Cubs To Start Jon Lester In Game 1 Of The NLCS
(CBS) The Cubs will start left-hander Jon Lester in Game 1 of the NLCS on Saturday, they announced Thursday.
There were several reason for choosing Lester over ace right-hander Jake Arrieta. Chicago's confident in Lester, and it's his turn in the rotation. Arrieta will also benefit from an extra day of rest after registering his worst start since mid-June in Game 3 of the NLDS on Monday, when he allowed four earned runs in 5 2/3 innings and noticeably struggled with his command.
"It's nice giving Jake an extra day," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "And really part of the strategy was to not pitch Jon in that last game against the Cardinals (so as to save him for) either the fifth game (of the NLDS) or to come into the fist game of the next round. It kind of played out well. That's how we're going to set it up at the beginning. I'm really comfortable. They'll both be starters in two games possibly. That's what we're most comfortable with."
Lester will be pitching on seven days of rest. Arrieta will then throw in Sunday's Game 2, the team announced, on five days of rest instead of four.
So does Arrieta need that extra day of rest?
"He'd probably tell you he'd not (need it)," Maddon said. "But I like the idea that he is, and we've been pushing him pretty hard. His innings are way up compared to what they've been in the past.
"It's beyond the physically drain. It's the emotional drain. And he went through a really difficult moment in Pittsburgh that night (in the wild-card game), and he set this whole thing up for us. Anytime you give a guy an emotional and a physical break, you take advantage of that."
Arrieta assured everyone that he feels fine and he's content with starting Game 2.
"I feel great," Arrieta said. "We're in a good position where we get some extra days.
"The extra day, I wouldn't say is hugely beneficial or a bad thing ... It's been awhile since Jon's been out there, so it's good for him to get out there for Game 1.
"It's Jon's turn."
The Cubs will play the winner of the Mets-Dodgers series, which will be decided Thursday night with a Game 5 in Los Angeles. Regardless of the winner there, Chicago will be on the road to start the NLCS.
Despite taking a loss, Lester was strong in his first postseason start, going 7 1/3 innings and allowing three earned runs, one of which was charged to him after he was pulled, in Game 1 of the NLDS. He struck out nine and walked just one.
Lester was 11-12 with a 3.34 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in the regular season. Arrieta was 22-6 with a 1.77 ERA and 0.86 WHIP.
At his media session Thursday, Maddon indicated he'll use four starters in the NLCS, so right-handers Jason Hammel and Kyle Hendricks should prominently figure into the picture this series. He didn't announce who would start Game 3 back in Chicago next Tuesday.
If New York advances, rookie right-hander Noah Syndergaard would be in line to get the Game 1 start in the NLCS. If Los Angeles advances, it would likely need to turn to its No. 3 starter, which was Brett Anderson in Game 3 of the NLDS. The Dodgers also could turn to left-hander Alex Wood instead after Anderson struggled in his postseason start.
