If there was ever a number that had meaning for the Chicago Cubs, it’s the number 100.
The last time the Cubs reached a three-digit milestone it was in the wrong column, as they ended their miserable 2012 season with 101 losses and only 61 wins.
In the wins column, the drought extends much further, reaching back into history to 1935 — the last time they had 100 when they hit it on the head.
But this team is undoubtedly a far cry from four years ago when the Cubs were considered a perennial failure, skewered on spears of doubt and shame, their reputation forged by fan follies and the common belief of the inevitable crash.
This team has a lineup of power and one that has produced the third-highest number of runs in the majors this season (767). It is full of young talent, including two top-25 home runs hitters in Kris Bryant (T-8th, 38) and Anthony Rizzo (T-22nd, 31).
They also have a rotation of near-dominance. In fact, they’re the best in baseball with a team earned run average of 3.10 and a batting-average-against at a mere .211.
Although their rotation was largely slated to be headed by last year’s Cy Young winner and this year’s All-Star Jake Arrieta (18-7, 2.85 ERA) alongside fellow All-Star and 11-year veteran Jon Lester (19-4, 2.28 ERA), who boasts the most quality starts in Major League Baseball (26), even the deeper arms have proven their worth.
Kyle Hendricks, who will take the mound Monday night against the Pittsburgh Pirates in efforts to record the team’s 100th win of the season, has been exceptionally impressive this season, compiling baseball’s best ERA at 2.06.
In his third season, Hendricks has shown incredible control and command on the mound. He’s thrown 161 strikeouts and only 43 walks in 179 innings this season and given up four runs (the most of the season) only twice out of his 28 total starts.
He will begin the final away stretch, set to make a heavy mark on the pages of history books. With a win Monday night, the Cubs will tie the number of wins accumulated by the 1935 team – although with two additional losses – at 100.
With seven total games left of the season, they need only five wins to surpass the 1909 (104-49) and 1910 (104-50) teams, moving them into third best in the team’s history, behind only the teams from 1906 (116-36) and 1907 (107-45).
Jonathan Powell is the Managing Editor of Outside Pitch MLB and the Milwaukee Brewers writer. Follow him on Twitter @jonathannashhh.
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