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The Chicago Cubs beat the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday by a score of 7-2. The Cubs were led by a five-run fifth inning and a dominant performance on the mound by ace Marcus Stroman.

The right-hander went six innings, allowing four hits and two runs to go along with two walks and five strikeouts.

With the win, Stroman moved to 8-4 on the year with a 2.45 ERA.

He's at the top of the Cubs rotation, especially with the injury to Justin Steele, and is also at the top of baseball in this impressive category:

Per @Codifybaseball on Twitter:

Most starts so far this season, 6+ innings and no more than 2 runs allowed: 

Marcus Stroman, 13 

Gerrit Cole, 10 

Chris Bassitt, 10 

Kevin Gausman, 9 

Clayton Kershaw, 9 

Shane McClanahan, 9 

Framber Valdez, 9

I mean, those are some of the biggest and most recognizable names in all of baseball, so for Stroman to be running away with that list indicates just how good a season he is having on the Northside.

The 32-year-old is in his second year with the Cubs after signing there before the 2022 season. He's in his ninth year in the majors but his tenth around Major League Baseball (he did not play in the COVID 2020 season). He spent six years with the Toronto Blue Jays, two years with the Mets organization and these two with the Cubs.

He owns a 75-71 career record with a 3.53 ERA. He's been named an All-Star and has won a Gold Glove.

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