Arrieta likely starter in wild-card game

ST. LOUIS — Although the Cubs signed Jon Lester last winter to be their ace, Jake Arrieta had the title when Lester signed, and he has done nothing but tighten his grip on it.

As such, it's a virtual certainty that Arrieta, not Lester, will start the one-game, wild-card playoff on Oct. 7 if the current postseason picture holds. Arrieta will start one of the games in next Tuesday's doubleheader in Pittsburgh, and that would set him up perfectly for the wild-card game.

“We're always considering that stuff,” manager Joe Maddon said Wednesday. “I talked to Coach Bosio (pitching coach Chris) about all that stuff. We're very much aware of that. The goal is still to catch the Cardinals.”

Catching the Cardinals, provided the Pittsburgh Pirates don't do it and stay in first place in the National League Central, would mean the Cubs could await the wild-card winner for a five-game division series.

“Our goal is not just to play in the wild-card game,” Maddon said. “I just don't want our guys to lose track or thoughts of trying to catch the Cardinals.

“I think that's our best way to play outstanding baseball for the rest of the month leading in to the playoffs. You try to catch the Pirates. Catch them and try to catch the next (team). I still want us to approach every day that way.”

Of course, the other consideration with Lester are his difficulties in controlling the other team's running game because of problems throwing to the bases. In a one-game, winner-take-all situation, a team like the Pirates might run all over the Cubs and Lester when it gets runners on base.

“Some of that could depend on who you may play and the kind of game they can bring to you,” Maddon said. “I think that would have to be a consideration under those circumstances, just being honest. I think that would be the primary thing to look at: Who is that team and what kind of game are they capable of playing?”

As for Lester, he expressed support for whatever Maddon decides.

“He's the best pitcher on this team right now,” Lester said of Arrieta. “He's probably the best pitcher in the league right now. Listen, everybody has an ego, and everybody wants to be that guy.

“But when it comes down to it, if he gives us the best chance to win that one-game playoff, I'll be on the top step cheering my butt off for him to do well.”

Good wherever he plays:

Javier Baez made his third start of the season at third base. Primary third baseman Kris Bryant, who also has played the outfield, did not start.

Baez is a natural shortstop who has looked comfortable, if not outstanding at times, playing second base and third base.

“I'm certain he'd be a good outfielder, too,” Joe Maddon said. “I like Javy's ability to move around, like he is right now. I'd like him to get Addy (shortstop Addison Russell) a day off.”

Maddon went on to say that some fielders get good by work and practice.

“There's that group and then there's the group like him, that he falls out of bed and he can play defense,” Maddon said of Baez. “It's incredible to watch how smooth he is and how comfortable he is at all these different positions, his arm, how smooth it is.

“He's just different. He's different. I don't even know if I've ever had anybody quite that comfortable on the infield, especially at that age.”

Front-office move:

The Cubs have hired Jared Porter as director of pro scouting/special assistant. Porter joins the Cubs after spending the last 12 years with the Boston Red Sox, the previous four as director of pro scouting.

Joe Bohringer, who had been the Cubs' director of pro scouting, will remain in the organization in a scouting role.