I’m still in awe of that performance from Kyle Hendricks, who missed out on being a Maddux for just three pitches. You could see live how masterful it was, even without taking into account the strange context of Opening Day, but then you check the data and it just gets better.
There are obvious things, which are fantastic and totally won: full game, shutout, only three hits, no walks, nine strikeouts, never threatened.
The teacher was quite ruthless on the first day of class. pic.twitter.com/MUlLi77CTj
– Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) July 25, 2020
Hendricks not only struck out nine, he also received 19 (!) Swing shots from 103 pitches. By context, that swing rate of 18.4% is two percentage points higher than that of any pitcher last season during the course of the year. It was just a start, but what I’m saying is that, last night, Kyle Hendricks was most unpleasant that Gerrit Cole or Jacob deGrom or Max Scherzer or Justin Verlander in one of his typical beginnings.
Hendricks also scored 12 (!) Ground Falls in the game (61.9% Ground Ball Rate) against just four flying starts. Get it: Along with strikeouts, 21 of the 27 outs he recorded really had no chance of causing any real damage.
Speaking of damage, even when the Brewers made contact, Hendricks was simply not being hit at all:
Take a look at the expected batting average on balls in play against Kyle Hendricks last night. Not only did he strike out 9, but when the ball was in play, only TWICE the quality of the contact indicated a probability greater than 50% of a shot. TWICE. pic.twitter.com/9xDDYkpQ3c
– Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) July 25, 2020
The strikeout that caught my attention the most was the perfect sequence against Keston Hiura early, going up and in with the two-seater, and immediately going down and away with the curved ball, with both pitches looking exactly the same for Hiura. the time you have to commit. The placement of these shades is incredibly perfect:
Kyle Hendricks, 89mph Two Seamer and 74mph Curveball, Overlay. pic.twitter.com/CCXPXjx2zf
– Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 24, 2020
More fun bits:
9+ strikeouts, no walkout strikes on opening day since 1901:
Kyle Hendricks today
Chris Short 1968
Bob Gibson 1967– Jeremy Frank (@MLBRandomStats) July 25, 2020
Tonight, @Cubs’ Kyle Hendricks became the first pitcher to throw a CG shutout with more than 9 strikeouts, 0 walks and 3 or fewer hits allowed on opening day since Ledell Titcomb did it for the Giants. New York on April 20, 1888. # WhereStoriesPlay
– Statistics by STATS (@StatsBySTATS) July 25, 2020
Kyle Hendricks had 19 swing shots tonight against Brewers. That’s the second in a game in his career, just behind the 21 he had on June 4 of last year. (via @statcast)
– Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) July 25, 2020
2 to 8 in the Brewers lineup combined to hit 3 balls out of Kyle Hendricks’ box last night. 0 for 23/9 K’s
– Jim Deshaies (@JimDeshaies) July 25, 2020
Kyle Hendricks, winner of NL Cy Young: pic.twitter.com/8Xkhl54Jn0
– Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) July 25, 2020
A very happy Hendricks received some love from his teammates after the game:
Kyle Hendricks described being on the mound tonight on Cubs Postgame Live! pic.twitter.com/ics82Y2V7u
– Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) July 25, 2020
