Keegan Thompson

On a shaky Chicago pitching staff, Thompson emerged as something of a bright spot in 2022. The righty made 29 appearances and 17 starts, logging a career-high 115 innings while recording a 3.76 ERA and striking out 108 batters. That came on the heels of a solid MLB debut in 2021, when he recorded a 3.38 ERA and 55 strikeouts across 53.1 innings. Thompson had a 5.15 FIP in 2021 and 4.39 FIP last year, so some regression may be coming to his ERA, though his decent strikeout totals lend some degree of optimism moving forward. Thompson finished 2021 in a relief role after a stint on the injured list due to back tightness, though he figures to compete for a rotation spot in 2023. Marcus Stroman should lead the staff, with Kyle Hendricks behind him when healthy. Outside of those two veterans, the Cubs don't have a ton of proven starters, so Thompson could end up with pretty good job security if he pitches well. Read Past Outlooks