In the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Cubs starting pitching posted a 3.99 ERA. That ranked fifth among National League teams, a bit behind the Cardinals (3.92), but significantly ahead of the sixth-ranked Brewers (4.18).
Yes, that’s a smaller-than-normal season sample size, but that was accomplished despite Jon Lester having a sub-par year, Jose Quintana being mostly absent and eight starts going to Tyler Chatwood, Colin Rea and Tyson Miller, who compiled a combined 5.50 ERA in 37u2154 innings in those starts.
You’re saying: “Al, you left Yu Darvish’s great season out,” and no, I didn’t.