You might not like all the Maddux comps, but they’re difficult to avoid when Kyle Hendricks goes out and almost throws one. A Maddux, that is. For those of you who may be unfamiliar with that particular statistical anomaly, it’s when a pitcher logs a complete-game shutout while throwing fewer than 100 pitches. The Cubs’ fifth starter was only four throws and a dropped third strike away from doing just that Saturday afternoon against the overmatched Phillies.
If there’s a knock on Hendricks, it’s that he nibbles at the strikes zone and doesn’t have the velocity to make up for mistakes.