Every get started from right here on out is a chance for veteran left-hander Jon Lester.
Unlike the Cubs’ postseason runs from 2015-18 when Lester used to be the workhorse of the rotation, the ones tasks now fall at the shoulders of Yu Darvish and Kyle Hendricks.
With Monday’s information of left-hander Jose Quintana re-joining the rotation on Tuesday and right-hander Alec Mills having a powerful September, Lester must earn his approach into the workforce’s postseason rotation.
The left-hander didn’t waste his alternative on Monday as he quieted the Pirates within the Cubs’ 5-Zero victory over Pittsburgh.
“Going into October, I want to be a reliable guy to where they don’t have to be on red alert down there [in the bullpen] just because of the way I’m throwing.” Lester mentioned.
Lester’s at his perfect when he can throw his cutter for moves, exchange eye ranges and get opposing hitters to hit the ball at the flooring and towards a woeful Pirates lineup, he used to be in a position to just do that.
The Cubs’ southpaw had command of all his pitches and trusted his cutter and sinker as nine of the 18 outs he recorded within the sport got here at the flooring. Lester labored briefly and used to be environment friendly, averaging 15 pitches in line with inning in his 90-pitch day out.
He most effective struck out one, but in addition walked only one.
“The last three have been better,” Lester mentioned. “The contact was better tonight as compared to last start, so I like that. A lot of groundballs. The last three have been better and hopefully just continue to build off that. I think one more [start] and then hopefully right into the postseason being on a high note and feeling good and go from there.”
“Jon knew we needed a W today,” supervisor David Ross mentioned. “It felt that way to me. He was out there really competing. Working his tail off, making pitches when he had to. That’s what he does. I know when he feels 100% It looks really sharp. … Tonight was a nice sign for him to go six.”
The Cubs were given the lead early as Kyle Schwarber led off the second one inning with a lead-off double, however after two fast outs it gave the impression of the workforce’s offense struggles would proceed.
But Javy Baez had any other thought in thoughts. Baez didn’t take a large swing to take a look at and put the Cubs at the board. Instead, he dropped an ideal two-out bunt unmarried down the third-base line to attain Schwarber from 1/3, giving them a 1-Zero lead.
Two-out, RBI-doubles by way of Victor Caratini and by way of Schwarber (2-for-4, two doubles) within the 5th and 8th prolonged the Cubs lead and gave their starter some respiring room.
“Today was a new day,” mentioned Schwarber, who used to be benched on Sunday after a defensive misplay.
Lester has been vital of himself lately for his incapacity to get himself out of jams when he will get into a foul state of affairs and whilst there used to be little or no site visitors towards him, he used to be in a position to just do that. He used to be in a position to get Erik Gonzalez to bop into the simple 6-4-Three double play, finishing his get started on a prime word.
Lester allowed simply 4 hits over six-scoreless innings en path to his 1/3 victory of the season. It used to be simply the second one time he pitched six innings in September and his first since tossing six-scoreless innings towards the Brewers on Sept. 11.