Chicago Cubs: Jon Lester’s five best starts as a Cub

Chicago Cubs’ Jon Lester has shined in both the regular season and the postseason

It is hard to believe Jon Lester has been a Chicago Cubs for five seasons already. He played a significant role in the rejuvenation of the franchise in 2015 and was one of the most significant contributors in their 2016 World Series run. Lester is rightfully considered as one of the best free-agent signings in team history.

Between the regular season and postseason, he has pitched in 169 games as a member of the Cubs. His overall numbers are outstanding, 3.54 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 3.78 FIP, and 8.6 K/9 in the regular season with two All-Star appearances and in the postseason a World Champion and NLCS co-MVP.

Of all of his starts, which ones were his absolute best? There are plenty of good starts of his to choose from, but there are five that stand out. He has come up big postseason games and has also flirted with history in the regular season. Here are his five best starts he has made as a Chicago Cub.

Chicago Cubs: No doubt the best start of his 2017 season

Lester’s 2017 season was a bit of a struggle compared to his first two as a Cub, but he still had his moments. His one complete game of the season came against the Giants at Wrigley Field on May 23rd. It was a gloomy night, but that did not get Lester down as he pitched a gem.

This was one of the three starts that year he reached 10 strikeouts and one of the two which he went 6.0+ innings and walked no batters. In nine innings, he threw 99 pitches and faced 29 total batters. The only run scored off Lester that night was a Brandon Crawford RBI double in the 5th inning.

Final Line: 9.0 IP / 1 R / 1 ER / 4 H / 0 BB / 10 K

Chicago Cubs: He came just shy of history, but in the end, it was still a gem

2016 was the best season for Lester as a Cub. In the regular season, he pitched to a 2.44 ERA, 3.41 FIP, 8.7 K/9 and a 1.02 WHIP in 32 starts. He had two complete games and 15, which he went 7.0+ innings. The one that stood out took place at Wrigley Field on September 2nd against the Giants.

He did not strikeout nearly the most hitters in this game compared to others, only four, but he did flirt with a no-hitter. With two outs in the seventh inning, Lester had not yet surrendered a hit and was facing Hunter Pence. On a 1-2 pitch, Pence hit the ball out of the ballpark to end the no-hitter and shutout. However, Lester still finished the game as the Cubs won 2-1.

While Lester pitched a complete game against the Dodgers with more strikeouts, this one gets the nod over that start because of how far he took the no-hitter. Lester threw 102 pitches in this game got 11 groundballs and 15 flyballs.

Final Line: 9.0 IP / 1 R / 1 ER / 2 BB / 4K

Chicago Cubs: Lester shut down the Dodgers to set up the pennant clincher at Wrigley Field

NLCS game five was a huge swing game in the series. Tied 2-2, the winner was going to come within one win of the World Series. Pitching in a hostile environment at Dodger Stadium, Lester reminded everyone he thrives in postseason pressure when the stakes are high.

Lester shut down the Dodgers with seven dominant innings of one-run ball, giving up only five hits and walking one. He threw 67 strikes on 108 pitches. This was the famous, “I think we got him” game when Javier Baez made an amazing bare-handed play on an Adrian Gonzalez bunt towards second that had to be reviewed.

Lester’s pitching efforts were big through seven innings as the game was still close until the eighth inning when the Cubs scored five runs. The final score looked more like a blowout, but every out recorded by Lester was needed before the Cubs broke it open. His efforts in that game and in that series helped earn him NLCS Co-MVP.

Final Line: 7.0 IP / 1 R / 1 ER / 5 H / 1 BB / 6 K

Chicago Cubs: The beginning of the Cubs journey to the World Series in 2016 started with a Jon Lester gem

Game one of the 2016 NLDS against the Giants at Wrigley Field was an epic duel of All-Star pitchers: Lester vs. Johnny Cueto. The main highlight of the game would be the lone run scored on a Baez solo homer in the eighth inning, but Lester was a massive contributor to the win.

Lester threw eight innings of shutout baseball against the Giants and held them to five hits and walked zero batters. Sixty of his 86 pitches were strikes and he got 11 groundballs. He got some help from battery mate David Ross who picked off a runner from first and threw out another trying to steal against Lester.

Every out and run off the board by Lester was needed in the Cubs 1-0 win. Cueto was matching him pitch for pitch and neither pitcher had any room for error. It was one of four starts from Lester that postseason he surrendered five hits or less.

Final Line: 8.0 IP / 0 R / 0 ER / 5 H / 0 BB / 5 K

That is my list for top-five Lester starts as a Cub. Are there other starts worthy of being on this list? There are a few ones could make an argument for, but it is hard to argue against two postseason gems and a near no-hitter.