Chicago Cubs keeping the faith in Lester
MILWAUKEE - Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon and general manager Jed Hoyer expressed belief in ace lefty Jon Lester. Even though Lester is 3-1 in September, he has a 5.91 ERA.
The ERA wasn't helped by Wednesday's start in Tampa Bay, where Lester was rocked for 8 hits and 7 runs in 4⅓ innings. He did not strike out a batter. Lester was on the disabled list from Aug. 18-Sept. 2 with shoulder fatigue.
"Here's how I am about all that: I believe in Jon Lester," Maddon said before Thursday night's game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. "It's unusual to see him struggle like that, primarily with his command, too.
"The velocity was down, but it was where the pitches were going. I'm not used to seeing that. Even if the number is down velocity wise, he knows where the pitches are going. So I've got to believe that's going to get rectified soon.
"I just want to be very patient with this. I think he's fine. Until I hear that he's not well, which I've not heard at all, I think he'll be fine."
Hoyer and team president Theo Epstein had Lester in Boston. They signed him to a six-year, $155 million contract after the 2014 season. He was 11-12 with a 3.34 ERA in 2015. Last year, Lester went 19-9 with a 2.44 ERA, good for second in Cy Young balloting.
Overall this year, he is 11-8 with a 4.56 ERA.
"I think that obviously he hasn't been at the top of his game recently, but he such a competitor," Hoyer said. "He's always pitched well in big games. Hopefully he'll find it. He's been saying he feels good. He struggled to put some guys away last night. Pretty long track record of bouncing back from bad outings, and hopefully he'll do it again."
Concluded Maddon: "Listen, I know a lot of people are concerned. I'm not overly concerned because the guy has been good for a long time. As long as he says he's healthy, which he has, I'm fine. If he's hurting at all that he's not revealing, that's a different story entirely. For right now, I believe he's well."
Back to the bullpen:
With the return to the rotation of right-hander Jake Arrieta, lefty Mike Montgomery is heading back to the bullpen. Montgomery started Tuesday at Tampa Bay, pitching 6 innings of 1-hit, 1-run ball and getting a victory.
"Right now the plan is to put him back in the bullpen," Joe Maddon said. "(Wednesday) was off. Today is off. Maybe by Saturday he might be good to go. I anticipate keeping him in the bullpen."
Rondon nears return:
Reliever Hector Rondon is close to returning to action, possibly as early as Friday night. He has not pitched since Sept. 8 because of soreness in his right elbow.