Chicago Cubs offense still clicking in Jon Lester’s dominant performance

Chicago Cubs: Lester continues to earn his paycheck

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In Lester’s first game back from the IL, the Cubs put a pitch count of around 75-80 pitches. With that, Lester went five innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers, allowing just one run. Unfortunately, the Cubs provided Lester with no offense while he was on the bump and lost the game, 2-1.

This start went a little bit differently for Lester. He was painting the corners, getting calls that most pitchers these days won’t get. But when you can hit the spots consistently, you’ll get them.

On the night, he finished with eight strikeouts and one walk–and just one hit. And it barely qualified as that, but a hit is a hit. A Ryon Healy looping liner over Ben Zobrist‘s head. That was it — no more from Lester, Allen Webster or Dillon Maples.

Webster pitched a clean inning in the eighth, while Maples looked impressive in the ninth by striking out all three batters. This is the version of Maples that the Cubs can see in this role–but in closer games. The problem is he has his moment where he simply can’t find the zone with his fastball. But that spin rate? Wow.

After a terrible start from the entire staff, maybe even more so the bullpen they’ve recovered nicely. Dare I say; the pen has become a strength as of late?