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Chicago Cubs Magical Season Continues As Jake Arrieta Throws No-Hitter

By Carlos Nazario

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The magic continues for the Chicago Cubs in 2015. The latest episode of “Is This The Year” occurred on Sunday when Jake Arrieta threw a no-hitter against the Los Angeles Dodgers. It was a poor road trip for the Cubs, but it had a great ending. 

Well, the magic continues for the 2015 Chicago Cubs. After losing four games in a row on the back of winning 21 of their previous 25 games, some started to think that maybe the magic was leaving.

Then something happened on Sunday that may have some thinking that this may truly be a magical season.

Jake Arrieta took to the mound on Sunday, and handed the Los Angeles Dodgers their second no-hitter loss in the past nine days.

“The last time this happened was in 2008” is a refrain that is becoming very familiar. It fits in this case as well, as the last time a Cubs pitcher threw a no-hitter was in 2008 when Carlos Zambrano did it.

Arrieta was not thought to be good enough to make it onto the All Star team this season, but he may walk away with the Cy Young Award.

In the National League, Arrieta leads in wins (his 17 wins also leads MLB) and complete games. He is second in WAR, ERA, hits per nine innings, games started, fielding independent pitching, adjusted pitching runs and adjusted pitching wins. There are also eight other categories in which he is in the top five.

With all due respect to Jon Lester, Arrieta has become the Cubs’ ace. He is the stopper. Lester and Arrieta had their chance to end the Cubs’ losing streak this weekend, and Arrieta came through.

That is not to say that Lester doesn’t have it, because he still does. If the Cubs make it to the playoffs, I think Lester will come up big. It will be great to have him open up a playoff series, then come back with Arrieta.

When the Cubs play in a one-game, winner advances game (like it is looking more and more that it will happen), Arrieta looks to be the guy the Cubs want in there.

The Dodgers had no clue on what Arrieta was doing Sunday night. He said after the game that he felt it went by fast. “It went by so quick, really,” Arrieta said. “Feels like that could have been five innings the way that played out. The stuff was good, commanded the ball well. Kind of speechless right now.”

One walk and an error were the only blips on his night. Oh, and that mustache onesie he had on during the postgame press conference could be considered a blip as well.

With one game remaining in August, the Cubs own a 19-8 record, there best month by far. They have a +25-run differential (135 runs scored against 110 runs allowed). They have a .643 winning percentage in the second half (27-15), compare to a .540 percentage in the first half (47-40).

Where the Cubs’ magic is really working is in one-run games. About 35 percent of their games (45 of their 129 games) have been decided by one run, and they won 28 of them, second in MLB.

The Cubs are heading into the final month of the season and they are still on top in the last Wild Card spot. They are 5-and-1/2 games ahead of the San Francisco Giants. They have a Cy Young Award candidate and a Rookie of the Year candidate on their roster. They also have many other rookies who are gaining valuable experience.

The Cubs start a six-game homestand on Monday before embarking on a ten-game road trip, playing six of them against the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates, the only two teams ahead of them in the NL standings. They then come home for ten games, playing seven games against the Cardinals, Pirates and Kansas City Royals.

It won’t be an easy month for the Cubs, but they may have some more magic up their sleeves.

Next: Young Chicago Cubs Too Naive, Stupid To Feel Pressure

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