Emma: Don't Be Deceived By Kyle Hendricks

By Chris Emma--

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Foot against the rubber, Cubs right-hander Kyle Hendricks looks toward home plate with a confidence that glows brighter with each pitch.

Hendricks doesn't offer that Jake Arrieta scowl. He certainly doesn't have the imposing figure of the defending NL Cy Young winner. Yet, the 26-year-old Ivy Leaguer has joined Arrieta in the 2016 Cy Young conversation.

During the seventh inning of the Cubs' 3-0 win over the Pirates on Tuesday at Wrigley Field, Hendricks had Pittsburgh rookie first baseman Josh Bell down 0-2 in the count. He threw a two-seam fastball at 87 mph that had Bell throwing his arms out of the batter's box. The ball went through the backdoor and was called strike three. Bell couldn't believe it.

Confused looks have come in the dozens this season courtesy of Hendricks.

Hendricks' fastball tops out at 89 miles per hour and he doesn't look like Arrieta, but don't be deceived.

"Stop looking at the gun," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "This guy's really good."

Following another gem of seven shutout innings, Hendricks dropped his MLB-best ERA down to 2.09. And remember, he opened the season as the Cubs' fifth starter back in April.

Hendricks' rise hasn't come just due to strikeouts fooling hitters like Bell. In fact, Hendricks averages 7.9 strikeouts per nine innings, which ranks 38th in baseball.

What Hendricks really thrives with is creating bad contact. His soft contact rate was 26.3 percent entering Tuesday, which is the best in baseball. He currently boasts a 3.33 FIP, which is nearly the same number as last season, when he posted a 3.95 ERA. The difference is that Hendricks is mixing his pitches better and allowing the National League's best defense to do the rest.

Opposing hitters can't figure out Hendricks anymore. They are hitting .243 on batted balls, which is dramatically down from a .294 mark last season. Hendricks has always forced weak contact, but hitters used to square him up more often, too.

Now, the difference is the variation with which he mixes pitches. Hendricks used to throw his two-seamer at near a 60 percent clip. He now mixes it almost evenly with the change-up and four-seam fastball, at around 30 percent.

Hendricks has developed his curveball into a power pitch, the only of his arsenal. But the difference in this second-half surge has come with throwing his change-up mixed at the same rate as his fastballs, creating uncertainty each time the ball leaves his hand.

Suddenly, Hendricks has entered the mix as a Cy Young candidate. He's certainly deserving.

"He's the new -- I can't say the (name) -- of the league," Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo said.

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle went out and said the name Rizzo wouldn't while speaking simultaneously to reporters in the visiting clubhouse.

"I thought I was back in 1987, and I was watching Greg Maddux pitch," Hurdle said.

Hendricks would surely deny such a comparison. Maddux is a Hall of Famer and arguably the greatest pitcher in baseball history, but they now share more than the nickname of "The Professor."

It seems Hendricks has a formula that can sustain. He has always been effective as a contact pitcher but now he has constructed a way to be dominant. Similar to Arrieta, Hendricks creates constant deception by bringing a pitches that can break in a different direction each time. Hendricks just doesn't do it with the power of Arrieta.

Now, Hendricks is competing with Arrieta for the NL Cy Young Award. The common denominator between the two is Cubs pitching coach Chris Bosio, who has helped maximize their skill sets.

After struggling to consistently get hitters out last season, Hendricks never could have seen Cy Young potential in place for 2016.

"I didn't see myself being a part of that," Hendricks said. "I had my sights set a little lower."

Yes, Hendricks is fooling everyone, now, himself included.

Deception is the name of Hendricks' game. He doesn't look the part of a Cy Young, doesn't bring the fastball of a Cy Young, but he sure pitches like a Cy Young. Just watch what he's doing.

"It has to be Cy Young contention," Maddon said. "Put the radar gun in your back pocket and look at what he's doing."

Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago's sports scene and more for CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670 and like his Facebook page.