Chicago Cubs: Top five surprises of the season’s first month
By Jake Misener
Apr 5, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jon Lester (34) delivers a pitch during the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
1) Jon Lester still winless as a Chicago Cub
Here we are heading into the month of May and just the same as it was on Opening Night, Jon Lester is still winless as a National League pitcher.
With four starts under his belt, the veteran southpaw is 0-2 with a 6.23 earned run average. In the 21 2/3 innings he’s pitched, Lester has struck out 24 and walked just five – but opponents are batting a red-hot .322 against him.
The bad news? Chicago is paying Jon Lester $155 million over the next six years and, to-date, he has not pitched like an ace. The good news? Even with Lester being ineffective for the first month of the season, the Cubs are four games above .500.
His struggles won’t continue and once he rights the ship and acclimates to the National League, Lester and right-hander Jake Arrieta will be one of the most devastating one-two punches in all of Major League Baseball.