In Arrieta’s last seven starts, he’s 7-0 with a 0.36 ERA (2 ER / 50 1/3 IP). A win Thursday would make Arrieta the first Cubs pitcher to win eight straight starts since Milt Pappas won 11 in a row in 1972.
Arrieta also is riding a string of 15 quality starts, dating back to June 21. During that stretch he is 12-1 with a 0.99 ERA. A 16th straight quality start on Thursday would make him the first Cubs pitcher in the last 100 years to accomplish the feat.