29-year old righty starter/reliever Carlos Zambrano has looked pretty decent since coming off his suspension. Since July 31st, Zambrano has pitched in 7 games in which he is 2-0 with a 2.60 ERA and a 1.66 WHIP. His control has been off a tad as he has walked 20 batters while whffing 19 in his last 27.2 innings but that’s nitpicking a bit as he somehow seems to keep getting himself out of trouble. He has now pitched in 29 games (13 starts) for the Cubs this year and he is 5-6 with a 4.64 ERA and a 1.68 WHIP.

33-year old righty starting pitcher Ryan Dempster began his career as a reliever for the Cubs. In his first four years with the Cubs he pitched in 226 games (6 starts) in which he was 9-20 with 87 saves, a 4.10 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP. Three springs ago a job opened up in the starting rotation for the Cubs and Dempster wanted it. He won the job in the rotation as he has really excelled in that role the last three years for the Cubbies. In the last three years, Dempster has pitched in 85 games (all starts) and he is 36-22 with a 3.40 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. This year has has been the most consistent starter on the Cubs. He has started 21 games for the Cubs this year and he is 8-7 with a 3.71 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. You really have not heard Dempster’s name in any trade rumors this month but the Cubs could get a nice haul for him if they put him on the block.

27-year old righty closer Carlos Marmol has some of the nastiest stuff I have ever seen in my life. He has pitched in 19 games (0 starts) for the Cubs this year and he is 1-0 with 7 saves, a 1.31 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. Marmol has only allowed 12 hits in 20 2/3 innings while whiffing an absolutely amazing 40 batters! His only problem has been his control as he has walked 12 batters this season but it’s damn hard to score without hitting the baseball.

The Cubs have been getting outstanding pitching out of 27-year old lefty starter Tom Gorzelanny and 31-year old righty starter Carlos Silva so far this year. Gorzelanny has really stepped up this season for the Cubs. He has started 6 games for the Cubs so far this season and he is 1-4 with a 2.83 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. He has only given up 31 hits in 35 innings while whiffing 36 batters as his stuff has been outstanding. Improved control has been a key for him and if he continues to throw strikes he will have a outstanding year for the Cubbies. Carlos Silva was an afterthought over the winter when the Cubs got him for Milton Bradley. But due to Ted Lilly starting the season on the D.L. he won a starting job and he hasn’t looked back. Silva has started 7 games for the Cubs this season and he is 4-0 with a 3.40 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. He is getting back to throwing his power sinking fastball and he is throwing strikes. He has only walked 9 batters in 42 1/3 innings this season which is outstanding. I think he could be a huge asset to the Cubs as long as he keeps pitching like he is right now.

27-year old righty starting pitcher Randy Wells is off to a great start this season. He has started 4 games for the Cubs so far this season and he is 2-0 with a 2.49 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. He has only walked 5 batters while whiffing 19 in 25 1/3 innings so far this season as he is showing excellent control so far. Wells came out of nowhere last season for the Cubs when he started 27 games in which he was 12-10 with a 3.05 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. The Cubs weren’t sure what to expect out of Wells this season but he has been excellent and it looks like he might even be better than he was last year.