Chicago Cubs: Ranking Jon Lester’s biggest starts

Will there be more great moments from Jon Lester with the Chicago Cubs?

As we can see, Lester has been part of a lot of big moments with the Chicago Cubs, and these were just five of them. Notably absent from this list is his appearance in Game 7 of the 2016 World Series, though I didn’t include that because it was a relief appearance and not a start. In picking these starts, my factors included the importance of the games, how well Lester pitched, and whether the Cubs won the game.

In the five years that Lester has been with the Cubs, we’ve seen him evolve and mature. Like many pitchers, he’s had to change and adapt his game as he’s gotten into his 30’s, and for the most part, he’s still been an effective pitcher.

We’ve also seen him grow as a hitter, as he’s had to bat regularly for the first time in his career as a National Leaguer. Indeed, he went 0-for-66 to start his hitting career before finally getting his first hit in 2016. Since then, he’s become a decent hitting pitcher.

In fact, we may one day look back at Lester’s tenure with the Cubs as the time in which he solidified himself as a Hall of Famer. He likely needs another good season or two to have a serious chance, but it is well within reach.

Unfortunately, Lester has struggled a bit this season; his 4.51 ERA would be his highest since 2012 and the second-highest since his first full season in 2008. However, if he can pitch well down the stretch this year and lead the Cubs deep into the playoffs, I’m sure fans will forget about his struggles from earlier this year.

So, do more memorable Lester moments await us? Let’s watch and find out!