Chicago Cubs: Lackey a non-factor in Cubs postseason run

The Chicago Cubs signed the then 37-year-old right-hander to help lead the Cubs to a championship. That’s exactly what happened but how much of a role did Lackey play in it?

The Chicago Cubs signed John Lackey to a two-year, $36 million contract in December 2015. Lackey was coming off a stellar year with the Cardinals, where he went 13-10 with a career-low 2.77 ERA in 33 starts.

At 36 years old, most pitchers start to decline but Lackey already had two World Series. One with the Red Sox in 2013 and one with the Angels in 2002. The Cubs were willing to take a gamble on an aging veteran pitcher in hopes that he can lead the Cubs to the promised land.

For the most part, Lackey did just that. It would have been asked a lot of Lackey to replicate his 2015 season, but his numbers in 2016 were still fantastic.

He finished with an 11-8 record in 29 starts. His 3.35 ERA was the third lowest of his career. He did miss a few starts after the All-Star Break with an injury.

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Lackey was everything the Cubs wanted when they committed $16 million to him in the off-season. The hope was that he would continue that success into the playoffs. During his rookie campaign in 2002, Lackey was the winning pitcher in Game 7 of the World Series. So he’s no stranger to high-pressure games.

While Lackey was not bad during the playoffs, he didn’t replicate the success he had during the season. Lackey made just three starts during the playoffs and finished without a win and a 4.85 ERA. He was the only Cubs starter not to record a win during the playoffs.

The Playoffs

Lackey’s first start came in Game 4 of NLDS against the Giants. This was the perfect situation for him. With the Cubs up 2-1 and coming off a disappointing 13 inning loss the night before, Lackey could pitch the Cubs into the NLCS.

Chicago’s seasoned veteran was not sharp, however, allowing a run in the first inning and leaving after four innings with his team down 3-1. By no means did Lackey have a bad start, but failing to go deep into the game taxed the Cubs bullpen. Chicago went on to win in an epic ninth-inning comeback. The biggest comeback in postseason game-clinching history.

John was much better in Game 4 of the NLCS against the Dodgers. Cruising through the first four innings, Lackey hit a road bump in the fifth, allowing two runs without recording an out. Lackey was pulled from the game with the Cubs leading 5-2, but couldn’t get the win since we went only four innings. Thankfully, Chicago went on to win 10-2.

Joe’s 38-year-old starter also pitched Game 4 of the World Series, by far the biggest start of the postseason. With the Cubs down 2-1 series, Lackey was tasked with getting the series even. Lackey was unable to preserve an early 1-0 lead and gave up three runs in five innings. The Cubs ended up losing that game 7-2, putting them on the brink of elimination.

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So, it’s a bit hard to grade Lackey’s 2016 postseason. He definitely wasn’t as good as he had been during the regular season, but kept the Cubs in the ballgame during all three of his starts. His failure to go deep into the game forced Maddon to go to his shaky bullpen early. He also put the Cubs in a bad position during Game 4 of the World Series. In the end, the Cubs won the World Series, and Lackey gets his third ring.

Personally, I can’t really see how Lackey helped the Cubs win this World Series. He left with a deficit in two out of his three starts and really was a non-factor. Was he a better option over Jason Hammel? Yes, because of his playoff and World Series experience. Lackey, however, pitched like he was just here for the haircut.