If there was any good news to come out of the Cubs’ quick four-game departure from the NLCS, it was that Jake Arrieta didn’t have to add more innings to his heavily worked right arm.
In his previous five seasons in the majors, which include no postseason appearances, Arrieta’s innings pitched have looked like this in reverse chronological order: 156.2, 75.1, 114.2, 119.1 and 100.1.
This season, the 29-year-old logged 229 innings in the regular season and added 19.2 in three postseason starts, giving him a major-league high 248.1. Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers was next with 246.1, followed by Astros’ Dallas Keuchel (246), Blue Jays’ David Price (243.1) and Royals’ Johnny Cueto (237), according to Bill Chuck on Gammons Daily.
Ten pitchers exceeded 225 innings this season. Only the Royals’ Edinson Volquez (3,752) threw more pitches than Arrieta’s 3,742.
From Bill Chuck:
This season, including the postseason, there were 32 pitchers who threw over 200 innings, down from the 41 in both 2013 and 2014, the 39 in 2012, and the 45 in 2011.
