Cubs Live
By: Sierra Toman
-------- In his return to the mound Thursday night facing the Brewers, Jake Arrieta didn’t stray far from the dominance he showed in the month of August. After experiencing a right hamstring strain during a game against the Pirates, Arrieta has been out since the early days of September. Before exiting that game, he had posted a 1.69 ERA in the past 11 starts. While his time in the game only lasted 5 innings on Thursdays, this was more than enough to reassure Joe Maddon that Arrieta is feeling good after taking some time off. After struggling to find the command that Cubs fans have grown to know in Arrieta, both his form and his stats have progressed to the mastery that he showed in late 2015. Since the All-Star break Jake has dominated the mound with a 0.75 ERA, good enough to win Pitcher of the month in August, an accomplishment he boasted in back to back months of August and September in 2015. Jake’s various pitches have recently returned to the velocity that they had in the end of the 2016 Championship run and most of the 2015 season. One of his most lethal pitches being his slider. Jake has been known to rely on his sinker, however it is his slider that is more remarkable. While Arrieta, himself, describes it at as a blend of a slider and cutter, it’s this variation in throws that has led to two no-hitters with the Cubs and a Cy Young award. For the months of June and July he used his slider less than 10% of the time, the lowest in his time with the Cubs, before jumping back up to 15%. Since then Arrieta has thrown his slider around 20% of the time and his sinker around 50%, a combination like his 2015 season. At this rate Jake should be nearing the 30% usage he had of his slider when he threw both of his no-hitters. Let’s not forget, Jake Arrieta’s contract expires at the end of this season, meaning that he has to prove he still has the “stuff” if he’s planning on bringing home the big bucks. While he suffered some control issues mid 2016 and early 2017, bringing home another championship would be just another gold star in is folders of accomplishments. Arrieta has proved that he is a significant factor in the Cubs run for this post season, but this is nothing new for him. The pitcher has posted a 3.66, 2.53, 1.77, and 3.10 ERA since 2013 leading into the post season. While the rise in ERAs over consecutive years might seem menacing to some, Arrieta’s 4-2 post season record over the past two years is one that has put the Cubs above all other teams. As a pitcher who typically heats up the farther into the season he gets, fans have enjoyed a second half of the season from Arrieta that is all too like his phenomenal 2015 season. With at more seasoned team of hitters behind him this time around, the Cubs are looking for another long haul into October. Jake Arrieta has the opportunity to deliver the Cubs another National League Central title by beating the Cardinals tomorrow night. Post season vibes have grown, the media continues to countdown towards another division title, and fans are thrilled to get back to saying “fear the beard.”
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Kyle MalzhanFounder who is an aspiring journalist who covers the Chicago Cubs daily. Archives
April 2020
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