NEWSLETTER
We’ve been expecting it based on the roster composition and the Cubs’ strong hints, but today David Ross confirmed it: after Kyle Hendricks and Yu Darvish, if there’s a third game in this opening series, Jon Lester will get the start.
No, Lester didn’t have his best year, and no, he didn’t finish on a high note against the White Sox (a team that has blown up lefty starters like no other, you’ll note). But if you’re likely going to coordinate pitchers in that third game anyway, why not start the guy who has, for his career, been so completely unmoved by the bigness of the postseason moment. He might get blown up anyway, but you know it won’t be because he wasn’t completely ready, focused, and comfortable. Then, if he struggles, you have a super quick hook the second time through the order and go to Adbert Alzolay or Alec Mills to bridge you to the bullpen.
The other reality is that, since the next series – if you get there – will have no off-days, you’re going to need a third (and fourth, and probably fifth) starter anyway. So there is an inevitability to having to coordinate the non-Darvish-Hendricks arms anyway, but at least in this opening series, you get the long layoff before the NLDS. We might see all three back-of-the-rotation starters in a single game.
As for what David Ross and Tommy Hottovy have said previously about Lester and the postseason:
From Ross, at The Athletic: “Jon’s experience goes a long way for me. Putting somebody out there that can handle the moment, I think, is very powerful. I’m going to bet on Jon Lester in a postseason environment before I would maybe a rookie …. He’s going to handle that stage, which is a bigger stage than people give it credit for, better than most because he’s been there. I think it actually raises his game. As many times as I’ve seen him on that stage, I think it makes him better, whereas I don’t think I could say that about a lot of people I’ve played with in those environments. He definitely takes it to the next level and is able to harness all the things that go with that and step out there and perform.”
From Hottovy, on 670 The Score: “This is just from me, I don’t know how you go into a postseason and not trust a guy with the storied history and the guy who has been in the postseason and pitched some of the biggest games, if it’s Game 3 and … our season is on the line, I don’t know how you don’t trust Jon Lester with the ball in some of the biggest moments. Regardless of how he’s pitched lately, just because of who he is. You add the fact that Jon is now, I believe, has given up two runs in his last 17 innings, he’s really throwing the ball well. What he has worked on over the last few weeks, just kind of simplifying things, getting back to being who he is and what makes him tick has shown on the field. Being honest with you guys right now, knowing that we have a Jon Lester on the team, I don’t know how you don’t use a guy like that in a Game 3 scenario.”
