JON LESTER NEWS

Records no-decision Lester threw six innings of three-hit, shutout baseball during the Cubs' 1-0 loss to the Brewers, while walking two and striking out eight on Friday.

Impact Lester (2-2) rebounded after allowing five runs through 3.1 innings in his last start. That being said, his expected ERA still ranks in the bottom fifth of the league, making him a regression candidate down the stretch. The Cubs' elite offense buoys his value, and he draws the Indians' bottom-ten offense in his next start.

SEPTEMBER 12, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Vintage Lester arrives as October looms The pitch that Cubs lefty Jon Lester delivered to Keston Hiura in the fifth inning on Friday night appeared destined for the strike zone's o...

SEPTEMBER 12, 2020 • MLB.COM

Vintage Lester arrives as October looms The pitch that Cubs lefty Jon Lester delivered to Keston Hiura in the fifth inning on Friday night appeared destined for the strike zone's o...

SEPTEMBER 12, 2020 • MLB.COM

Yelich scores on Braun's fly in 9th, Brewers beat Cubs 1-0

Christian Yelich scored on Ryan Braun's ninth-inning sacrifice fly, Brandon Woodruff pitched seven innings of one-hit ball and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Chicago Cubs 1-0 as th...

SEPTEMBER 12, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Looks sharp in no-decision Lester pitched six scoreless innings but did not factor into the decision in Friday's 1-0 loss to the Brewers. He allowed three hits and two walks, while striking out eight.

Impact Lester didn't get the win but he had his best outing of the season, and it was just the second time in his last six starts that he allowed fewer than five earned runs. The eight strikeouts also marked a season high. The veteran lefty still has a 5.05 ERA even after this excellent performance, which underscores how poorly he's pitched for most of the year. Lester will hope to build some momentum from this outing and carry it over into his next trip to the hill, which is currently scheduled for Wednesday against Cleveland.

SEPTEMBER 12, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Milwaukee hosts Chicago, aims to build on Burnes' solid showing

Milwaukee looks to follow up a dominant performance by Wednesday starter Corbin Burnes

SEPTEMBER 11, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Hoerner, Happ, bullpen lead Cubs past Reds 8-5

Willson Contreras had four hits to tie a career high, rookie Nico Hoerner added three RBIs and the Chicago Cubs overcame an early three-run deficit to top Sonny Gray and the Cincin...

SEPTEMBER 11, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

4 takeaways from the Cubs-Cardinals series, including Javier Baez’s frustration at the lack of video access and the urgency for Jon Lester to find his form Struggling Chicago Cubs shortstop Javier Baez is upset that players have no access to video during games as part of Major League Baseball's...

SEPTEMBER 8, 2020 • CHICAGOTRIBUNE.COM

Goldschmidt, Cardinals tighten NL Central race, top Cubs

Paul Goldschmidt hit a three-run homer off a struggling Jon Lester, and the St. Louis Cardinals gained ground in the NL Central race by beating the Chicago Cubs 7-3

SEPTEMBER 7, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Struggles persist Sunday Lester (2-2) took the loss Sunday, allowing five runs on six hits and two walks in 3.1 innings versus the Cardinals. He struck out four.

Impact Lester allowed a pair of homers -- a Tommy Edman solo shot in the first inning and Paul Goldschmidt's three-run blast in the third. It's the fourth time in five starts Lester has allowed five or more runs, and the second time in that span he hasn't gotten out of the fourth inning. The southpaw has a 5.80 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 29 strikeouts across 40.1 innings this season. He'll try to get back on track Friday in Milwaukee.

SEPTEMBER 7, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Goldschmidt homers as Cardinals beat Lester, Cubs 7-3

Paul Goldschmidt hit a three-run homer off a struggling Jon Lester, and the St. Louis Cardinals gained ground in the NL Central race with a 7-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs

SEPTEMBER 7, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Hudson, Cardinals to face Lester, Cubs

The Cardinals will start Dakota Hudson on Sunday and the Cubs are expected to counter with Jon Lester

SEPTEMBER 6, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

O'Neill, DeJong HR, Cardinals sweep doubleheader from Cubs

Tyler O’Neill and Paul DeJong homered, five St. Louis pitchers combined on a three-hitter and the Cardinals beat the Chicago Cubs 5-1 to sweep a doubleheader

SEPTEMBER 6, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

4 takeaways from the Cubs-Pirates series, including Josh Osich’s tuneup for the Cardinals series and the need for Jon Lester to pitch deeper The Cubs will count on newcomer Josh Osich in their series against the Cardinals — and beyond — plus three other takeaways from their series...

