Chicago Cubs: Jon Lester’s return to form played huge role for the team

After a down year in 2017, Chicago Cubs left-hander Jon Lester bounced back in a big way, leading this club even as the offense fell flat down the stretch.

For the fourth time in as many season, southpaw Jon Lester took the ball 32 times for the Chicago Cubs, anchoring a starting rotation that saw ineffectiveness and injury take its toll unlike anything we’ve seen in recent years.

The team’s big offseason pick-up, Yu Darvish, made just eight starts. Kyle Hendricks and Jose Quintana were up and down for much of the first half before settling in late. Aside from a short stretch early in the second half, Lester set the tone for the staff and never looked back.

Lester finished the season with 18 wins and pitched masterfully in the National League Wild Card game in front of the home faithful at Wrigley Field. In short, he once again did exactly what the Cubs anticipated he’d do when they inked him to his six-year, $155 million deal ahead of the 2015 campaign.