With several free agents still not signed, how will the Chicago Cubs starting rotation look on Opening Day?<\/p>\n
Blake Snell<\/a> and Jordan Montgomery<\/a> remain unsigned.\u00a0 Young arms in Jordan Wicks<\/a> and Javier Assad<\/a> are looking to make their mark.\u00a0 There is still plenty of uncertainty as we are about two weeks away from the beginning of spring training.\u00a0 However, the starting rotation for the Chicago Cubs is starting to take form.<\/p>\n Obviously, if the Cubs can sign one of the remaining top-end free agents, the rotation will look different.\u00a0 Pairing someone like Snell or Montgomery with Justin Steele<\/a> would be a formidable 1-2 punch.\u00a0 However, the likelihood of either of these starters being at the top of their wish list is less likely than trying to re-sign<\/a> Cody Bellinger<\/a>. Would they have money left over?\u00a0 It is more likely they will go after a top-of-the-rotation arm at the trade deadline if they are in the hunt for the playoffs.<\/p>\n Therefore, it is looking more likely that the Cubs will start the year just as they ended it.\u00a0 They do have a stockpile of great young arms, including Wicks and Assad.\u00a0 Ben Brown<\/a> and Caleb Kilian<\/a> may be valuable members of the starting rotation, but it may not be in 2024<\/a>.\u00a0 Given their trade market activity, Brown and Kilian could be key parts of a deal.\u00a0 The best guess is Wrigley\u2019s best will feature some youth when they open the season against the reigning World Series champion Texas Rangers.<\/p>\n Given all of these factors, here is my best guess on what the starting rotation will look like in late March:<\/p>\n Justin Steele is still a top-of-the-line starter who could make another run at the Cy Young Award this season. Steele finished fifth in Cy Young voting last season after putting up the best season of his career. The southpaw led the Cubs in wins, going 16-5 with a 3.06 ERA. Steele threw a career-high 173 1\/3 innings, striking out a career-best 176 and walking 36. He also earned his first All-Star Game bid. He enters this season as Chicago’s projected Opening Day starter.<\/p>\n Jameson Taillon has to be more consistent for the Cubs to be successful.\u00a0 Last season was a classic Jekyll and Hyde season for Taillon.\u00a0 He began the year going 2-6 for the first three months, never working more than six innings in any start.\u00a0 When the calendar turned to July, Taillon proved he could be a top-three starter.\u00a0 Taillon went 6-4 the rest of the way, allowing more than three earned runs only four times in 16 starts.\u00a0 If he can find this rhythm for the full 2024 season, Taillon will be an innings eater for the Cubs.<\/p>\n Jameson Taillon (Last 9 Starts)<\/p>\n 50.1 IP Opponents: Looking forward to his 2024 season\ud83d\udcaa pic.twitter.com\/tfkTsFH4Ha<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Chief Cub (@ChiefCub) January 26, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\nChicago Cubs Projected Starting Rotation<\/h2>\n
The Starting Five<\/h3>\n
\n
Justin Steele<\/h3>\n
Jameson Taillon<\/h3>\n
\n
\n3.04 ERA
\n1.03 WHIP
\n24.0 K%
\n4.4 BB%<\/p>\n
\nat – DET, CIN, COL, ATL, MIL
\nvs – KC, MIL, AZ, COL<\/p>\n