If Cubs Want To Get Better, Rotation Must Get Younger -

"Historically, and certainly since Craig Counsell made the trip down I-90 from Milwaukee, the Cubs have been a pitching-first ballclub. If you closely examine their best teams in recent memory, hurlers like Jon Lester, Jake Arrieta, Carlos Zambrano, Kyle Hendricks, and even newcomers like Cade Horton mark a pedigree of lockdown starting pitching. The Cubs' 3.81 team ERA ranked ninth in MLB, and their starters were eighth in all of baseball with a 3.83 mark."

"Even with the early loss of Justin Steele, a rotation led by Horton, Matthew Boyd, Shōta Imanaga, and even Colin Rea ensured that the Cubs kept winning even when the offense went cold for stretches. It helped that they were backed by sparkling defense, especially Pete Crow-Armstrong in center and the Gold Glove-caliber middle infield of Nico Hoerner and Dansby Swanson. It's more than reasonable to say that the front office will lean into that combination of pitching and defense this offseason."

"The organization's top pitching prospect, righty Jaxon Wiggins, will inject an electric jolt of energy into the pitching staff, but he will likely need more seasoning. With a velocity of up to 100 mph, Wiggins' fastball is his most lauded pitch, though he also features an impressive array of offspeed stuff. In 78 innings across three levels of the farm system this past season, he allowed only 19 earned runs with 97 strikeouts. He isn't projected to make his MLB"

Chicago Cubs pitching remained strong, with a 3.81 team ERA (ninth in MLB) and starters posting a 3.83 ERA (eighth). The rotation, despite Justin Steele's early loss, produced wins with Cade Horton, Matthew Boyd, Shōta Imanaga, and Colin Rea. Defense supported run prevention, led by Pete Crow-Armstrong in center and the Gold Glove-caliber middle infield of Nico Hoerner and Dansby Swanson. The front office will lean into pitching and defense. The rotation lacks youth beyond Horton; most projected starters are at least 32. Prospect Jaxon Wiggins offers a 100 mph fastball and strong strikeout rates but likely needs more seasoning.

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