Cubs' Kyle Hendricks Wins MLB ERA Title
(CBS) A Cubs pitcher won the MLB ERA title, though it wasn't the one you would've predicted before the season.
Right-hander Kyle Hendricks finished off his regular season Sunday by allowing four earned runs in five innings against the Reds, which settled his ERA at an MLB-best 2.13 for 2016. Hendricks' mark bested that of teammate Jon Lester, who was second in the big leagues with a 2.44 ERA. Mets right-hander Noah Syndergaard was third at 2.60.
The 26-year-old Hendricks became the first Cubs pitcher to win the ERA title since Bill Lee in 1938. His previous season-best ERA had been 2.46 in 80 1/3 innings as a rookie in 2014. Hendricks tossed 190 innings this season.
"I'd never thought I'd be in this situation in my career," Hendricks told the Tribune.
In 2015, Cubs right-hander Jake Arrieta won the NL Cy Young but finished second to then-Dodgers ace Zack Greinke.