Cubs starters had a 4.52 ERA last season with a 4.36 FIP (.288 babip) Cubs starters have a 3.40 ERA this season with a 3.72 FIP (.253 babip) the babip is the big thing; superior defense doesn't seem to account for it though (+30 team UZR last year vs. -8 this year) it's worth noting we have a real strong IFFB% (12.7% vs. 7.6% last year), which isn't properly accounted for by standard FIP