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Cubs’ Jon Lester scratched from Saturday’s start vs Mariners
It appears that Chicago Cubs’ southpaw ace Jon Lester will get extra time to recover from his latest outing as skipper Joe Maddon announced he would be scratched from tomorrow’s start against the Seattle Mariners, according to ESPN Chicago’s Jesse Rogers.
Now, the result of him being scratched doesn’t have anything to do with how he performed against the San Diego Padres this past Monday – as he gave up six runs in just 3 1/3 innings. It was a scary and nerve-racking day for Cubs fans who either watched or listened in, but something like this is going to happen – plus it’s only the spring.
Maddon’s reason for keeping Lester out of tomorrow’s match-up is due to ‘dead arm’. Sounds quite uncomfortable, but most pitchers go through it.
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Lester – as we all know – will take the mound for the Cubs on Opening Day against the St. Louis Cardinals in a little over two weeks.
There’s a ton of high expectations within this organization and its fan base, which means there’s a lot to prove in the first game of the season.
After all, the Cardinals are still the dominant team in the N.L. Central until another consistent power house steps up. That could very well be Jon Lester and the Chicago Cubs.
“(It’s) not pain. A lot of guys go through that moment where the arm just doesn’t feel right. He came out of the chute really strong and probably went after it too hard, too early. Possibly trying to impress everybody, just being Jon Lester.” – Joe Maddon.
After winning two World Series titles with the Boston Red Sox in 2007 and 2013, Lester is aiming to make history yet again by helping another team end their drought.
“When a guy smiles easily, talks easily about it, is upbeat, normally it’s a good indication. He was all of that. I feel strongly he’s going to be OK.” – Maddon
With Spring Training slowly coming to a close and Chicago’s southpaw ace expected to start next Thursday, Lester should eyeing to work at least six or seven innings against the Angels in Mesa.