It’s been the “rotation” this spring, so in that regard, it isn’t a surprise. But today, David Ross made it official: Jake Arrieta will start game two for the Chicago Cubs.
Ross: Arrieta will start the second game of the season, followed by Davies.
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) March 25, 2021
Even if Arrieta hadn’t been looking really good this spring, it would still have made sense to break up Kyle Hendricks and Zach Davies in the rotation, given the similar looks they give hitters. Arrieta isn’t a fireballer anymore, but his pitch mix and crossfire delivery make him quite a different animal.
Spring Training won’t always tell you that much, but the Cubs’ front four – Hendricks, Arrieta, Davies, and Trevor Williams – have all looked fantastic.