The Cubs Starting Rotation and How They Will Finish!

Set Rotation:

Carlos Zambrano:

Last year: 14-6 3.91 ERA

This year: 16-9 3.27 ERA

Carlos Zambrano last year was one of the best pitchers in the league starting behind Ben Sheets in the All-Star game. He had a No-Hitter against the Houston Astros and wasn't the same after that. He got beaten up by the Cardinals, which could have been because of his grandmothers death, but he didn't seem the same after that giving up seven runs to the Cardinals and six runs to the Dodgers in game two of the NLDS.

He started this season a bit slow struggling in the first couple of innings of the game against the Astros but ended up giving a quality 6 inning start and one run allowed. He had another quality-like start against the Crew pitching 6 innings and giving up three runs, but then in 7 innings of work against the Cards he gave up seven runs.

His outlook on the season seems complicated but given his history he will bounce back for another All-Star season. He is a power pitcher and will again dominate the league. I say he will have nine losses just because he also has a history to be erratic when angry, and we all know it will happen.

Ryan Dempster:

Last Year: 17-6 2.96 ERA

This Year: 15-7 3.59 ERA

What a huge season for Ryan Dempster just a year ago. He went from a struggling starter to a closer back to the starting rotation. He surprised everyone in the league going undefeated on the home-stand until the end of the year in a rained-out loss to the Astros. He was dominating pitcher baffling everyone he faced. He had a career high in innings pitched, wins, strikeouts, and ERA.

The problem I think he will have this year is that now batters are expecting him to be good and will make him work a bit harder. He hasn't looked terrible this year but he hasn't looked great either.

In his first start he went six innings and gave up two runs, followed by another six inning performance giving up four runs, and a 4.2 inning performance giving up another four innings. He has been an ERA dropper in most rotations and bull-pens and will hopefully be able to do it again.

Ted Lilly:

Last Year: 17-9 4.09 ERA

This Year: 17-10 4.13 ERA

Ted Lilly started last April off on a terrible note with a 6.00 ERA. He approved as the season went on and ended off with a career high 17 wins and a modest 4.09 ERA.

He has good stuff and will usually get you the win, He started this year off on a TERRIBLE note giving up four Home-Runs in five innings, but made up for it by delivering a near No-Hitter against the Colorado Rockies giving up one hit and no runs over six and two-third innings.

He is showing that he wont start of to slow this year, but is averaging almost one Home-Run per game in his career. He has been a high win pitcher in his career but also a high loss pitcher.

Rich Harden:

Last Year: 5-1(With Cubs) 1.77 ERA in 12 starts

This Year: 21-5 2.42 ERA

Rich Harden is a pitcher who has a very dominating package of pitches and has used it well in his career. He had a career year last year in ERA. He has been showing some signs of struggle in Spring Training but that didn't effect his first start as he fanned 10 and allowed one earned run in a no decision against the Crew, but showed its ugly head in his second start where he gave up four runs in three innings.

His one loss as a Cub last year came in a 1-0 loss against Arizona. If he can go without being injured this year I feel as though he can be and will be the CY Young award winner this year. He averages over a strikeout an inning in his career and has been a nightmare for hitters. Given his power 21 wins seems reasonable, maybe a bit high, but reasonable.

Sean Marshall:

Last Year: 3-5 3.86 ERA

This Year: 5-3 4.22 ERA (15 Starts)

Sean Marshall has been a very interesting prospect in his career and has showed very good stuff. He went 3-5 in 34 games, seven of which where starts. He looked amazing in Spring Training up until he faced the Angels and looked a bit shaky in his first start giving up three runs in five innings.

He will do well this year based on skill but will also struggle do to his inexperience. He'll be shaky in plenty of his starts this year but he'll also show signs of being a masterful pitcher. I think he may be replaced mid way through the season when he seems to be struggling badly.

Possible Additions:

Ben Sheets:

Last Year: 13-9 3.09 ERA

This Year: 3-2 3.77 ERA (9 Starts)

This will most likely be a HUGE stretch but there is a very good chance that the starter in last years All-Star game will need a home this season after he recovers from surgery, and where better than the two time division winning Chicago Cubs. He has gotten offers from the Texas Rangers but knowing Hendry and his record for hunting great players I think he may land in Chicago.

Last year he started in 31 games before going on the DL with shoulder problems with the Wild Card Brewers. I think he'll come down to Chicago after some probable issues with Sean Marshall, even though I hope he has an amazing year because A. he's on the Cubs and B. He's on my Fantasy team.

He has been a dominating pitcher having double digit wins in seven of his first eight seasons. He'll be a bit shaky when he starts, probably be put in the pen to bring some order into a very inconsistent bunch.

Jeff Samardzija:

Last Season: 1-0 (26 games) 2.28 ERA

This Year: 3-0 (5 starts) 1.89 ERA

He came into the Cubs rotation last year and was an instant success as he was being considered for Rookie of the Month in his first and only month in the big leagues. He was dominating hitters as he was striking out hitters left and right.

He was fighting for the fifth spot in the Cubs rotation but ended up losing it to Sean Marshall as Jeff struggled in Spring Training. He was sent down to the Minors but has been looking great in his starts in Triple-A and will undoubtedly be called up some time in the season. The Cubs are going to have some problems in the Bull-Pen and are going to need his power.