Hendricks leaned on control, firing a season-high 108 pitches to five innings and limiting damage as the Angels leveraged timely hits. His performance underscored his ability to navigate a high-stakes start and buy time for the bullpen to close.

Kyle Hendricks, The Professor, retires after 12 seasons, including a 2016 peak with elite ERA+ and a storied 81-pitch CG vs St. Louis. His finish in Anaheim and potential Cubs front-office move frame him as a rare pitcher-turned-executive asset for player development.

Hendricks leans on a changeup to induce weak contact, while a fading sinker and a vulnerable curveball dampen upside; he’s a cautious Week 26 streamer with matchup-oriented value.

Hendricks matched the duel with seven scoreless frames, surrendering three hits and fanning five while mixing a changeup to deny Rockies power. His efficiency and off-speed control kept Colorado’s bats quiet, contributing to a vintage effort that underscored his late-career reliability.

Seven strong innings for Hendricks in a comeback start, allowing three hits with five strikeouts and no walks, following a rough prior outing; the veteran looks more like his old self in a pivotal late-season push.