Chicago Cubs: A number of players looking to get out of slumps

Chicago Cubs: The ace of the Cubs has had a couple of rough outings as of late.

It is funny looking at his current numbers of Jon Lester and seeing a slump in there: 2.68 ERA, 3.39 FIP, 9.0 K/9 and a 1.9 BB/9 in nine starts. But this is after he was posting a 1.16 ERA on the season through his first seven starts, so his ERA has more than doubled the past week.

His last two outings against the Nationals and Phillies saw nine earned runs, 17 hits and three homers against in 8 1/3 innings. That is a 9.72 ERA and .425/.442/.775 slash against. He had not given up more than two earned runs in a start all season prior. Lester even admits that something is off and he needs to get back.

Is this something serious? Or just due regression. Lester has always had stretches where he has had some bad starts, and adjustments are needed to be made. Sustaining a 1.16 ERA or less was not going to happen. Time will tell over his next few starts how he adjusts, but this has been an easy fix for him in years past. If he gets that cutter back working, then everything will be fine.