Cubs GM Jed Hoyer Downplays Concerns About Jon Lester's Inability To Hold Runners On

(CBS) Cubs left-hander Jon Lester's disdain for attempting pick-off throws is well-documented, and for an inning in Thursday's win against the Brewers, it reared its ugly head.

In a sight to behold, Milwaukee stole four bases in the third inning. It wasn't just that the Brewers were taking an extra 90 feet seemingly at will. They were taking massive leads and dancing around in an effort to distract Lester, who refused to make a pick-off attempt, which he's been uncomfortable doing his entire career.

Given the histrionics, it once again brought up questions about how problematic Lester's inability to hold runners on is. On Friday, Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer downplayed any such concerns, saying Lester and personal catcher David Ross have generally done a good job in that regard.

"David has done a really good job of limiting a lot of the running," Hoyer said. "He's back picked so well, he's thrown out guys. I think Jon's tried to be quicker to the plate and with accurate throwing. We've actually thrown out a decent number of runners recently. Yesterday, obviously, that third inning was uncomfortable for everyone. But I think if you go back to May 1, take away those April starts, Jon's been one of the best pitchers in baseball. He hasn't given up many hits, his walk-to-strikeout-ratio is great. I think the focus is the fact he's been one of the best pitchers in baseball the last three-and-a-a-half months. I think it's something he certainly knows he has to work on, something he will work on. But at the same time, I think David and Jon have done a good job limiting that, and I just expect he'll continue to pitch the way that he is."

Milwaukee only scored one run in the third inning Thursday, but that's not the only prism with which to view this issue through. What worries some is how much the base stealing might hurt Lester and the Cubs in a playoff game, where runs can be harder to come by against another team's ace.

In the 2014 AL wild-card game that Lester started for the Athletics against the Royals, Kansas City rallied for a win in large part because of seven stolen bases, three of which came off Lester before he was pulled.

As it sits now, the Cubs are in line to play in the NL wild-card game against the Pirates. Hoyer refused to get into the conversation of whether Lester or right-hander Jake Arrieta would start that game if Chicago had its choice.

Lester is 8-8 with a 3.21 ERA and 1.18 WHIP. Arrieta is 13-6 with a 2.38 ERA and 0.99 WHIP.

"It's great that we have two guys that you could have that discussion about," Hoyer said. "I think the fact that both of these guys are pitching so well is why we're here in a lot of ways.