Cubs Quick Hits: Cubs Starters Have Third Worst Walk Rate in MLB

The season is still young, but the Cubs rotation currently owns the third-worst BB/9 (4.27) in MLB. Only the White Sox (4.77) and Braves (4.31) are ahead of the reigning NL Central champs.

Tyler Chatwood, who owns a 7.65 BB/9, has been one of the major contributors to that inflated overall mark, yet other historically controlled starters have been off so far. Yu Darvish and Jose Quintana, for example, have walk rates of 4.56 and 4.80, respectively. Even the sturdy Jon Lester’s BB/9 is 4.09. Only Kyle Hendricks is keeping things in check with that exemplary 1.65 BB/9.

You have to think that these Cubs starters will eventually look like their normal selves. ZiPS thinks Q and Lester will have BB/9 marks under 3.00 for the rest of the season and the forecasting model also believes Darvish will have a decent 3.12 BB/9 the rest of the way.

It’s just a matter of time.

Please let it be a matter of time.