What the Chicago Cubs need from each starting pitcher in the second half

Jon Lester is off to a much better start this year. The big lefty dealt with a dead arm at the beginning of last year and struggled mightily during his first two months as a Chicago Cub. This time around, Lester is meeting fan’s expectations.

In fact, for quite a while he exceeded expectations. It wasn’t that long ago that Lester nearly had his ERA dip below two. Lester used his cutter and his curveball masterfully to begin the year. To this point, Lester has gone 9-4 with a 3.01 ERA. But it hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows for him either.

In his last two starts, Lester has pitched 4-1/3 innings and given up a whopping 13 earned runs. Lester was quick to remind us that pitchers aren’t any different from hitters when it comes to slumps. Everyone has them.

But like Lackey, Lester is a seasoned veteran and a proven winner on baseball’s biggest stage. He knows that he plays a huge role in this team’s success. If Lester can keep the walks to a minimum, he’ll get things turned around quickly.

Next: Jake Arrieta