Jon Lester no longer losing his alternatives with postseason

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

Jon Lester tosses 5 no-hit innings in first get started of

CINCINNATI — If there was once any concern that Jon Lester wouldn’t be able as soon as the season began, the veteran left-hander did his perfect Monday evening to ease the ones fears. Lester adopted Tyler Chatwood’s stellar day out Sunday with one among his personal by means of throwing 5 no-hit innings in his season debut in opposition to the Reds at Great American Ball Park — an 8-7 Cubs win once they just about squandered leads of 7-Zero and 8-1. They took an 8-Five lead into the 9th, however Craig Kimbrel let two runs pass within the 9th with the bases loaded to make it 8-7, hitting Freddy Galvis with a pitch after which strolling Tyler

Sweepers in Seattle: Cubs, Jon Lester rout M’s 11-Zero for 13th

SEATTLE — The distinction between the Cubs on May 1 and April 1 was summed up in what occurred after an eerily comparable begin. On the primary defensive play of the sport in each instances, the Cubs made an error. But this time, Jon Lester retired the following three batters and left the runner at second. The Cubs responded with a six-run second that Javy Baez opened with a homer towards the Mariners’ finest pitcher on the best way to an 11-Zero victory and two-game sweep. And similar to that, a six-error loss a month in the past in Atlanta and the six-game shedding streak it helped maintain is a long-faded reminiscence because the Cubs journey a

Kick-start? Jon Lester nears return as Yu Darvish struggles

In between innings of a irritating begin Saturday, right-hander Yu Darvish sat subsequent to teammate Anthony Rizzo within the Cubs’ dugout. He turned to the primary baseman and requested what he was doing incorrect and how you can repair it, Darvish advised Japanese media after the sport. “You have to get hungry,” Rizzo mentioned. At which level, Darvish took the mound within the fifth inning and retired the aspect, placing out the final two batters he confronted. Whether Rizzo’s recommendation sticks with Darvish for the remainder of the season is unsure. But at the very least it did sufficient to assist him shut out the ultimate inning of his begin within the Cubs’ 6-Zero loss to

With Jon Lester on IL, Cubs add LHP Tim Collins, giving them

With ace Jon Lester happening the injured record Wednesday, the Cubs responded by calling up left-hander Tim Collins to affix what is going to now be a nine-man bullpen, a supply confirmed. Collins, 29, was acquired the final week of spring coaching and has pitched in three video games for Class AAA Iowa since then, permitting one run in 2 2/three innings, with three strikeouts and a stroll. The transfer all however assures that Tyler Chatwood will take Lester’s subsequent flip within the rotation, Sunday towards Tommy La Stella and the Angels. The Cubs have sufficient off days on the schedule after that to keep away from needing to fill that spot once more till April 27 in

Jon Lester: Emphasis on quick begin has Cubs ‘urgent’

ATLANTA — We know, we all know: It’s a small pattern dimension. The Cubs have performed solely 5 video games. “I don’t think anyone’s panicking,” Cubs reliever Steve Cishek stated. That’s in all probability a superb factor for the staff.Steve Cishek after strolling the primary three batters of the eighth and leaving the sport. But it doesn’t change the outstanding incontrovertible fact that it took solely these 5 video games for the Cubs to fall 4 video games again in a division that acquired so much higher since final yr. Or that Wednesday night time’s 6-Four loss to the Braves was the results of one other bullpen meltdown fed by one other bunch of walks — two