SEPTEMBER 4, 2020 • CHICAGOTRIBUNE.COM

Falters late in no-decision Lester didn't factor into the decision in Tuesday's 8-7 extra-innings win over the Pirates, coughing up five runs on eight hits and three walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out thre...

Impact The veteran southpaw seemed to have things well in hand as he took a 6-1 lead into the sixth inning, but after getting Josh Bell to ground out to begin the frame, five straight Bucs reached base before Lester got the hook. He's been tagged for at least five runs in three of his last four outings, ballooning his ERA to 5.11, and his 2020 campaign is beginning to look a lot like a compacted version of his 2019 season -- a hot but unsustainable start, followed by severe regression. Lester will try to get back on track in his next outing Sunday, at home against the Cardinals.

SEPTEMBER 2, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Happ spoils Hayes' debut, leads Cubs past Pirates 8-7

Ian Happ singled home Nico Hoerner in the top of the 11th to lead the Chicago Cubs to an 8-7 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates

SEPTEMBER 2, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Kuhl expected to start for the Pirates against the Cubs

The Cubs will start Jon Lester on Tuesday and the Pirates are expected to counter with Chad Kuhl

SEPTEMBER 1, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Schwarber homers twice as Cubs pound Reds 10-1

Chicago’s starting outfield of Kyle Schwarber, Jason Heyward and Ian Happ each homered twice, and the Cubs pounded the Cincinnati Reds 10-1 for a split of their four-game series

AUGUST 30, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Survives eight hits Lester allowed one earned run on eight hits and one walk while striking out five across five innings Wednesday against the Tigers. He did not factor into the decision.

Impact Lester allowed runners to reach base in all five innings he pitched, and multiple runners reached base in three frames. However, he got timely outs to work out of jams and ultimately turned in a solid outing. It was a bounceback effort for Lester, as he had allowed 13 earned runs across 9.2 innings across his last two starts. Overall, he has maintained a 4.55 ERA with a 22:5 K:BB across 31.2 frames this season. He lines up for his next outing Tuesday at Pittsburgh.

AUGUST 27, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Tigers beat Cubs 7-6; Heyward sits out amid player protests

Niko Goodrum hit a two-run double to cap Detroit’s five-run sixth inning, and the Tigers rallied past the Chicago Cubs 7-6

AUGUST 27, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Lester expected to start for the Cubs against Tigers

The Detroit Tigers host the Chicago Cubs

AUGUST 26, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Can't keep ball in yard Friday Lester (2-1) took the loss Friday as the Cubs were routed 10-1 by the White Sox, coughing up eight runs on nine hits -- including four home runs -- over 3.2 innings. He struck out...

Impact After a scoreless first inning, the squad from the south side of Chicago showed Lester no mercy, as Luis Robert, Jose Abreu, Danny Mendick and Yasmani Grandal all took the veteran left-hander deep, with the last homer chasing him from the game. After posting a 1.06 ERA through his first three outings, Lester has fallen apart, giving up 13 runs and six homers over his last 9.2 innings. He'll try to turn things around when he next takes the mound Wednesday in Detroit.

AUGUST 22, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

White Sox belt 6 HRs, pound Cubs 10-1 for 6th straight win

Jose Abreu hit two home runs and the surging Chicago White Sox went deep six times to back Dallas Keuchel in a 10-1 romp over the crosstown Cubs at Wrigley Field

AUGUST 22, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Keuchel scheduled to start for Chicago against Chicago

The Chicago Cubs host the Chicago White Sox

AUGUST 21, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Giolito fans 13, White Sox tame Tigers 9-0 to complete sweep

Lucas Giolito matched his career high of 13 strikeouts in seven dominant innings, hot-hitting Tim Anderson stroked his fourth home run of the series, and the Chicago White Sox bea...

AUGUST 20, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS