Hendricks finishes '21 on a positive note

PITTSBURGH -- Kyle Hendricks took the PNC Park mound on Wednesday night knowing his next start would likely be as the Cubs' Opening Day starter next season. That is an unfamiliar feeling for a pitcher so familiar with the postseason.

It was one last chance to execute pitches, check some boxes and head into the winter on a better note at the tail end of a trying 2021 campaign. Hendricks did just that, turning in a solid performance in a 3-2 win over the Pirates.

"He's been so consistent," Cubs pitching coach Tommy Hottovy said. "We have taken that for granted."

Hendricks' consistency over his eight years with the Cubs -- not to mention his clutch showings in critical moments both in past seasons and on the October stage -- is precisely why this season has been so alarming. Plenty of pitchers have a tough year. This was a first for Hendricks.

And that is why Wednesday's outing had to be encouraging for the Cubs. For the past two months, as Chicago's focus has turned to the future, the veteran right-hander has been forced to find motivations beyond pitching for a job, an extension or a playoff push, as has been the case over his career.

The motivation in his personal season finale was to put the past few weeks behind him.

"I think I feel a lot better about it," Hendricks said. "I accomplished the few things I set out trying to do, to take into the offseason. So yeah, I'm glad to go into the offseason with a couple positives, for sure."

For five-plus innings, Hendricks looked more like himself. He struck out five, generated seven outs via grounders, escaped a handful of jams and carried a shutout into the sixth. Then, two hits to two batters led to a pair of runs.

Hendricks walked off the mound in a 2-1 hole, but he finished the evening with a no-decision. Fittingly, it was his catcher Willson Contreras whose go-ahead two-run double in the seventh took Hendricks off the hook.

That put the final touch on Hendricks’ season: 14 wins with a career-high 4.77 ERA. His innings total (181) was his highest since 2018 (199), and he ended the year with 131 strikeouts against 44 walks in 32 starts.

"It's clearly disappointing overall," Hendricks said. "There was a good stretch there for a minute, but everything from the start just wasn't up to par for me."

That good stretch lasted more than "a minute" for Hendricks, who is often his toughest critic. Following a tough April (a 7.54 ERA in five starts), the right-hander pieced together a 2.89 ERA with a 12-1 record over 18 outings through Aug. 6.

After that impressive run, Hendricks hit a wall. He allowed nine runs in an Aug. 12 appearance against the Brewers that halted a 16-start unbeaten streak for the righty. Including that start, he posted an 8.49 ERA in eight games leading up to Wednesday's outing.

"A lot of work has gone into him kind of getting back on track," Cubs manager David Ross said. "Identifying a couple things that we did and he could be better at, and him going out and executing those and making some changes."

Hottovy said, in a way, that Hendricks' track record of success may have worked against him at times. The pitcher has such a long history with so many hitters that he would sometimes lean on his memory of at-bats, rather than sticking with the report.

"He's almost got like that photographic memory," Hottovy said, "where he can picture somebody else getting a hit or out on a two-seamer in or a changeup down and away. So, he knows where those outs are.

"And sometimes, he'll lose sight of what makes him the best version of himself, because he knows he can go get those outs right away."

In the last few outings, Hottovy said one of Hendricks' goals was to find a better balance between instincts and scouting.

"I learned a lot again. Every year you learn a lot about yourself," Hendricks said. "I'm just excited to disconnect for a little bit, get away, but then get back after it in the offseason."

Hendricks also said he will be as curious as Cubs fans to see how the front office goes about constructing a more competitive club for 2022.

"I'll be watching real close, just like all you guys," he said. "There's nothing I can do about any of that. My whole offseason will really be about getting myself ready."

Ross laughed when asked if he was ready to name Hendricks his Opening Day starter for the third straight year.

"That's a good one," Ross replied. "To be determined, right?"