Jon Lester’s Great Year Sets a Cubs Record and Other Bullets

Oct 01, 2015

A couple big things earlier this morning if you didn’t see: the Cubs won their motion to have the rooftops’ lawsuit dismissed, and the Cubs will not be hosting a Wild Card Game viewing party at Wrigley Field (but please drop a comment in that post if you’re interested in a BN get-together somewhere in Wrigleyville to watch the game).

Jon Lester’s debut season – regular season edition – with the Chicago Cubs wrapped up last night with an eight-inning gem against the Reds. Despite a dead arm in Spring Training that freaked everyone out, Lester made all 32 of his starts this season (continuing an incredible streak of starting at least 31 games every season since his rookie year). Moreover, despite periodic performance freak outs from the impatient corners of Cubs fandom, in the fullness of time, Lester was as good as advertised this year. Consider the following:

Lester’s 3.34 ERA was his best – outside of last year’s career-best 2.46 – since 2010.

His 2.93 FIP was the best of his career, again, outside of last year’s 2.80.

His 3.07 xFIP was the best of his career. Full stop.

His 5.0 WAR was just shy of the 5.5 mark he put up last year in a season everyone agreed was incredible. The last time he was over 5.0 was 2009.

Lester’s ERA was 15th best in the NL. His FIP was 8th best. His xFIP was 6th best. His WAR was 8th best.

Moreover, with his strikeouts last night, Lester reached 207 on the season, which is a new record for lefty Cubs starters (Ken Holtzman, 202 in 1970).

Starlin Castro’s continued break-back-out (more on that in a bit) has given Joe Maddon an abundance of options at second base for the Wild Card Game, and he’s not letting anyone know just yet which way he’s leaning (Tribune). It’s tricky because it’s just one game, and it’s going to be against a righty – Gerrit Cole – who is especially tough on righties. Castro is probably the best offensive option right now … but Tommy La Stella bats lefty, and he’s hitting well, too. But in a probably-low-scoring game, Javy Baez’s superior defense might be even more valuable. Hell, I can make an argument for getting one of those guys in there over even Addison Russell. I won’t make that argument, because I think Russell’s still the best overall option at shortstop, but the fact that you could even argue it is incredible.

One thing the Cubs haven’t done well this year: getting guys home from third with fewer than two outs.

Scoreboard Watching.

A couple very, very fun tweets:

Addison Russell ranks 4th in MLB in Defensive Runs Saved at 2B

Addison Russell also ranks 4th in MLB in Defensive Runs Saved at SS

— Mark Simon (@msimonespn) September 30, 2015

@BleacherNation a few angles of Edwards batting vs Chapman last night pic.twitter.com/jqTLSBkbjR

— Adam Prohovnik (@AProhovnik) September 30, 2015

written by

Brett Taylor

Brett Taylor is the Lead Cubs Writer at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @BleacherNation and on LinkedIn here. Brett is also the founder of Bleacher Nation, which opened up shop in 2008 as an independent blog about the Chicago Cubs. Later growing to incorporate coverage of other Chicago sports, Bleacher Nation is now one of the largest regional sports blogs on the web.

more cubs news

Chicago Cubs

Jed Hoyer on Seiya Suzuki’s Injury and Timeline (And a Tiny Bit of Optimism)

Last season, before the first Cactus League game of the year (on February 25), Seiya Suzuki injured his oblique and missed all of Spring Training. From there, he needed 42 days before he began his Minor League rehab assignment (on...

Michael Cerami

Apr 16, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Downtown Ben Brown, Bad Ben Brown, Big Ben Brown – Whatever You Call Him, He Was Awesome Again

The Chicago Cubs have played 16 games so far this season. Of those 16 games, a Cubs starter has made it through 6.0 innings of work exactly three times: (1) Shota Imanaga against the Rockies in the home opener, (2)...

Michael Cerami

Apr 16, 2024

Chicago Cubs

His Record-Tying Home Run Streak is Not the Only Recent Good News on Michael Busch

Michael Busch did not waste any time yesterday extending his home run streak to five games, homering in his first at bat last night, tying the Chicago Cubs' record in the process. https://twitter.com/Cubs/status/1780053231541887428 If Busch does it again tonight, he'll...

Brett Taylor

Apr 16, 2024

Chicago Cubs

MLBits: Rangers Calling Up Jack Leiter, Marlins Demote Max Meyer Despite Strong Start, More

The Rangers and Marlins are two clubs heading in opposite directions right now. And their transaction sheets tell you all that you need to know. Texas is calling up Jack Leiter, while Miami demoted Max Meyer, who has been their...

Patrick K. Flowers

Apr 16, 2024

Chicago Cubs

The Cubs Offense Has Completely Vanished (And at the Worst Possible Time)

Through their first 11 games of the season, the Chicago Cubs offense scored a total of 71 runs (or 6.45 runs per game). In their last five games, they've scored a combined 14 runs (or 2.8 runs per game). That's...

