Chicago Cubs: Yes, it’s time to start panicking about the Cubs’ starting pitching

The Chicago Cubs are still in first place and are still sporting one of the best records in all of baseball. And, yes, this is in spite of having a run of incredibly bad injury-related luck when it comes to the pitching staff.

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There’s the temptation to sit back and admire the team’s wherewithal in being able to overcome in the face adversity. There’s the temptation to marvel at their gritty “next man up” mindset during rough times.

But it very well may be time to panic—specifically, when it come to their starting pitching.

Rotation struggles

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Jameson Taillon, who took it on the chin in yesterday’s 8-3 loss to the White Sox at Rate Field—giving up five home runs and eight earned runs in five innings—has been intermittently awful this year. And even when he’s been solid, he gives the impression that things are on the verge of going badly.

Per Cole Bair of Bleacher Nation:

“The Cubs’ 34-year-old right-hander hasn’t had “it” in a third of his starts this season, allowing nine home runs in those outings. Meanwhile, in starts where he’s allowed fewer than four earned runs, he’s still served up seven long balls. His 6.67 FIP is the worst among qualified starters, and his 16 home runs allowed lead the MLB. JMo has a legitimate issue to fix on his hands…stats indicate control problems, with a career-high 8.1% walk rate. He’s also allowed 22 barrels this season after allowing just 32 all of last season, and his xSLG is .516 (in the bottom 6% of MLB).”

And Taillon isn’t the only rotation liability.

Edward Cabrera, who was brought over via trade from the Miami Marlins, has struggled more than anyone seems to care to admit, after his first two brilliant starts as a Cub. Over his last seven outings, the hard-throwing righty has posted a not-so-good 5.26 ERA.

Super swingman Colin Rea has been a godsend, at least when it comes to having a warm body to put in the rotation following injuries to Cade Horton and Matthew Boyd. But he’s not a guy who can be an anchor for the starting five. Over his last four games, he’s posted a 6.87 ERA and has averaged just about 4.5 innings per start.

Going forward with what they have

Without a resurgent Shota Imanaga delivering excellence every fifth day, the picture would be a lot bleaker. Ben Brown’s so-far successful move to the rotation has also been great news, but it’s only been two starts.

Make no mistake about it, the Cubs’ starting rotation is a big, big problem that doesn’t seem headed to resolution anytime soon. Horton isn’t coming back this year. Boyd is still lost for at least six more weeks, even if his ultra-positive update on rehab is true. Justin Steele suffered a setback in his recovery from elbow surgery and is now slated for a more nebulous return date of “sometime in the second half.”

The pool of starting pitching reserves now consists of two—Javier Assad and the recently rehabbed Jordan Wicks in Iowa. That’s not good with so much time left in the season for things to go bad.

The Cubs front office will have to bite the bullet and make some uncomfortable trades—and the sooner the better—if this team is going to live up to its postseason aspirations.

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Source: https://www.chicitysports.com/chicago-cubs-time-over-starting-pitching-taillon-cabrera-rea/