CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs have a Superman and a Clark Kent in their starting rotation. While they are different guys, the latter might end up with the same award as the former: Cy Young.

Kyle Hendricks -- the Clark Kent to Jake Arrieta's Superman in this scenario -- tossed seven shutout, pain-free innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 3-0 win, continuing a run of dominance that is both remarkable and familiar.

"The confidence is obviously playing a big part," Hendricks said in his mild-mannered way. "It's just consistency, I think. Today, I just felt really good. My fastball command was really good. My curveball might the best it's been all year."

First, the remarkable. Hendricks has allowed two runs or fewer in six straight starts, three or fewer in 18 straight, and no more than four all season. His 2.09 ERA is the best in the majors, 0.40 better than San Francisco ace Madison Bumgarner in second.

"He knows how to attack hitters and he studies hitters," first baseman Anthony Rizzo said. "And he went to Dartmouth and has a really good education, so he out-tricks guys."

It's not just the results and the consistency that stands out about Hendricks. It's how he's getting it done. There are 82 pitchers in the majors with enough innings to qualify for the ERA title. Only four have a lower average fastball velocity than Hendricks' 87.7 miles per hour. And two of those four are knuckleballers.

"He was really good again," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "It's really fun to watch from the side. Just really good command of everything."

Now, the familiar. Hendricks' outing was well timed. After using eight pitchers during a 13-inning, five-hour win over the Pirates on Monday, Maddon was hoping for a brisk affair Tuesday. As usual, Hendricks delivered. He's 3-0 with a 0.79 ERA this season when starting after an extra-innings game.

"At the end of the day, in order to save a bullpen, you have to go out and make good pitches," Hendricks said. "The same mindset I try to always have. When you have a little more on the line, you try to simplify even more. That's what I was trying to do today."

The win capped a perfect August for Hendricks, during which he went 4-0 with a 1.28 ERA. He's now 9-1 with a 1.21 ERA this season at Wrigley Field.

Rizzo hit his 26th homer in the first inning, a two-run shot that provided Hendricks all the support he would need. It was his first homer since Aug. 14. But, like everyone else, it was Hendricks whom Rizzo wanted to talk about after the game.

"Everyone is throwing 90-plus," Rizzo said. "He's just doing his thing. He's throwing his 87-88 balls, and he just executes so well with his changeup, curveball and slider."

There's another hint of familiarity in what Hendricks has been doing. With a season-long streak of consistent elite pitching, he's echoing the results of Arrieta, a power righty and the starting staff's Superman. It was Arrieta, of course, who rode an almost-unprecedented streak of dominance to last season's Cy Young Award. Hendricks goes about things very, very differently.

"It's not unlike it," Maddon said. "It's just a different method. Jake was a little more power, obvious power. I've always believed in the power changeup; I think [Hendricks] has a power changeup. The movement on his fastball, Jake had the freaky movement on his fastball. So does Kyle. Maybe it's not as hard, but still equally effective.

"Give him credit. Stop looking at the gun. He's really good."

The Cubs have had just five Cy Young Award winners and never have they won the award in back-to-back seasons. Hendricks is building his case, one start of quiet excellence after another.

"It has to be Cy Young contention," Maddon said. "Put the radar gun in your back pocket and look at what he's doing. That has to be strong consideration, not just consideration."

And yet, as he did after Hendricks' last outing, Arrieta reminded his younger teammate that he's not conceding anything, even after allowing a season-worst six runs in Monday's 8-7 win in 13 innings.

"He got me a little bit tonight," Hendricks said. "Obviously, he was disappointed in his night last night, [but it was] a great team win coming back in that one. He's still on me, still saying don't sleep on him quite yet."

With the Cubs nursing a 14-game lead in the NL Central, and with their magic number down to 18, maybe the biggest chase is one from the bizarro universe. You know, where Superman actually turns into Clark Kent.