Michael Cerami

Apr 16, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Interesting Night from Fill-In, Multi-Inning Closer Keegan Thompson

We are still less than a year removed from a time when Keegan Thompson was expected to be a critical part of the Chicago Cubs' bullpen. He had been so good transitioning into a multi-inning role in 2021 and 2022...

Brett Taylor

Apr 16, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Cubs Farm Report | April 16, 2024: Studs and Duds of the Week

With no minor league action on Mondays, I figured we would use Tuesdays to highlight some of the best and worst performances on the Cubs farm over the last week. Triple-A Iowa Cubs Studs & Duds of the Week Luis...

Patrick K. Flowers

Apr 16, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Nico Hoerner’s Extremely High Hit and Two Even Higher Ones in Recent Memory

By now you've seen Nico Hoerner's jarringly-high game-winning hit from last night's game against the Diamondbacks, and I've kinda been chuckling about it all morning. I thought Sarah Langs offered some fun context for just how high that pitch was:...

Brett Taylor

Apr 16, 2024

Chicago Cubs

NO WAY! Michael Busch Ties Cubs HR History with Yet ANOTHER Home Run

Coming into tonight's game, Michael Busch had homered in four straight contests. The streak was notable enough for all the obvious reasons, but it was especially interesting because all four long balls came with two strikes and all four came...

Michael Cerami

Apr 15, 2024

Chicago Cubs

STUD: Nico Hoerner Won That Game for the Cubs With Sheer Will

In a game where a rookie pitching prospect makes the best start of his career, a key set-up man has a bounceback performance after a rough start to his season, and a formerly dominant reliever toiling away in Triple-A comes...

Michael Cerami

Apr 16, 2024

NBA Prop Bets

Zion Williamson Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Lakers – Tuesday, April 16, 2024

On Tuesday at 7:30 PM ET, the New Orleans Pelicans meet the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Play-In Tournament, and Zion Williamson's 3-pointer over/under for this matchup requires just one triple.Zion Williamson's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the LakersZion Williamson's...

Luis Escalante

Apr 16, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Jed Hoyer on Seiya Suzuki’s Injury and Timeline (And a Tiny Bit of Optimism)

Michael Cerami

Apr 16, 2024

How to Watch

Tigers vs. Rangers: Free Live Stream, TV Channel, How to Watch

The Detroit Tigers (9-7), with Tarik Skubal on the mound, host the Texas Rangers (9-8) who will counter with Dane Dunning, at 1:10 PM ET on Wednesday.Keep reading to find out how to watch the Detroit-Texas matchup in the article...

Sam Russell

Apr 16, 2024

2024 Geico 500 Odds from Talladega Superspeedway

Betting

Geico 500 Odds from NASCAR Talladega Superspeedway: Bet this Bottom of the Board Longshot

Get ready for white-knuckle racing and unpredictable finishes as NASCAR descends on the legendary Talladega Superspeedway. Let's check out the 2024 GEICO 500 odds from the track nicknamed "Dega" by fans. Talladega's high banks and long straightaways create thrilling pack...

Brian Twining

Apr 16, 2024

NBA Prop Bets

Stephen Curry Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Kings – Tuesday, April 16, 2024

Stephen Curry needs to make six 3-pointers to beat his prop when the Golden State Warriors play the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday at 10:00 PM ET, in the NBA Play-In Tournament.Stephen Curry's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the KingsStephen Curry's over/under...

Luis Escalante

Apr 16, 2024

NBA Prop Bets

Domantas Sabonis Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Warriors – Tuesday, April 16, 2024

The Sacramento Kings meet the Golden State Warriors at 10:00 PM ET on Tuesday, in the NBA Play-In Tournament, and one of the 3-pointer props available for this matchup requires only one trey from Domantas Sabonis.Domantas Sabonis' Three-Pointer Prop Odds...

Luis Escalante

Apr 16, 2024

NBA Prop Bets

Klay Thompson Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Kings – Tuesday, April 16, 2024

Klay Thompson's Golden State Warriors meet the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday at 10:00 PM ET in the NBA Play-In Tournament, and to beat his 3-point over/under, he must make four from beyond the arc.Klay Thompson's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the...

Luis Escalante

Apr 16, 2024

NBA Prop Bets

Jonathan Kuminga Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Kings – Tuesday, April 16, 2024

At 10:00 PM ET on Tuesday, in the NBA Play-In Tournament, it'll be the Golden State Warriors against the Sacramento Kings -- with Jonathan Kuminga needing to connect just once from beyond the arc to beat his 3-pointer prop.Jonathan Kuminga's...

Luis Escalante

Apr 16, 2024

NBA Prop Bets

De’Aaron Fox Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Warriors – Tuesday, April 16, 2024

On Tuesday at 10:00 PM ET, the Sacramento Kings meet the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Play-In Tournament, and De'Aaron Fox's 3-pointer prop for this matchup requires four triples.De'Aaron Fox's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the WarriorsDe'Aaron Fox's over/under for...

Luis Escalante

Apr 16, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Jon Lester’s Great Year Sets a Cubs Record and Other Bullets

Read More

more cubs news

Latest News

more cubs news

Most Popular

Most Popular

Latest News

Most Popular

Most Popular