Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks was dominant in his final start of the season, throwing 7 1/3 innings of shutout ball in the Cubs' 3-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday. Hendricks only allowed two hits and walked just two batters, though he did not pick up the win as the Cubs scored all their runs in the bottom of the eighth. The 34-year-old is an unrestricted free agent after this season and may have made his final start as a Chicago Cub at Wrigley Field. He has spent all 11 seasons of his career as a Chicago Cub but 2024 marked a fall from grace for the right-hander, posting an ugly 5.92 ERA this season. Should this be his final start as a Cub, he amassed a 97-81 record over 276 games and posted a 3.68 with the team. Dynasty managers that have Hendricks on their roster can expect some positive regression wherever he lands as his 4.94 xERA suggests he was unlucky this season, but a 4.94 xERA doesn't quite scream fantasy value.
Kyle Hendricks Turns In Quality Start Against Twins
Chicago Cubs right-handed starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks turned in a quality start Monday against the Twins with six innings of two-run ball, allowing five hits and a walk to go with five strikeouts. This year's numbers aren't pretty for the veteran as Hendricks has a 6.60 ERA and 1.45 WHIP in 16 starts. He has 65 strikeouts in 91 1/3 innings. While the start was encouraging, it is still tough to roster a pitcher with those ratios and limited strikeout potential. Hendricks will need to build off this outing to be considered as a waiver wire addition.
Kyle Hendricks Shows Signs Of Life With Scoreless Outing
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks put together his finest effort of the season in Friday night's victory over the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium, tossing seven scoreless innings for his second win of the campaign. Hendricks scattered five hits with a lone walk on Friday against St. Louis, striking out three hitters in his first scoreless outing as a starter of the year. 2024 still hasn't been kind to the 34-year-old longtime Cub despite Friday's strong showing; Hendricks carries a miserable 6.78 ERA and 1.51 WHIP with a 50:21 K:BB covering 70 1/3 frames (12 starts) during his 11th season in the Windy City in 2024.
Kyle Hendricks Exits Early Saturday With Back Tightness
Chicago Cubs veteran Kyle Hendricks left his start Saturday with lower back tightness after two innings against the Los Angeles Angels. He had surrendered four hits and two earned runs before departing and being relieved by Colton Brewer. Hendricks had stepped back into the rotation due to injuries to Javier Assad and Ben Brown. He had been pitching in a long relief role through mid-June. The level of severity of the injury remains unknown. Hendricks is 1-6 with a 7.53 ERA, a 1.58 WHIP, and 47 strikeouts in 63 innings.
Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that veteran right-hander Kyle Hendricks will be moved to the bullpen for now, but the hope is to get Hendricks back on track to eventually return him to the starting rotation. With a bullpen-type game coming on Wednesday against the visiting Atlanta Braves, the 34-year-old could be used in a relief role as perhaps the bulk reliever. Hendricks has already spent time on the injured list this year and just has not looked at all like the pitcher he was in 2023, when he had a 3.74 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in his 24 starts. Through seven starts in 2024, he's gone 0-4 with a rough 10.57 ERA (6.93 FIP) and 1.99 WHIP with 11 walks and 25 strikeouts in 30 2/3 innings. Even if Hendricks eventually returns to a starting role, it will be hard to recommend him in standard 12-team fantasy leagues.
Kyle Hendricks Activated And Starting Against Pirates
The Chicago Cubs activated right-hander Kyle Hendricks (back) from the 15-day injured list on Sunday and optioned pitcher Jose Cuas to Triple-A Iowa in a corresponding move. Hendricks was originally expected to make one more minor-league rehab start on Sunday, but the Cubs have had a change of heart and will bring him back to close out the series against the Bucs with right-hander Jameson Taillon (back) being pushed back this weekend. The 34-year-old gave up three runs while walking three and striking out 13 in two rehab outings for Iowa in 9 1/3 innings and he will now rejoin Chicago's starting rotation. It's a good matchup against Pittsburgh, but Hendricks hasn't been a very reliable fantasy streamer. He has started the year going 0-3 with a 12.00 ERA and 2.10 WHIP in 21 innings pitched in the majors.
Chicago Cubs right-hander Kyle Hendricks (back) threw another bullpen session in Pittsburgh on Friday, and manager Craig Counsell confirmed that he will make another minor-league rehab start for Triple-A Iowa on Sunday. In his first rehab start with Iowa on Tuesday, Hendricks gave up one earned run while walking three and striking out six in 4 1/3 innings. If the 34-year-old veteran looks good again on Sunday for Iowa, there's a good chance his next outing will be back in the big leagues with the Cubbies. Chicago could need Hendricks back in their starting rotation by then if Jameson Taillon (back) needs another stint on the injured list. Before being sidelined, Hendricks was getting lit up to the tune of a 12.00 ERA and 2.09 WHIP with just 16 strikeouts in 21 innings over five starts. It's no wonder the Cubs aren't rushing him back.
Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that right-hander Kyle Hendricks' (back) minor-league rehab start with Double-A Tennessee on Thursday was "encouraging," but Hendricks will make another rehab start on Tuesday with Iowa. The 34-year-old veteran gave up two runs while fanning seven batters in five innings for Tennessee on Thursday, but the Cubs want to see more before bringing him back to the big-league starting rotation. In his five starts with Chicago before landing on the IL, Hendricks had a disastrous 12.00 ERA (7.71 FIP) and 2.09 WHIP with seven walks and 16 strikeouts in 21 innings pitched. Given how bad Hendricks was with the Cubs, it's fair for fantasy managers in mixed leagues to not want anything to do with him when he's back in Chicago's rotation.
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks (back) looked healthy in a rehab start for Double-A Tennessee on Thursday. The veteran tossed five innings and allowed six hits, two runs, no walks and struck out seven on the evening, Hendricks has been shelved since late April with a minor lower back injury and it has yet to be determined if this will be his one and only rehab start or if he will make another one. When on the mound for the Cubs this season, Hendricks has gotten rocked with 28 runs allowed in 21 innings. The once consistent starter has fallen on hard times and can be left on the waiver wire in all formats when he is activated.
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks (back) is expected to have a rehab start later this week, according to manager Craig Counsell. The right-hander has been throwing off the mound and appears to be doing well. Hendricks was placed on the 15-day injured list last Tuesday due to a lower back injury. The assumption is that Hendricks will return to the Cubs rotation after one rehab start. He was off to a rough start to the season before going down due to injury. Fantasy managers can probably wait until he gets back on track before adding him again.
