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Posted at 12:00 PM EST. 

2:20 PM EST. Jason Vargas (LHP - NYM) left his last start with a cramp in his left calf, and while he has a 2.03 ERA over his last five games started, he can credit that to a lucky 83% strand rate and 3% hr/f. Vargas’ xERA over that stretch is 4.97 and he's struggled on the road (4.78 ERA, 5.29 xERA 1.56 WHIP). The Cubs figure to take advantage of his control issues with their 11% walk rate. We want to remind you that Vargas had left calf issues last year that caused a 2.6 hr/f rate in the first half before a rebound in the second half. This crafty vet seems to put up a rosterable period or two each year, but timing it right is always the key as ever-present HRs and hit-per-inning career rate can sting quickly. This is not the time to be getting behind him with calf issues again present.

Yu Darvish (RHP - CHC) was limited to eight starts in 2018 due to arm/shoulder woes. We noted earlier in the season that he had a "wide range of possible outcomes" heading into 2019. He got off to a very rough start, and had a 5.40 ERA 11 starts into the season. Four starts later and his ERA is still below league average at 4.65 but pay no attention, as Darvish has filthy stuff and he’s dealing it. Darvish had been extremely wild in his first 11 starts with his 15.1% BB% and 6.2 BB’s/9 being tops among all starters. However, over his last six starts he’s only walked 12 batters and has walked just one over his last two starts covering 13 innings. Yu Darvish has his control back and it’s reflected in his upper-tier 66% first-pitch strike rate over his last 31 innings. Darvish struck out 10 Dodgers in his last start with a supported 14% swing and miss rate. His swing & miss rate this year is 13% and getting better. Rarely will you find a Cubs starter under the radar but in this case, that’s precisely what we have, as Yu Darvish is back to being the dominating starter he had always been prior to last season. Darvish’s cutter breaks 167% more than average and drops 21% than average, both rating best among those with at least 200 thrown. Said one prolific batter after facing him recently, It’s gross having to face him”. What a great investment Darvish is pitching for the Cubs on a traditional Friday afternoon start at Wrigley.

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