The Cubs exercised Hendricks' $16 million club option for 2024 on Sunday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.
The veteran right-hander posted a 4.78 ERA between the 2021 and 2022 campaigns, but he rebounded last season with a 3.74 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 93:27 K:BB in 137 innings. Hendricks will enter 2024 with a secure spot in the middle of Chicago's rotation, though his fantasy ceiling is capped by his low strikeout numbers.
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Cubs' Kyle Hendricks: Coughs up three runs
Rotowire
Hendricks allowed three runs on five hits and three walks over 4.1 innings in Friday's loss to Milwaukee. He struck out two and did not factor in the decision.
Hendricks turned in four shutout frames before stumbling in the fifth inning. He threw just 41 of 73 pitches for strikes and failed to complete at least five innings for the first time since Aug. 4. Hendricks registered a 4.39 ERA in five September starts and finished the 2023 season with a 3.74 ERA and a 93:27 K:BB through 137 frames.
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Cubs' Kyle Hendricks: Takes loss Thursday
Rotowire
Hendricks (6-8) allowed three runs (one earned) on seven hits across six innings to take the loss Thursday against the Pirates. He walked two and struck out five.
Hendricks pitched well enough, but the Cubs didn't score until the seventh inning and the veteran righty ended up with the loss. This was his first time covering at least six innings this month, and he lowered his season ERA to a solid 3.66. Hendricks has been his typical pitch-to-contact self this year with only 91 strikeouts across 132.2 innings, though he's still managed to be effective. He's in line to start next against Atlanta on the road, which figures to be a challenging matchup and could be his last outing of the regular season.
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Cubs' Kyle Hendricks: Decent in no-decision
Rotowire
Hendricks allowed three runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out three over 5.1 innings in a no-decision versus the Diamondbacks on Saturday.
Hendricks has pitched into the sixth inning without completing it in three straight starts. He's allowed 10 runs (nine earned) over 16.1 innings in that span, though he's also recorded a 12:2 K:BB in September. The right-hander has continued to provide decent but not outstanding work this year, posting a 3.77 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 86:22 K:BB through 126.2 innings across 22 starts. He's lined up for a home start versus the Rockies in his next outing.
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Cubs' Kyle Hendricks: Notches sixth win
Rotowire
Hendricks (6-7) allowed two runs on seven hits and a walk over 5.2 innings Sunday, striking out four and earning a win over the Diamondbacks.
Hendricks tossed four shutout frames before Arizona finally broke through with a run in the fifth inning. He coughed up five runs (four earned) against the Giants in his last start but had a streak of five straight appearances with three or fewer runs allowed prior to that. Over his last seven starts, Hendricks has registered a 3.15 ERA, dropping his season mark to 3.71 through 121.1 frames. His next outing is currently projected to be a rematch in Arizona.
Hendricks did not factor into the decision Wednesday, allowing one unearned run on four hits and two walks over six innings in a 3-2 win over the Brewers. He struck out six.
Hendricks appeared poised for the win Wednesday, but a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch with two outs in the eighth inning tied the game 2-2, leaving the 33-year-old right-hander with a no-decision. Hendricks has allowed two runs or fewer in four of his last five starts, though he's only been able to pick up one win in that span. He's 5-7 on the season with a 3.59 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 74:20 K:BB across 19 starts (110.1 innings). Hendricks is currently lined up for a home matchup with the Giants in his next outing.
Cubs' Kyle Hendricks: Hit with loss despite solid outing
Rotowire
Hendricks (5-7) took the loss Friday, allowing two runs on six hits and one walk over 5.2 innings against the Pirates. He struck out four.
Hendricks allowed a leadoff single to Ke'Bryan Hayes followed by a Bryan Reynolds double that eventually led to both Pirates runs, but he held the Bucs in check for the rest of his outing. The crafty vet now has a 3.13 ERA over his past four starts and holds a solid 3.80 ERA with a 1.14 WHIP and 68 strikeouts over 104.1 innings on the season. His next start is currently scheduled to take place in the friendly confines of Wrigley Field next week against Milwaukee.
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Cubs' Kyle Hendricks: Looks sharp in fifth win
Rotowire
Hendricks (5-6) allowed one run on five hits across six innings to earn the win Sunday against the Royals. He walked one and struck out three.
It was a pretty typical stat line for Hendricks, as the veteran did a good job of controlling the Kansas City lineup even without a ton of strikeouts. The righty now has a solid 3.83 ERA this season, though he has only 64 strikeouts in 98.1 innings of work. Fantasy managers can still use Hendricks in the right spots, but they'll just need to look elsewhere for strikeouts. He lines up to take the mound again Friday against Pittsburgh, which looks like a promising matchup.
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Cubs' Kyle Hendricks: Quality start in no-decision
Rotowire
Hendricks did not factor into the decision Tuesday, allowing three runs on seven hits and two walks over six innings against the White Sox. He struck out four.
Hendricks allowed six baserunners and three runs through the first two innings but settled in, retiring 14 of the final 17 batters he faced to notch his ninth quality start of the year. After the soft-tossing hurler was roughed up by Atlanta on Aug. 4, Hendricks has produced more respectable results in his last two outings, allowing five earned runs with a 10:4 K:BB across 11 innings during that stretch. He is currently slated to face the Royals at Wrigley Field over the weekend.
Hendricks allowed two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out six batters over five innings in a no-decision against the Mets on Wednesday.
Hendricks was staked to an early 2-0 lead, but the Mets tied the game on a Pete Alonso two-run homer in the fourth. That was the only time Hendricks allowed runs to cross the plate, but it was enough to send him to a no-decision. The veteran right-hander didn't pitch deep enough to grab a quality start, but he did bounce back well from a seven-run, four-inning loss against Atlanta his last time out. Hendricks also posted his highest strikeout game this season with his six punchouts Wednesday.
Cubs' Kyle Hendricks: Rough outing against Atlanta
Rotowire
Hendricks (4-6) took the loss Friday, allowing seven runs on eight hits over four innings against Atlanta. He struck out three without issuing a walk.
Hendricks had been pitching well, posting a 3.26 ERA and 0.98 WHIP in his last three starts coming into Friday, but he ran into the buzzsaw that is the Atlanta lineup. The NL East leaders hit three home runs in the game -- two against Hendricks -- to tie the 2019 Twins for the most home runs through 107 games in MLB history, per Sarah Langs of MLB.com. Hendricks has shown this season that he still has some of his old magic, but the right-hander will remain susceptible to the occasional blowup given his lack of whiffs.
