Chicago Cubs’ and the three players that need to stay hot

The Cubs’ Jon Lester

It’s kind of funny Jon Lester would be on the list. I mean, he was one the ‘high-risk’ players they talked about. Still, Lester holds a 1.06 ERA with an ERA+ of 419, tops on the team. He has a wOBA of .167 in the first half and a WHIP of 0.647. But I got to admit; he’s not a strikeout pitcher. He averages 4.8 SO/9–same as Alec Mills.

He has a BAbip is .120 with a LOB% of 94.8. Pretty good for a 36-year-old ‘veteran.’ He mixes his pitches well, throwing the cutter 24.5% of the time. After an 0-2 count? A .286 average. Other counts, he has a .200 average or lower. So, in essence? Don’t have an 0-2 count.

Lester needs to have a good year. With 13 or 14 starts–give or take–he needs to be clutch. And it may be good to get his vesting option in 2021.