Chicago Cubs: How close are current Cubs to career milestones?

May 9, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jon Lester (34) in the dugout in the fourth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
May 9, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jon Lester (34) in the dugout in the fourth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 23, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jon Lester (34) delivers a pitch during the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
May 23, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jon Lester (34) delivers a pitch during the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /

2,000 career strikeouts for Jon Lester

Jon Lester is the model of consistency. That consistency is helping him quickly approach 2,000 strikeouts for his career, which would make him only the ninth active pitcher with that many punchouts.

The lefty only needs 68 Ks to accomplish the feat, which could also secure him a spot on the top 10 active strikeouts list, assuming some players ahead of him (ahem, Bartolo Colon) decide to hang it up.

ETA: Averaging about six strikeouts a game, Lester will probably reach 2,000 at some point in August.

Looking ahead: 200 wins is on the horizon, but don’t expect it anytime soon. At 149, it’ll be three-to-four years before he’ll reach the feat, which only 116 pitchers have ever done.