Jake Arrieta earned the Cy Young Award in the National League last season after an historic second half. With the pre-season rankings coming out, Arrieta is in the conversation as one of the top five starting pitchers in the game. And many feel Arrieta is the best pitcher in baseball not named Clayton Kershaw.
The Shredder recently ranked Jake Arrieta as the second best starting pitcher, behind only the Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw.
MLB Network’s Top 10 Starting Pitchers: Clayton Kershaw (Dodgers), Jake Arrieta (Cubs), Zack Greinke (Diamondbacks), David Price (Red Sox), Chris Sale (White Sox), Max Scherzer (Nationals), Corey Kluber (Indians), Dallas Keuchel (Astros), Felix Hernandez (Mariners) and Adam Wainwright (Cardinals)
Brian Kenny and Hall of Famer John Smoltz agreed with The Shredder’s ranking and had No. 2 on their lists.
Jake Arrieta’s numbers and accomplishments from last season have been published over and over again by baseball writers the entire off-season. Arrieta had a sensational season, but is far from the one-year wonder some baseball media and fans are making him out to be. Arrieta has been very good since teaming up with Chris Bosio. Last season was an outstanding follow-up to his breakout season of 2014.
Arrieta was 22-6 in 33 starts last year with a 1.77 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 2.35 FIP. Arrieta allowed 52 runs, 45 earned, on 150 hits with 48 walks and 236 strikeouts in 229 innings. Arrieta completed four games, tossed three complete game shutouts and no-hit the Dodgers on Aug. 30.
After the break, Arrieta was just about untouchable. Arrieta was 12-1 in 15 starts with a 0.75 ERA and 0.73 WHIP. Over his last 107 1/3 innings in the regular season, Arrieta allowed 12 runs, nine earned, on 55 hits with 23 walks and 113 strikeouts.
Arrieta was 10-5 in 25 starts in 2014 with a 2.53 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 2.26 FIP. Arrieta gave up 46 runs, 44 earned, on 114 hits with 41 walks and 167 strikeouts in 156 2/3 innings.
Since the trade from Baltimore, Arrieta is 36-13 in 67 starts with a 2.26 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 2.62 FIP.
Jake Arrieta has the tough task of following up just an incredible second half and Cy Young season. A similar performance to two years ago from Arrieta with six to eight more starts should help get the Cubs back in the tournament with a shot of playing deep into October.
Cubs MLB Network Rankings
- Kris Bryant – No. 2
- Anthony Rizzo – No. 4
- Addison Russell – No. 7
- Jason Heyward – No. 5
- Ben Zobrist – No. 6