Veteran pitcher Jon Lester has been tabbed as the Chicago Cubs’ Opening Day starter.
For the second straight season, left-hander Jon Lester will take the mound on Opening Day for the Chicago Cubs. For his career, it will be Lester’s seventh Opening Day start when the Cubs head to Miami on March 29.
Lester signing his massive six-year, $155 million deal with the Cubs ahead of the 2015 season was significant because it marked the end of the team’s rebuild. That was the turning point for Chicago. And now, three years later, Joe Maddon continues to look to his veteran southpaw to lead the way.
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Now 34 years old, Lester has enjoyed a highly successful career. He’s a four-time All-Star, three-time World Series champion and even has a no-hitter under his belt. He spent the first nine years of his career with Boston. He was one of the top starting pitchers in the game during his run with the Red Sox.
That earned him a massive contract with the Cubs. And he’s earned every penny. Since joining the team three years ago, the Cubs have gotten everything they hoped for and more out of the big lefty. With Chicago, he’s gone 42-25 with a 3.33 ERA, 1.147 WHIP and 584 strikeouts over the course of 588 1/3 innings pitched.
Though it’s a smaller sample size than his time in Boston, Lester’s numbers have improved almost completely across the board since joining the Cubs.
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Miami has not yet announced who counter Lester as their Opening Day starter, though Dan Straily is listed as the No. 1 pitcher on their depth chart.