Chicago Cubs: Top performers for week of May 3-9

Keegan Thompson was very good for the Chicago Cubs this past week.

4. Keegan Thompson

While the Cubs farm system isn’t flooding with pitching prospects, Keegan Thompson is one guy to keep an eye on. The former third-round pick in 2017 was plagued by injuries in 2019 and didn’t pitch at all in 2020. Now 26 years of age, the 6-foot-1 right-hander was impressive in his two outings last week.

He got the start in the second game against the Dodgers on Tuesday night, giving the Cubs 3.2 innings while allowing just two hits, walking two, and fanning two. He followed that with three innings in relief in Saturday’s win over the Pirates, backing Trevor Williams’ short start. Thompson allowed two hits and a walk and earned his first big league win.

5. Zach Davies

His first month in a Chicago Cubs uniform was, to put it bluntly, a trainwreck. However, May has been much kinder to Zach Davies, as the 28-year-old has posted a 0.82 ERA in two starts. This past week, Davies went seven innings, allowing five hits with one walk and one strikeout. The Gilbert, Arizona native, played to contact and threw 52 of his 81 pitches for strikes.

6. Kyle Hendricks

Hendricks was roughed up in Sunday’s finale against the Pirates, but he was downright brilliant against the Dodgers on Tuesday. The 31-year-old went the abbreviated distance, pitching all seven innings while allowing seven hits, one earned run, one walk while fanning six batters.

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7. Justin Steele

Steele has been one of the more underrated pitchers out of the bullpen this season. The left-hander earned his first win of the season in Tuesday’s nightcap, striking out Austin Barners to set the stage for David Bote’s heroics. The 25-year-old was visibly pumped up after striking out Barnes.

And despite a losing effort on Sunday, Justin Steele kept the Pirates off the board, giving the Cubs two innings in relief while allowing just one walk and fanning two.