Was Chicago Cubs’ Jake Arrieta deserving of an All-Star nod?

With the Chicago Cubs in the midst of another disappointing season, the bright spots are few and far between for first-year manager Ricky Renteria’s club.

When it comes to bright spots, oftentimes Anthony Rizzo and Starlin Castro are the names mentioned. However, if you are even acutely aware of what right-hander Jake Arrieta has been doing on the north side of Chicago, his name has to be in consideration for biggest All-Star snubs.

At 5-1 with a 1.95 earned run average, it’s quickly becoming clear that he’s doing something special.

He narrowly missed out on throwing a no-hitter and a perfect game in back-to-back starts in June, and if it weren’t for Los Angeles Dodgers’ southpaw Clayton Kershaw, he would have been a no-doubt selection at National League Pitcher of the Month.

Since June 3, the former Baltimore Orioles farmhand has only one start that was less than six innings, including a string of four straight wins to cap the month of June. Since the calendar turned to July, Arrieta has posted a 2.63 ERA in two starts – both of which were no-decisions.

Although the Cubs are likely headed for another basement finish in the National League Central, there’s no doubt that the season Arrieta is putting together is worthy of All-Star recognition.

The only question moving forward in Chicago, with the right-hander signed through the 2017 season, is how long Arrieta can keep up his dominance. Before we know it, Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer may have a new ace on their hands.