(670 The Score) While Cubs right-hander Yu Darvish may be considered the front-runner for the National League Cy Young award by some, it's a teammate who will get the ball in the team's playoff opener Wednesday.
Right-hander Kyle Hendricks will start against the Marlins in Game 1 of the best-of-three wild-card round series, manager David Ross said Tuesday afternoon while adding he feels like he has "two aces." The reasoning for this order was because Hendricks hasn't pitched since last Wednesday and Ross didn't want him to be sidelined from work too long.
"I felt it was too many days (of rest to wait)," Ross said. "We will give Yu the extra day now. There are a lot of reasons we can go into, but it's really as simple as that."
Hendricks has been one of the best pitchers in MLB since a breakout 2016 campaign in which he posted a 2.13 ERA and finished third in the NL Cy Young race. Hendricks has had another superb campaign this year, going 6-5 with a 2.88 ERA and 1.00 WHIP in 12 starts. His 81 1/3 innings were the third-most in all of MLB.
Hendricks' ability to give the Cubs length was a factor in the team's decision too. The Cubs have great trust in Hendricks, who has a 2.98 ERA in 11 appearances in the playoffs in his career.
"A goal of mine is to go consistently deep in games," Hendricks said. "It worked out well this year. I think there are a few factors. Using my curveball opened up my game a little bit. Pitching to contact was important. I didn't walk a lot of guys, so I was able to get some two- or three-pitch outs. Having the DH in the National League is huge. There is really no opportunity to come out for a pinch-hitter in a close game, allowing for more innings."
Hendricks' teammates are certainly confident with him on the mound.
"Kyle has been a staple and stud in this rotation for a number of years," outfielder Kyle Schwarber said. "To be playing behind him, you know you are going to get early contact, weak contact and things like that. It usually results in not many runs. He has done a phenomenal job. Every time he is out there, we are very confident. We want to get the lead early and let him do his thing."
Hendricks also started the season opener for the Cubs, throwing a complete-game shutout that evening.
"We talked about what he had been through in his career when we gave him the ball to start the season," Ross said. "Because of the stages he has been on and how he has performed, it's very comforting from my standpoint. He's excited, and so am I. We have to win two of them, so we have Yu for Game 2. We feel we have two horses, and I am excited to watch Kyle take the bump."
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
