With an off-day tomorrow and the All-Star break starting on Monday, there was a bit the Cubs could do with their rotation this weekend to maximize match-ups/rest/etc.
So, here’s how it’ll shake out for the series in San Diego:
Chatwood, Hendricks and Lester vs. SD
— Mark Gonzales (@MDGonzales) July 11, 2018
So Tyler Chatwood will indeed get an extra start before the break (with an extra day of rest), and all we can do is hope that it comes together for him for an entire outing. One of these times. It could happen. Things happen. Sometimes.
From there, Hendricks will pitch on normal rest, which pushes Lester to Sunday for some extra rest *AND* likely takes him out of pitching in the All-Star Game (starters who go on that Sunday tend not to be available for the game). Whether that was the intention of the Cubs or Lester, we can’t say, but that’s how it’ll play out.
I like getting the extra rest in there for Lester regardless, and I am also fine with Hendricks pitching on normal rest given how good he was on Monday.