Matt Clement has been a solid pitcher for the Chicago Cubs over the last few years. With the strength of the Cubs rotation in 2004, Clement was a a huge asset as their fifth starter (behind Mark Prior, Kerry Wood, Carlos Zambrano and Greg Maddux). When compared to all other fifth starters in baseball, he had the lowest opponent OPS (on-base plus slugging) at .692. In fact, based on his effectiveness, Clement would be considered more like the third starter on the Cubs, and he ranked first among third starters in MLB as well. The problem is, he's on his way to signing with another club through free agency. How does it look like his replacement, Glendon Rusch, might fare in next year's rotation?

With key injuries during the season to Prior and Wood, Rusch started sixteen games for the Cubs in 2004. Amazingly, as effective as Clement was, Rusch had an even better opponent OPS (.686). This opponent OPS ranks Rusch first among all third, fourth, fifth or sixth starters in baseball.