Hendricks didn't factor into the decision Tuesday, allowing seven runs on five hits and three walks across 4.1 innings against Arizona. He struck out three.
Hendricks gave up four extra-base hits on the day, including a solo home run to Joc Pederson and a two-run homer to Lourdes Gurriel. The 34-year-old has given up five or more runs in each of his four starts this season and has surrendered seven home runs in 17 innings of work. He's lined up for a decent bounce-back opportunity against the Marlins on Sunday.
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Cubs' Kyle Hendricks: Hit hard Wednesday
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Hendricks (0-2) allowed seven runs on nine hits over five innings to take the loss Wednesday against the Padres. He had no walks and struck out two.
Hendricks has now allowed at least five earned runs in all three of his starts, leaving him with an unsightly 12.08 ERA. Home runs have been a problem, as he's allowed five of them so far. The veteran has also never been known for missing a ton of bats, and he has just eight strikeouts across 12.2 innings so far this year. Hendricks made that approach work in the past, but at this point in his career, it's fair to wonder whether he's slipped from a skills standpoint. The righty will be a risky fantasy play in his next scheduled start, which is penciled in for Tuesday on the road against the Diamondbacks.
Cubs' Kyle Hendricks: Gives up five versus Dodgers
Rotowire
Hendricks didn't factor into the decision Friday against the Dodgers, allowing five runs on eight hits over four-plus innings. He struck out one.
After allowing a pair of runs in the first inning, Hendricks held the Dodgers off the board until the fifth when he allowed three more runs before recording an out. It's been a rough start to the campaign for the 34-year-old Hendricks -- he's allowed 10 earned runs on 17 hits through his first two starts (7.2 innings). The right-hander will look to get on track in his next outing, tentatively lined up for next week in San Diego.
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Cubs' Kyle Hendricks: Roughed up in season debut
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Hendricks (0-1) took a loss against the Rangers on Saturday, yielding five runs on nine hits and two walks over 3.2 innings. He struck out two.
Hendricks managed to escape a jam in the first inning but served up two-run home runs in the second and third frames and was chased in the fourth after giving up another tally. The soft-tossing right-hander managed just two whiffs on 72 pitches. Hendricks figures to be startable in more favorable matchups, but this performance is a reminder that he's a volatile option against better offenses.
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Cubs' Kyle Hendricks: Likely to slot in second
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Hendricks appears to be lined up to start Chicago's second game of the regular season, behind Opening Day starter Justin Steele, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
The southpaw Steele has emerged as the team's definitive ace, but the rotation gets a little more jumbled after that. Hendricks makes sense in the No. 2 spot, particularly as a veteran righty with Shota Imanaga, Jordan Wicks and possibly Drew Smyly joining Steele as left-handed starting options. Hendricks won't wow with strikeouts, though he's a steady pitcher who recorded a solid 3.74 ERA across 24 starts last season, giving him some fantasy appeal in the right matchups.
Hendricks, who allowed three runs over 3.1 innings in a Cactus League game against the Diamondbacks on Friday, now has a 7.56 ERA this spring.
Hendricks has made three short appearances so far in camp and has allowed runs each time. It's a small sample size of only 8.1 total innings, so alarm bells don't need to go off yet. However, fantasy managers may want to see the veteran righty get going a bit before the regular season to feel better about his prospects early in the year. Hendricks at least looks healthier this spring compared to last, when he had his throwing routine bumped back due to his recovery from a capsular tear in 2022.
Cubs' Kyle Hendricks: Ramping up earlier this spring
Rotowire
Hendricks, who threw a bullpen session Saturday, is ramping up earlier this spring compared to last year, when he was returning from a shoulder injury, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Hendricks had his 2022 campaign cut short due to a capsular tear in his right shoulder, and the injury also impacted him in 2023, as the veteran didn't throw his first spring bullpen until Feb. 24. He then didn't make a regular-season start until May as the team built him up slowly. It looks like Hendricks is healthier to kick off this season, so he stands a decent chance of surpassing the 24 starts and 137 innings he compiled in 2023. If the righty can maintain or improve upon his 3.74 ERA and 1.20 WHIP from last season, he should be a solid fantasy option in 2024.
The Cubs exercised Hendricks' $16 million club option for 2024 on Sunday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.
The veteran right-hander posted a 4.78 ERA between the 2021 and 2022 campaigns, but he rebounded last season with a 3.74 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 93:27 K:BB in 137 innings. Hendricks will enter 2024 with a secure spot in the middle of Chicago's rotation, though his fantasy ceiling is capped by his low strikeout numbers.
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Cubs' Kyle Hendricks: Coughs up three runs
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Hendricks allowed three runs on five hits and three walks over 4.1 innings in Friday's loss to Milwaukee. He struck out two and did not factor in the decision.
Hendricks turned in four shutout frames before stumbling in the fifth inning. He threw just 41 of 73 pitches for strikes and failed to complete at least five innings for the first time since Aug. 4. Hendricks registered a 4.39 ERA in five September starts and finished the 2023 season with a 3.74 ERA and a 93:27 K:BB through 137 frames.
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Cubs' Kyle Hendricks: Takes loss Thursday
Rotowire
Hendricks (6-8) allowed three runs (one earned) on seven hits across six innings to take the loss Thursday against the Pirates. He walked two and struck out five.
Hendricks pitched well enough, but the Cubs didn't score until the seventh inning and the veteran righty ended up with the loss. This was his first time covering at least six innings this month, and he lowered his season ERA to a solid 3.66. Hendricks has been his typical pitch-to-contact self this year with only 91 strikeouts across 132.2 innings, though he's still managed to be effective. He's in line to start next against Atlanta on the road, which figures to be a challenging matchup and could be his last outing of the regular season.
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Cubs' Kyle Hendricks: Decent in no-decision
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Hendricks allowed three runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out three over 5.1 innings in a no-decision versus the Diamondbacks on Saturday.
Hendricks has pitched into the sixth inning without completing it in three straight starts. He's allowed 10 runs (nine earned) over 16.1 innings in that span, though he's also recorded a 12:2 K:BB in September. The right-hander has continued to provide decent but not outstanding work this year, posting a 3.77 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 86:22 K:BB through 126.2 innings across 22 starts. He's lined up for a home start versus the Rockies in his next outing.
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Cubs' Kyle Hendricks: Notches sixth win
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Hendricks (6-7) allowed two runs on seven hits and a walk over 5.2 innings Sunday, striking out four and earning a win over the Diamondbacks.
Hendricks tossed four shutout frames before Arizona finally broke through with a run in the fifth inning. He coughed up five runs (four earned) against the Giants in his last start but had a streak of five straight appearances with three or fewer runs allowed prior to that. Over his last seven starts, Hendricks has registered a 3.15 ERA, dropping his season mark to 3.71 through 121.1 frames. His next outing is currently projected to be a rematch in Arizona.
