Chicago Cubs vs. Milwaukee Brewers: Five Players to Watch in Weekend Series
3. Kyle Hendricks
Kyle Hendricks had the best ERA in Major League Baseball last season with a mark of 2.13. Hendricks finished third in National League Cy Young voting in 2016, but he is still the Cubs fifth starter this season.
More from Chicago Cubs
- Juan Soto appears headed to the Yankees which is not a big blow Chicago Cubs offseason
- Chicago Cubs in the middle of chaos that is Shohei Ohtani’s free agency
- The Chicago Cubs are on a roller coaster of emotions chasing Shohei Ohtani
- Chicago Cubs Rumors: latest on Bellinger, Chapman, and Hoskins
- National insider takes Chicago Cubs out of Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes
Hendricks will pitch fifth in the Cubs’ rotation to start the year, but he is not actually a traditional fifth starter. Joe Maddon does not care about traditional views on the pitching order and he set his rotation based on the success of the team. Hendricks will pitch last for the Cubs because Maddon likes how it lines up.
We will finally get to see Hendricks on the mound for the Chicago Cubs on Saturday against the Brewers. He was one of the best pitchers in baseball last season and should be able to dominate Milwaukee’s young lineup.
Hendricks is not a hard thrower, nor does he have a knockout breaking pitch. He dominates with elite command of his pitches and by changing speeds. Hendricks is an assassin on the mound, consistently putting himself in the best position to win.
Every time Hendricks takes the mound, he has a chance to dominate. It should be exciting to see him make his 2017 debut on Saturday.