not...

    Pre-Gamin’: Cubs at Pirates (3:05 CT) – Lineups, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

    CUBS LINEUP — After a little tease yesterday, Seiya Suzuki is actually, officially in the Cubs lineup today. And he'll be greeted with a tough matchup against the top pitching prospect in Major League Baseball. Welcome back! Chicago Cubs Lineup:...

    Oh, Good, Yency Almonte is Now Also Hurt

    Today the Chicago Cubs placed reliever Yency Almonte on the Injured List with a right shoulder strain. Jose Cuas has been recalled from Iowa to take his place in the bullpen. Almonte, together with Mark Leiter Jr., had been performing...

    Credit to Assad, Huge Ups to Brown, Hopes for Taillon, Happ’s Bat and Glove, Bellinger History, and Other Cubs Bullets

    How did I not know that the Aurora Borealis was going to be visible last night?!?!? I woke up this morning to all these awesome pictures from friends and other people in the area, and I'm MISERABLE ABOUT IT. With...

    Latest News

    Brewers vs. Pirates: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

    The Milwaukee Brewers (24-16), led by William Contreras, host Connor Joe and the Pittsburgh Pirates (18-23) at 7:40 PM ET on Monday.Keep scrolling to find out all the details on how to watch Milwaukee take on Pittsburgh live.When is Brewers...

    Rangers vs. Guardians: Free Live Stream, TV Channel, How to Watch

    On Monday, Marcus Semien and the Texas Rangers (22-20) begin a series against Josh Naylor and the Cleveland Guardians (25-16) at Globe Life Field, with first pitch scheduled for 8:05 PM ET.If you're intending to watch this game, keep reading...

    How to Watch Braves vs. Cubs: Live Stream or on TV

    On Monday, Marcell Ozuna and the Atlanta Braves (24-12) face Nico Hoerner and the Chicago Cubs (24-17), with first pitch scheduled for 7:20 PM ET at Truist Park.Keep scrolling to find out all the details on how to watch Atlanta...

    Phillies vs. Mets: Free Live Stream, TV Channel, How to Watch

    On Monday, Alec Bohm and the Philadelphia Phillies (28-13) open a series against Brandon Nimmo and the New York Mets (18-20) at Citi Field, with first pitch scheduled for 7:10 PM ET.If you're planning on watching this game, keep reading...

    Nationals vs. White Sox: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

    The Washington Nationals (19-20), led by C.J. Abrams, visit Gavin Sheets and the Chicago White Sox (12-29) at 7:40 PM ET on Monday.See how to watch the Washington-Chicago matchup below.When is Nationals vs. White Sox and when does it start?This...

    Tigers vs. Marlins: Free Live Stream, TV Channel, How to Watch

    On Monday, Kenta Maeda will start for the Detroit Tigers (20-20) versus Sixto Sanchez and the Miami Marlins (11-31), with first pitch scheduled for 6:40 PM ET at Comerica Park.See how to watch the Detroit-Miami matchup below.When is Tigers vs....

    Orioles vs. Blue Jays: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

    On Monday, in a series opener at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Corbin Burnes starts for the Baltimore Orioles (26-13) versus Jose Berrios and the Toronto Blue Jays (18-22), with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 PM ET.If you're planning on...

    How to Watch Red Sox vs. Rays: Live Stream or on TV

    Jarren Duran and the Boston Red Sox (21-19) host Isaac Paredes and the Tampa Bay Rays (20-21) on Monday, with first pitch at 7:10 PM ET.Keep scrolling to find out all the details on how to watch Boston take on...

    Celtics vs. Cavaliers Predictions, Best Bets and Odds: Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 4 – Monday, May 13, 2024

    The Cleveland Cavaliers are 8.5-point underdogs heading into Game 4 of the second round of the NBA Playoffs against the Boston Celtics at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Monday, starting at 7:00 PM ET on TNT. The Celtics are up 2-1...

    Detroit Tigers vs. Miami Marlins Series May 13-15: Odds, Starting Pitchers & Predictions

    On Monday, May 13 at 6:40 PM ET, a three-game series featuring the Detroit Tigers and the visiting Miami Marlins will get underway.Tigers vs. Marlins Series Info Marlins @ Tigers Time: Monday, May 13 at 6:40 PM ET Tigers Starting...

    more cubs news