Chicago Cubs: Playing both sides of the historic rivalry

John Lackey

John Lackey was acquired by the Cardinals at the 2014 trade deadline in a deal with the Boston Red Sox. In ten starts with the Cardinals, Lackey went 3-3 with a 4.30 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 60.2 innings pitched.

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The following year, Lackey started 33 games for the Cardinals and went 13-10 with a 2.77 ERA in 218 innings pitched. That same year, Lackey struck out 175 batters and walked just 53 while finishing ninth in the NL Cy Young voting.

Entering the 2016 season and at the end of his contract, Lackey signed a two-year deal worth $32 million to become a member of the Cubs.

At age 37, Lackey tossed 188.1 innings and won 11 games for the Cubs in 2016. He also struck out 180 batters while striking out an average of 8.6 batters per nine innings.

So far, 2017 has not been kind to the now 38-year-old Lackey. In seven starts, Lackey is 3-3 with a 4.29 ERA and has 46 strikeouts in 42 innings pitched. Lackey has also given up eight home runs this season, making his 1.7 home runs per nine innings the highest mark of his career.

Lackey’s turn in the rotation means he will miss the series against the Cardinals, but the veteran is scheduled to start against the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday at Wrigley.