We’ve long known that four members of the Cubs’ five-man rotation to open the season would be Jon Lester (who gets Opening Day), Jake Arrieta, Kyle Hendricks, and John Lackey. We’ve long suspected that, if healthy, Brett Anderson would be the nominal fifth starter out of the gate, too. But we didn’t know that for sure, and we also didn’t know the order of the rotation.
Well, today Joe Maddon laid it out, one through five: Lester, Arrieta, Lackey, Anderson, Hendricks.
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I know what you’re thinking, but be advised, that order is not about who’s best and in what order. It’s mostly about the match-ups:
Alignment splits up lefties Anderson and Lester, Lackey to face STL, Anderson, Hendricks to open MIL series. Arrieta home opener vs. LAD
— Mark Gonzales (@MDGonzales) March 23, 2017
Maddon agreed it's prob the first time in history MLB era leader won't pitch until Game 5 but it's just how it fit best for the team.
— Jesse Rogers (@ESPNChiCubs) March 23, 2017
In his career, Lackey has been fantastic pitching at Busch Stadium (and pitched well against the Cardinals last year):
Lackey has a career 2.02 ERA at Busch Stadium (169.2 IIP). 1.93 ERA in 14.0 Innings (two starts) last season.
— Michael Cerami (@Michael_Cerami) March 23, 2017
Hendricks, then, instead gets the Brewers the first time through. Further, as Gonzales notes, this order breaks up the lefties (advisable), and gives Arrieta the home opener (a nice nod).
This works.
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