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Arrieta continues to prove 'elite' status in NL

'I'm never satisfied,' Cubs starter says after 3-hit, 10-K outing

ATLANTA -- In his last six starts, Jake Arrieta has given up five earned runs over 46 2/3 innings for a 0.96 ERA. And both he and Cubs manager Joe Maddon feel the right-hander can only get better.

Arrieta picked up his career-high 11th win Sunday in the Cubs' 4-1 victory over the Braves. He scattered three hits over seven scoreless innings, striking out 10, which matched his season high.

"We've talked about him being among the elite pitchers in the National League and he proved it again today," Maddon said.

The outing wasn't without a rough spot. Arrieta walked two batters in a 22-pitch first inning before settling down.

"I was a little too fine early in the game," he said. "I recognized it. There were some close pitches, some checked swings, some balls that maybe could've gone either way."

Maddon said he almost expects a moment in every start when Arrieta is "out of sorts."

"In the early part of the game, he'll go through a moment where things just aren't right and then he'll find his rhythm and flow and things take off," Maddon said. "I don't get too freaked out by it because I've seen it before."

Sunday marked the sixth double-digit strikeout game of Arrieta's career, and he's now given up two or fewer runs in six consecutive starts, the third longest active streak in the Major Leagues.

"I'm never satisified," Arrieta said. "I feel there's always room to get better and especially on the finer details of this game. That's what I try to do every week."

"He's just figuring everything out right now," Maddon said. "I hate to tell you, but there's more in the tank there, and another level. As he gets more self awareness and is able to deal with all these weapons that he has, he'll get better."

Carrie Muskat is a reporter for MLB.com. She writes a blog, Muskat Ramblings. You can follow her on Twitter @CarrieMuskat and listen to her podcast.
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