Hendricks allowed two runs on three hits while walking three and striking out six over six innings for a no-decision in Sunday's 6-2 loss to Boston.

EDGE Analysis

That's back-to-back quality starts for the 27-year-old right-hander, and he matched his season high with six K's in a game. It's also a good sign that he was able to hold the hot-hitting Red Sox lineup in check. Hendricks is sporting a mediocre 7.07 K/9 this year but is inducing 49.4 percent ground balls. He doesn't have overpowering stuff, but he limits free passes and keeps the ball out of the air. Hendricks won't be as sharp as he was in 2016, but his last two quality starts give hope to his owners that his ugly start to the year is behind him.

Hendricks will have his next scheduled start moved up from Monday against the Phillies to Sunday against the Red Sox, ESPN.com's Jesse Rogers reports.

EDGE Analysis

Hendricks had labored through his first three starts of the season, but finally found success in his most recent turn Tuesday against the Pirates, tossing six scoreless innings while giving up four hits and two walks. With the Cubs off the schedule Thursday, manager Joe Maddon will reshuffle his rotation a bit by keeping Hendricks on his normal four-day rest for Sunday's turn, while Brett Anderson gets pushed back a day. Hendricks will thus benefit from a two-start week, though fantasy owners were probably hoping for a better matchup than one against a potent Red Sox offense at Fenway Park.

Hendricks (2-1) tossed six scoreless innings against the Pirates on Tuesday, allowing four hits and two walks while striking out three in a 1-0 win.

EDGE Analysis

Last year's spectacular 2.13 ERA and 0.98 WHIP were obviously unrepeatable, but Hendricks started this season with an across-the-board statistical decline over his first three starts. This was a major improvement, but still, Hendricks' fastball averaged only 85.9 mph, per Jesse Rogers of ESPN Chicago -- a season high, but still a huge decline from last year's 87.8. Hendricks has never been mistaken for a fireballer, but this is quite low even for him. Still, at least he's on a positive trend line, and his past results have given us reason to believe that he'll continue rounding into form.

Hendricks allowed four runs on four hits (two home runs) and four walks while striking out four batters during Wednesday's win over Milwaukee.

EDGE Analysis

This was the first start of Hendricks' career that he allowed two home runs and four walks in the same outing, so all things considered, he was probably lucky to escape without a loss. After turning in a National League-best 2.13 ERA last season, the pendulum has likely swung too far in the other direction, as Hendricks now sports a 6.19 mark through his first three 2017 outings.

Hendricks (1-1) allowed three runs on six hits and two walks across five innings in Friday's 4-2 loss to the Pirates. He struck out three.

EDGE Analysis

Hendricks looked relatively comfortable and allowed just one run through five innings, but he allowed the first two men to reach in the sixth and was pulled before Justin Grimm allowed them both to score. His command was a bit off by his standards, but he still managed to throw 63 percent of his pitches for strikes and was simply made to pay for location-related mistakes. After an outstanding 2016 campaign, Hendricks has underachieved through his first two starts and will carry an unsightly 5.73 ERA to go along with a 1.27 WHIP into Wednesday's outing against the Brewers.

Hendricks (1-0) gave up four runs on five hits and a walk in six innings Saturday, though he struck out six and came away with a win over the Brewers.

EDGE Analysis

He uncharacteristically gave up a pair of homers -- Hendricks allowed just 15 in 30 starts last year -- but he also helped his own cause with a run-scoring infield single. Despite being the Cubs' third-best starter, he's lining up fifth in the rotation right now, which may provide Hendricks extra opportunities to rack up wins, as he's better by far than any other team's No. 5 (like Saturday's starter for the Brewers, Tommy Milone). However, his next start is scheduled for Friday afternoon at home against young Pirates ace Gerrit Cole.

Hendriks allowed two hits and no runs over five innings in Friday's exhibition against Houston.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander looked sharp throughout the contest, a final tune-up before the season gets underway. Hendriks had been battling food poisoning over the past week, but it appears all systems are go as he prepares for his first start, next Saturday in Milwaukee. He'll be looking to build upon a strong 2016 campaign in which he posted a career-best 2.13 ERA over 30 starts.

Hendricks flew back to the Cubs' facility Monday morning after battling food poisoning late Saturday evening, Bruce Levine of 670thescore.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Hendricks said Monday that his illness was caused by a late night trip to Taco Bell that did not sit well. Fortunately, the 27-year-old will have plenty of time to get himself ready to go for the regular season considering that he is not slated to start for the Cubs until their fifth game.

Hendricks will pitch in the team's fifth game of the season April 8 in Milwaukee, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

Manager Joe Maddon didn't want lefties Brett Anderson and Jon Lester to pitch in consecutive days, so he put Anderson fourth and Hendricks fifth. That means Lester will follow Hendricks in the rotation. But make no mistake, Hendricks is not a typical No. 5 starter-he led the majors with a 2.13 ERA last season.

Hendricks said his goal this season is to toss at least 200 innings, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Hendricks threw 190 innings last season, finishing 16-8 with a MLB-best 2.13 ERA . He threw 180 innings in 2015, so he's hoping he can increase by 10 once again. "Two-hundred innings," Hendricks said. "Especially with the staff we've got, everybody holds each other pretty accountable for going deep into games. I definitely want to be on that bandwagon." The righty won't rack up a ton of strikeouts, but he should be very good in the wins, ERA and WHIP categories once again for fantasy owners.