The news on Brandon Morrow today was very not good, but at least it’s positive on Jon Lester. More progress on the hamstring recovery front, as Lester took to Wrigley Field today for a simulated game.
Well, a simulated game, and then also some agility drills in-between innings:
Jon Lester currently throwing a sim game at Wrigley. Almora and Zagunis standing in. Cubs having Lester to agility drills between “innings” to test legs. pic.twitter.com/zDKFFYRFbk
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) April 20, 2019
Lester box-jumps between sim innings. #Cubs pic.twitter.com/6LRO8r7McK
— Bruce Miles (@BruceMiles2112) April 20, 2019
If that went well, and if he does his normal in-between start work, and if he doesn’t need a minor league rehab start, then it’s conceivable Lester could be ready to return to the rotation on Thursday, for the series finale against the Dodgers. That spot is currently unannounced, and it would also conveniently give the Cubs three lefty starters against the Dodgers (who are good against everyone this year, but balls out against righties), and would also then push the righties once again into the next series … which happens to be the Diamondbacks again (and they struggle against righties).
To be sure, there are a lot of “ifs” in there, so I’m not going to get ahead of myself just yet. For now, I’m happy to see that Lester is already at this stage in his recovery, and, so far, the Cubs will have lost only one of his starts (tomorrow, when Tyler Chatwood goes in his place).
UPDATE: Sure enough, a Dodgers start is *possible*:
Jon Lester made it through a 45-pitch simulated game today at Wrigley Field. How Lester feels tomorrow will determine the next step for the Cubs. Joe Maddon says it's "not impossible" that Lester could be activated for the upcoming Dodger series.
— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) April 20, 2019