Here at the halfway point of the Cubs season where they stand 46 wins and 35 losses, second place in the central division, Only behind the Brewers. Will the Cubs overtake the Brewers if they do not make a change? Yes. Will the Cubs have the best record in the National League if they do not make any changes? Probably. However, are they going to win the world series or get to the world series? No. Starting Pitching besides Jon Lester has not been good enough. So I looked at their team, and I came up with five reasons why the Cubs need starting pitching.

The Cubs signed the most covenant pitcher in free agency this past season as in Yu Darvish. Darvish has started only in 8 games this year because of injuries. In those eight games, he has three quality starts and only one win. Darvish has an era 4.95 and whip of 1.43. Was it a good signing we must wait and see if he can be rebound from the injuries? Especially after he saw the Texas Rangers team doctor get a second opinion his shoulder on Friday.

The second reason the Cubs need to go after starting pitching, they lead the National League in runs scored (409) and run differential (+98). The Cubs are scoring runs this year without hitting many home runs. They are 19 in league with 88 home runs, compared to the New York Yankees hitting 131 to lead the League. Moreover, the Cubs are doing this without one of their best hitters (Kris Bryant) who has been on the disabled list.

The third reason the Cubs should go after starting pitching is one of the most consistent pitchers the last couple of seasons for the Cubs is struggling with giving up the long ball. Kyle Hendricks has given up 16 home runs the most on the team. Hendricks gave up only 17 home runs all last season and only 15 in 2016. His era is up to 4.21 this year, last year 3.03 in 24 starts and  in 2016 he had an era of 2.13 in 30 starts. The way I look at this, is teams has figured out what Kyle Hendricks is doing and made adjustments. Now he needs to make adjustments.

One of the most important reasons is Mike Montgomery. Montgomery can pitch, he is one of the most significant pitchers on the Cubs. If he goes down to injury, the Cubs will be looking for a pitcher that can pitch long relief or sub in as a starter. Since Darvish injury, Montgomery has started in seven games, giving up more than one run in two of the seven starts. Though it has been his last two outings when he has done that, giving up four in a loss to the Cincinnati Reds on June 24, and he gave up three earned runs in a comeback win 10 to 6 to the Minnesota Twins on June 29. He has pitched at least five innings in every start. The most innings pitched in a season for Montgomery is 130.2/3 inning in 2017. He did start 14 games in 2017 the most since his rookie season with the Seattle Mariners in 2015 where he started 16 games and only pitched 90 innings (an average of just over five innings a start with two complete games). Let’s not blow him out by the end of the season.

The last and most important reason we need to get another starter to make run for the World Series is Tyler Chatwood. Chatwood is almost striking out 8.59 batters to every nine innings, but also is walking the same amount to the batters he has faced (70 strikeouts to 66 walks). In fact, he has given up the most walks in Major league Baseball (Lucas Giolito White Sox 51 walks). In 15 starts this season he has only pitched six innings or more three times all in April. That means the Cubs are using their bullpen. The Cubs can not afford to use the bullpen too much. They have had injuries to their bullpen already with Brandon Morrow just coming off the disabled list and Carl Edwards Jr about to come off.
Yes, the Cubs are seventh in the majors with starting pitching and fifth with the bullpen, but if the Cubs can get another starter and maybe use Chatwood or put Montgomery back to long relief, Joe Maddon might save the bullpen from wearing down. An excellent example of that might be Brian Duensing he came into June with a stat line of, 25 games 17.2 innings, 4 ER, 1Hr, 11 BB, 12 K, 2.04 ERA. Now after June it looks like 35 games 26 innings, 20 ER, 3 HR, 20 BB, 17 K, 6.92 ERA.

So, let’s look at who might be available for trade by the deadline, Cole Hamels Texas Rangers 4-6 3.61 era, Lefty that has playoff experience that could want one more title before retiring. Yovani Gallardo 34, Texas Rangers, 2-0 9.00 era, pitching better after being acquired from Cincinnati. Tyler Skaggs Los Angeles Angels, 26-year-old 6-5 with 2.64 ERA. Somebody the Cubs could look at for long time use instead of one year because he is up for arbitration the next two years. Also, could be said for Sean Manaea the Oakland A’s 26-year-old lefty if they fall out by the end of the month. J.A. Happ 35 lefty pitcher for Toronto Blue Jays. Happ is in his last year of 3 years 36-million-dollar contract. He is 10-3 with a 3.62 era. Chris Archer Tampa Bay Rays on the Disabled List but is 3-4 with 4.24 era. Archer has three years left of a six year 25.5-million-dollar contract. 2019 he is due 7.5 million, and in 2020 and 21 he is scheduled for 8.25 million. Tampa might want to get away from this contract even though this team is improving. Will the Mets trade away any of there pitchers after letting Matt Harvey go to the Reds? Jacob DeGrom is having an excellent season for the team with the worst record in National League. DeGrom 5-4 1.84 era in 17 starts. Though the not think the Cubs have enough in the minors to get DeGrom. San Diego Tyson Ross in his last season before being an unrestricted free-agent. The 31-year-old is 5-5 with a 3.32 era.
The Cubs minor league system is not getting the attention other teams do. Cause of trades in the last couple of years so we might see a player or two on the Cubs roster that might have to be thrown in to complete a trade. So, to the Cubs ownership and management team start thinking about this Ian Happ and two minor leaguers for J.A. Happ or Cole Hamels, or if the Cubs want to keep the pitcher for a while Sean Manaea, or Tyler Skaggs.

That’s the way I see it.