3 breakout candidates for the Chicago Cubs 2022 season

Adbert Alzolay

After his first full season in the Chicago Cubs starting rotation, Adbert Alzolay could look to take the next step in 2022.

The 2021 season was the first extended look that the Chicago Cubs had at starting pitcher Adbert Alzolay in the starting rotation. The Cubs limited Alzolay to 125.2 innings last season and, in those innings, Alzolay posted 4.58 ERA to go along with 128 strikeouts and a 1.162 WHIP. Alzolay’s FIP of 4.65 would suggest that he was actually worse than his ERA indicates.

Despite the struggles that Alzolay had during the 2021 season, the starting pitcher did end the season on a high note. In 19.1 innings pitched during the final month of the season, Alzolay posted a 1.40 ERA to go along with a 0.93 WHIP.

After the starting rotation was one of the weak spots of the 2021 Cubs, the team has already taken steps to make improvements.

Prior to the lockout starting in December, the Cubs added veteran starting pitchers Wade Miley and Marcus Stroman to the rotation. In regards to Alzolay, the addition of Stroman is significant. Stroman and Alzolay have similar styles in regards to velocity and pitch types and that figures to be a great sign for the development of Alzolay in his second season in the Cubs’ starting rotation. If Alzolay is able to learn from Stroman, then the 2022 season could be very successful and that ultimately would be a great sign for the Cubs’ rotation.