Chicago Cubs need to dump Jake Arrieta immediately
Jake Arrieta #JakeArrieta
Jake Arrieta is a garbage fire at the moment, and he doesn’t seem like the man to end the Cubs losing streak.
The Cubs have lost 10 straight games. So, who did they turn to in hopes of returning to the win column? None other than Jake Arrieta.
Were this 2015, Arrieta would’ve been the perfect pitcher to send out there. Yet, 2021 Arrieta is a less than ideal option. Especially right now. Arrieta has been awful of late, giving up seven earned runs (10 overall) in his last 1.2 innings pitched.
Arrieta’s issues date back far longer than that. On the season, he has a 5.57 ERA, and that seems generous.
Arrieta could not have had a worst start to his outing on Tuesday, giving up a first-inning grand slam to Andrew McCutchen of the Phillies before recording a single out.
The veteran righty clearly missed his location by a wide margin, and perhaps a move to the bullpen would be a wise decision by David Ross. Why Ross opted to start him today remains a mystery, frankly. The Cubs season is on the brink.
Cutch isn’t in MVP form anymore, but he’s not going to miss that. Cubs fans were rightly upset.
There were oh so many more, coming from just about every fanbase.
The Cubs deserve better than what they’re getting from Arrieta right now. If they’re not careful, these next few games could be the last for the core of Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, Javier Baez and Willson Contreras.
Tom Ricketts is watching intently.