Joe Maddon will make it official early next week, but if you piece together the clues it’s pretty simple to figure out who will be the opening day starter for the Chicago Cubs.
After the first weekend of spring training wrapped up the Cubs scheduled their five starting pitchers this week, with Jon Lester slated to pitch today against the White Sox. Lester, 34, has made six opening day starts in his career that includes two with the Cubs. You can bank on Lester being the 2018 opening day starter too, considering the veteran lefty is lined up to start on March 29, against the Miami Marlins by having his first spring training action on Feb. 27.
Plus, Maddon was a bit over the top when talking about Lester on the first day of workouts, or maybe he was just being optimistic.
Via Cubs.com.
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“Go back to the first day he was here a couple years ago,” Maddon said. “Didn’t today look better than that? He was hurt a little bit when he first arrived [in 2015]. Conversationally, he wasn’t as settled. He was coming from another spot, [and there were] high expectations, big contract. He’s definitely good in his own skin.
“I’m seeing the best version of Jon who I’ve witnessed as a person and how he goes about his business,” Maddon said. “His leadership — believe me, it’s coming out. It’s a couple years removed from the signing, and we’ve all gotten comfortable with one another and he’s definitely comfortable in his Cubs skin
“The work today was spectacular and I told him so,” Maddon said. “I said, ‘You could’ve been pitching the first game of the season the way you looked.'”
Lester had a down 2017 season, putting up a 4.33 ERA and 1.32 WHIP in 180.2 innings. It was the first year since 2011 that Lester didn’t pass the 200-inning mark. He spent some time on the disabled list late in August, but appeared to be back to normal when he returned, having four good starts in his final six appearances. He also had a solid showing in the postseason, though Lester only pitched 14.1 innings in his three playoff starts.
Yet, Lester is only one year removed from finishing second in the National League Cy Young Award race, so hopefully last year’s regression was based more on a small injury and fatigue from the previous World Series run rather than that showing being the new Lester.
Back to the 2018 schedule. If Lester does indeed make the opening day start against the Marlins and no one is skipped in the rotation, he’d also be lined up to start the Cubs home opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates on April 9.
After today’s game against the White Sox, Kyle Hendricks, Yu Darvish and Jose Quintana will follow. Tyler Chatwood already made his spring debut, pitching Monday against the Seattle Mariners.
Finally, an interesting note on Cubs opening day starters.
Just happened to find this out. Carlos Zambrano has the most Opening Day starts in a row in #Cubs history at 6. 2005-2010.
Fergie Jenkins and Rick Sutcliffe each with 5 in a row.— Aldo Soto (@AldoSoto21) February 24, 2018
Aaaaaaaand it’s official.
Joe names Lester opening day starter. pic.twitter.com/T0ug2UzNDZ
— Paul Sullivan (@PWSullivan) February 27, 2018
Cubs manager Joe Maddon on naming Jon Lester as the team's opening-day starter: "I wanted him to know how impressed I've been with him." (via @MDGonzales) pic.twitter.com/BhExEwPbB6
— Chicago Tribune (@chicagotribune) February 27, 2018
