Chicago Cubs pitcher Marcus Stroman missed one month with shoulder inflammation.
He was out from June 3 to July 9 while dealing with the ailment.
He had a rough season until hitting the shelf.
Once he got healthy, however, he seems like a different pitcher.
“Marcus Stroman has tossed three straight quality starts! He has a 1.67 ERA in five outings since returning from the IL,” the Cubs Twitter account wrote on Thursday after his start against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Marcus Stroman has tossed three straight quality starts!
He has a 1.67 ERA in five outings since returning from the IL. pic.twitter.com/7oWfOb48YA
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) August 4, 2022
Facing a strong lineup, the right-hander gave up three earned runs in 6.2 innings, while allowing five hits.
He didn’t walk anyone and struck out six hitters against the Cards.
A healthy Stroman is a capable number two or number three starter on any staff.
He has been tasked with leading the Cubs’ rotation together with Kyle Hendricks.
A Good Season For Stroman, Not So Much For The Cubs
For the season as a whole, Stroman has a 4.00 ERA in 74.1 innings, with 68 strikeouts and a 1.14 WHIP.
The Cubs would surely love for that ERA to come down, but it’s trending in that direction if his last five starts are any indication.
That 1.67 ERA in five outings since coming off the IL is proof of what he can do when he is fully healthy.
The 41-61 Cubs are last in the NL Central, though, so things haven’t gone exactly as planned for them.
It will be another season without playoffs, but the franchise, and Stroman, hope they can get back to contention in 2023.
They will have to play their cards right to do so.
Stroman, who signed a three-year deal with Chicago before the season, will be around to lead the rotation once again next year.
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