Cubs pitchers receive their grades for the season's first term

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After a rocky start, the Cubs pitching has been outstanding recently.  The starters in particular have done outstanding work.  The bullpen is still a work in progress but has gone from horrific to ehh.  Some guys are even better than ehh.  Here’s the breakdown.

Jon Lester: B.  Jon got his second win last night. Through the month of April, he was 1-1 with an ERA of 2.37 and strong peripherals.  If he hadn’t gone on the IL he could have graded higher.  I was concerned about Lester going into this season, but not so much now.

Cole Hamels: A. With a 3-0 record and an ERA of 3.19 Cole has been a rock in the Cubs rotation.  Cole’s WHIP is 1.091 and he has a K rate of 9.1 per nine innings.  He’s been a great pick up for the Cubs.

Kyle Hendricks:  D.  Like Barry Manilow, Kyle has been trying to get the feeling again. Like Manilow, he’s been high, low, and a lot of times he’s been in the middle of the plate. Especially in the first inning.  I like his chances to rebound, but Kyle doesn’t have much of a margin of error.

Yu Darvish: C.  Yu has pitched 28.2 innings and has a WHIP of 1.570.  That’s mostly the result of a high walk rate.  Darvish has struck out 33 hitters in those 28.2 innings.  The nice thing is his last two starts have been his best.  Yu has reeled off some overpowering stretches in the past, I suspect he might be about to embark on one now.

Jose Quintana: B.  This is the Quintana the Cubs thought they were getting.  Jose is 3-1 with an ERA of 3.48.  In 33.2 innings, Quintana has struck out and walked 9.  Jose slots in nicely as a ¾ starter now.

Tyler Chatwood: B.  Honestly, expectations were so low for Tyler they were easy to exceed, but he keyed two Cubs wins in eight days so I choose to feel good about that.  There’s never been a question about Chatwood’s stuff, it’s always been about his command.  I still don’t know that I would say Tyler has command, but at least now he has suggestion.  Chatwood has walked 10 in 14.1 innings, but most of that was in the first past of. those 14 innings. 

Pedro Strop: B  Pedro has done a decent job as the Cubs closer after the loss of Brandon Morrow.  Pedro has pitched 9.2 innings and struck out nine while converting three of four save opportunities .  Pedro has been fairly consistent in a tumultuous Cubs bullpen.

Steve Cishek. C-.  Steve has been a good value for the Cubs but got off to a rocky start.  He had an ERA of 4.15 in 13 innings through April.  He has struck out 16 and walked six.  He just had some outings where he was uncharacteristically wild.  I think Steve will right the ship.

Brad Brach: D.  Here’s the strangest line and grade out of all the Cubs.  Brach has a record of 3-0 with an ERA of 2.92.  So, why does he get a D?  He’s walked 16 hitters in 12.1 innings.  All I know is we ‘ll have to see what happens from here.

Kyle Ryan: B.  Kyle benefits from low expectations.  Kyle has found his way into 10 games this season, pitching 10.2 innings.  He’s struck out 16 hitters walked five and allowed eight hits.  He could continue to be a useful pickup.