Reds vs Cubs: Preview, pitching matchups and prediction

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CINCINNATI, OH – AUGUST 29: Yu Darvish #11 of the Chicago Cubs pitches during the game against the Cincinnati Reds . (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /

The Cubs right-hander making a case for the Cy Young award

When you sign a six-year/$126M contract as Yu Darvish did prior to the 2018 season, expectations are going to be sky-high. Needless to say, following his first two seasons in the Windy City, going just 7-11 and making 39 starts, it appeared this could go down as a colossal swing and miss for the Cubs front office. However, Darvish is proving he may be in fact worth every penny and then some this season.

The four-time All-Star currently leads the NL in wins (7) and ERA (1.44). He also tops the senior circuit with a 314 ERA+ and has compiled a league-best 7.9 strikeout-to-walk rate. Darvish’s 0.880 WHIP trails only Trevor Bauer and the Mets Jacob deGrom among NL starters. That’s getting it done. How do you like him now Cubs fans?

If you look closely, the foundation for the eight-year veteran’s dominance was laid last year. After making just eight starts during his debut campaign in Chicago during the 2018 season due to right triceps tendonitis, Darvish rebounded to take the ball 31 times last year.

Despite a mediocre 6-8 record with a 3.98 ERA, the peripheral numbers indicated Yu Darvish wasn’t far from returning to his previous status as one of the best pitchers in the game.

His WHIP of 1.097 was good enough for ninth in the NL, while his 11.5 strikeouts per nine innings was third in the league. In addition, a strong argument can be made that Darvish was the best pitcher in the NL throughout the second half of the 2019 season.

Darvish was an absolute beast following the All-Star break last year. Making 13 starts, he posted a 2.76 ERA and fanned an incredible 118 batters in just 81.2 innings. Additionally, Darvish compiled an otherworldly 16.9 K/BB rate. In other words, Darvish has been pitching lights out for the past calendar year, so the numbers he’s compiling this year should come as no surprise.

Twice in his career, Yu Darvish has had a top 10 finish in the Cy Young balloting including the runner-up spot for the 2013 season. Barring a late-season collapse, Darvish seems destined to capture the elusive pitching grand prize.

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