Chicago Cubs: 4 disappointments who should be replaced at the trade deadline

3. The Cubs need more from starter Zach Davies

If I would’ve told you in the middle of last season the Cubs will replace Yu Darvish with Zach Davies, you probably would have laughed. That’s exactly what happened, and Davies hasn’t been completely terrible, but he’s certainly no Darvish.

To his credit, Davies’ 2021 statistics are a bit skewed due to how bad some individual outings have been. In his 17 starts, the Cubs have a 10-7 record, although they haven’t exactly been dominant. Davies owns a 4.32 ERA, 1.428 WHIP, and a 4.53 FIP over 83.1 innings this season. Those numbers aren’t terrible, but they’re far from great.

An average of 4.9 innings per start is the problem. It’s not going to get the job done, and as great as the Cubs bullpen has been, it’s asking too much for five-plus innings every fifth day on top of bailing out the rest of the rotation.

Since May 1, Davies has allowed four or more runs just twice in 12 starts. Take out those two starts where he allowed 12 total runs in 10.1 innings, and Davies holds a 1.33 ERA in 54 innings.

That’s the kind of production the Cubs desperately need from another starter outside of Kyle Hendricks. The next steps for Davies is to pitch deeper into games.

He’s no Darvish, but Davies will stay in the rotation as long as he gives the team a chance to win. The only problem with not consistently shutting down opposing teams it puts more of a burden on the struggling offense.