Hendricks gives best performance of season in return to rotation

CHICAGO -- The Cubs moved Kyle Hendricks back into their rotation out of necessity this week, given the injuries that recently struck the staff. Then again, that has been the veteran’s home for more than a decade now for the North Siders. Hendricks once again showed why.

In guiding the Cubs to a 6-5 win over the Giants on Wednesday afternoon at Wrigley Field, Hendricks turned in not only his best performance of the season but one of his most complete showings from the past couple years. The right-hander baffled San Francisco’s bats for five no-hit innings before finally flinching.

Hendricks maintained perspective after the win.

“I still have a long way to go,” Hendricks said. “That's just one today. I've got to keep stacking them together, whatever I'm asked to do or whenever I'm out there.”

Hendricks, who had not started since May 17, gave the Cubs a season-high 5 2/3 innings, allowing one run in the sixth via a fielder’s choice groundout. He racked up eight strikeouts, marking his most since May 16, 2021 (eight against Detroit). Hendricks also generated 14 swings and misses -- his highest total since logging 15 against the Reds on June 30, 2022.

A six-run outburst by Chicago’s offense -- including back-to-back homers from Ian Happ and Dansby Swanson in the fourth inning -- backed Hendricks’ effort and helped the Cubs to their first series win of a three-game set since May 10-12 in Pittsburgh.

Hendricks threw his signature mix of sinkers and changeups, but catcher Miguel Amaya called for the curveball more than usual against San Francisco. The 34-year-old pitcher also pointed out that Amaya targeted the upper part of the strike zone with fastballs. Hendricks said some of the calls from Amaya actually surprised him in spots.

“If it's unpredictable to me, I think that's a good thing right now,” Hendricks said. “It's being unpredictable for the hitters too, so that's kind of where we're at. [Amaya’s] been so locked in. I’m trusting him.”

The fact that Hendricks is so willing to trust Amaya -- a younger player navigating his first full MLB season -- fits with what Cubs manager Craig Counsell has observed from the pitcher this season.

“The great thing about Kyle is that he never stops trying to figure it out,” Counsell said. “With his accomplishments and his career, it's easy to say, ‘This is the way I've done it.’ And I think Kyle's real gift is that he's just open and he's willing to make those adjustments.”

Hendricks was moved to the bullpen after his May 17 start with his ERA sitting at 10.57 through his first seven turns out of the rotation. The righty said the past month in the ‘pen, which offered a different vantage point for games and opened more avenues for conversation, was beneficial.

Not only was Hendricks able to step away from the mental drain of the first six weeks, he picked up some tips about his routine. With the heightened urgency for being ready to pitch that comes with being a reliever, Hendricks learned to trim his warmup process. He continued with some of those tweaks ahead of Wednesday’s effort.

“Those guys taught me so much down there,” Hendricks said. “I feel like I got better just sitting down there and hanging out and talking to them.”

Entering Wednesday’s outing, Hendricks had not allowed a run in 8 2/3 innings between a trio of relief efforts in June. That included the 4 1/3 scoreless frames on Friday, when lefty starter Jordan Wicks (right oblique) exited early due to injury. The combination of Wicks’ setback and a neck injury for rookie righty Ben Brown -- issues that landed both pitchers on the injured list -- necessitated asking Hendricks to start again.

Even after his strong return as a starter against the Giants, however, Hendricks was quick to say he did not “earn” this move back to the rotation.

“I wouldn't have been in this spot,” Hendricks said. “We had guys throwing way better than me. Guys that were doing their thing. It's super unfortunate for them to go down, but I know they're going to be back soon. They're going to be a huge part of this team. I'm super excited about that.”

The fans at Wrigley Field on Wednesday were certainly excited for Hendricks, who received a rousing standing ovation as he walked off the field in the sixth inning.

“It was well-deserved,” Swanson said. “Sometimes when you get beat down a little bit, the best thing to do is continue to get back up and push forward. And he's done that and shown not only to himself but all of us in here just the ability to persevere.”