Chicago Cubs News: Lester sharp in win, Davis struggles

The Chicago Cubs got a stellar bounce-back start from Jon Lester to beat the Braves, but the normally reliable Wade Davis made things a little interesting in the ninth.

The Chicago Cubs went to Atlanta to play an equally hot team in the Braves. After falling early, Jon Lester put his best foot forward and shut down the Braves allowing just one run over seven innings. With the Cubs up 4-1 and Wade Davis coming in, it was a done deal, right? The Braves don’t give up, and they pushed Davis to his limit as he allowed two runs before getting Sean Rodriguez to pop out to end the game.

Does the presence of Ian Happ put Javier Baez in jeopardy? It’s a fair question that some have started to ask with the performance of Happ. But the realist in me has me believing that neither of these guys is going anywhere. The potential is going to be there for the Cubs to trade one of their current MLB players. But that just doesn’t seem to fit the plan of Theo Epstein, at least as far as during the season.

With the Cubs the winners of four-straight, there may be more good news ahead. Kyle Hendricks had a solid rehab start for the Smokies and could be nearing a return to the club soon. This could make things interesting in the bullpen as Mike Montgomery could move back to it–unless Maddon decided to keep a six-man rotation in play.

These and other stories you might have missed:

‘Cubs hold on to beat the Braves in opener’ – Cubbies Crib

‘Is Happ a threat to Baez and his role?’ – Cubbies Crib

‘Cubs at Braves series preview’ – Cubbies Crib

‘Judge’s cannon of a throw to get Dozier’ – MLB.com

‘Schwarber’s nice grab in left’ – MLB.com

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