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5 reasons the Chicago Cubs can win it all in 2015

By Josh Criswell

Aug 9, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; The Cubs celebrate their victory at Wrigley Field. The Cubs defeated the San Francisco Giants 2-0. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 9, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; The Cubs celebrate their victory at Wrigley Field. The Cubs defeated the San Francisco Giants 2-0. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jake Arrieta
Sep 2, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jake Arrieta (49) delivers a pitch against the Milwaukee Brewers in the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports /

Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester are a lethal one-two punch

To say that Jon Lester’s Chicago Cubs career got off to a rocky start would be an understatement.

After signing a six-year, $155 million contract in the offseason, he proceeded to go 0-2 with a 6.23 earned run average during his first month with the team. Despite coming out of the gates slow, however, Lester has rebounded strong. The 31-year old lefty has lowered his ERA to 3.21, and over the course of his past five starts is 4-0.

His counterpart at the top of the rotation, Jake Arrieta, has been dominant virtually all season. He currently ranks among the top-10 in the MLB in ERA (2.39), quality starts (20), wins (14) and strikeouts (163). If the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Zack Greinke was not having one of the best pitching performances in recent memory, Arrieta would find himself right in the middle of the National League Cy Young Award conversation.

Having two aces at the top of the rotation will give the Cubs a significant advantage in October. Lester has World Series experience, and Arrieta is one of the hottest pitchers in baseball this season.

The division rival St. Louis Cardinals may have the better overall pitching rotation, but aside from the Dodgers’ elite duo of Greinke and Clayton Kershaw, there is not a better one-two punch in the National League.

Next: Talented rookies

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